02.19.26 CALIBA Bookseller News & Information

Bookseller Newsletter,

CALIBA WILL BE WORKING LIMITED HOURS NEXT WEEK

LOOK FOR HANNAH & VALENTINA AT WINTER INSTITUTE

2026 Indie Summer Reading Guide Banner
CALIBA Bookseller Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

2026 Summer Reading Guide Bookstore Orders Are Open

*REGISTRATION OPEN* 2026 CALIBA Spring Forums & Owners' Retreats

CALIBA Mentorship Program: Call for Mentors

MEET HANNAH AT WINTER INSTITUTE 2026

CALIBA COMMITTEES

Get Involved! Join a CALIBA Committee

BOOKSTORE PROMOTIONS & MARKETING ASSETS

*AVAILABLE NOW* February Marketing - Love Your Pet Day (2/20)

PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL

AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY

INDUSTRY EVENTS & SMALL BIZ CORNER

Dates and Deadlines

Bookseller Shoutouts & In the News

Fundraisers

Scholarships & Grants

Classifieds

CALIBA's Currently Reading

RESOURCES

CALIBA BOOKSTORE MAP

CALIBA STAFF

BESTSELLER LISTS

The Los Angeles Times & Southern California Independent Bookstore Bestseller List

The San Francisco Chronicle & Northern California Independent Bookstore Bestseller List

African American Bestsellers List
Independent Press Bestsellers Top 40

TOP 5 BESTSELLERS

Once Upon a Time Bookstore logo

FLYING OFF THE SHELVES AT...

Once Upon a Time in Montrose

1 - Decoy Saves Opening Day by Shohei Ohtani, Michael Blank, and Illustrated by Fanny Liem

2 - The Lions' Run by Sara Pennypacker and Illustrated by Jon Klassen

3 - Pax by Sara Pennypacker and Illustrated by Jon Klassen

4 - Clementine by Sara Pennypacker and Illustrated by Marla Frazee

5 - Your Truck: (A Board Book with Minimalist Illustrations That Explores Ownership, Imagination, and Perspective) by Jon Klassen

Submit your top 5 best sellers in our new "Flying off the Shelves at..." feature in our weekly newsletter! Submit your best sellers list here. Note: must be a CALIBA Member

MEMBER CORNER

Want to be featured in the Member Corner? Submit your details here. Note: must be a CALIBA Member

Substitute Bookseller Program

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Indie Summer Reading Guide Cover Reveal

2026 INDIE SUMMER READING GUIDES

Our FREE 2026 Indie Summer Reading Guides are back! Order through RAMP (Regional Association Marketing & Promotion) by March 15th. Catalogs will arrive to stores by May 8th, to help you promote summer reading in time for Memorial Day!

This year's cover illustration is from The Worried Book /

Howard Pearlstein, James Munro (Illustrated by) / Red Comet Press

Indie Summer Reading Guide Orders Goal - 42%

OUR SUMMER READING GUIDE ORDERS GOAL

We've currently got 42% of our goal in for the 2026 Indie Summer Reading Guide orders. Help us meet our goal, support our organization, AND receive free marketing materials for your store! Filling out the order form is quick; it only takes 10 minutes.

GET YOUR PICKS IN THE SUMMER READING GUIDE!

Submit book recommendations of Summer 2026 titles that your store would love to feature.

Please submit your recs on the form by March 15, 2026.

CALIBA Spring Forum Bookseller Registration Open Now

2026 CALIBA SPRING FORUMS: BOOKSELLER & OWNERS' RETREAT REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW!

CALIBA Spring Forums feature lively conversation, education, rep picks, and networking.

AND, new this year we'll meet the day before for owner-specific education sessions with our Owners' Retreat.

Oakland Spring Forum

@ Oakland Asian Cultural Center

Pasadena Spring Forum

@ Pasadena Hilton

Visit the registration links above for hotel booking info and carpool forms.

CALIBA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: CALL FOR MENTORS

Call for Mentors with experience opening a store, operations, marketing, BIPOC-owned stores and alternative structures: pop-ups and/or niche focus.

Click here for more info.

OFFICE HOURS WITH HANNAH

Winter Institute 2026

Winter Institute 2026 program announced. Click here to view the full schedule.

Will you be attending the Winter Institute? Schedule a 1-on-1 meeting with Hannah here. Note: switch the time zone from Pacific Time to Eastern Time when reviewing the available times.

CALIBA COMMITTEES

CALIBA Committees

JOIN A CALIBA COMMITTEE

Join one of our committees and contribute your insights, passion, and creativity to the future and strength of CALIBA. Most committees require a few zoom calls a year, assisting the office, vetting authors and books for programs, and/or volunteering at in-person conferences. Sign up before committees resume. Click here for more details or fill out the form.

BOOKSTORE PROMOTIONS & MARKETING ASSETS

Certified Indie Campaign logo

Sign up for the Indie Press Month 2026 Display Contest by February 27th.

Indie Bookstore Day Planning Guide for your to-do list.

Certified Independent Bookstore: View the public-facing page and download the assets: includes the Certified Independent Bookstore logo, Infographic (below), and more!

Libro.fm's Golden Ticket for Indie Bookstore Day sign up is open.

2026 Libro.fm Audiobook Listening Challenge

CALIBA Marketing Assets logo

FEBRUARY MARKETING ASSET - LOVE YOUR PET DAY (2/20): 

AVAILABLE ON CALIBALLIANCE.ORG

MARCH MARKETING ASSET - INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (3/8): AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 27TH

APRIL MARKETING ASSET - INDIE BOOKSTORE DAY (4/25): AVAILABLE MARCH 27TH

Click here to download marketing assets.

PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL

5% DISCOUNT FOR CALIBA MEMBERS - Independent Study: CALIBAind | Live Courses: CALIBAlive

Professional Booksellers School logo

2026 PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL SCHEDULE IS UP 

Click here for more info.

Live Courses:

- Bookstore Year One - Register Now

- Basic Bookselling - Register Now

- Store & Operations Management - Register Now

- Profitability Master Class - Register Now

- Bookstore Finances - Registration Now

Independent Study Courses:

- Independent Study: Inventory Management - Register Now

PBS Basic Bookselling Store Subscription

*COST-EFFECTIVE DEAL* BASIC BOOKSELLING STORE SUBSCRIPTION

For $350, a store can have any number of staff members access the Independent Study version of the Basic Bookselling course, including all 9 recorded classes and handouts, for an entire year. Your Independent Study discount applies to this, which makes the price even lower. Register Now

AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION

American Booksellers Association logo

2026 Q2 Marketing Calendars available now!

Nominate a Bookseller by Feb. 19th for ABA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council

Vote for the Indies Choice Book Awards by Feb. 28th!

Check out this year’s ABA Board candidates! Mark your calendars: ballots will go out in March.

Indie Bookstore Day Participation Form Closes March 31st.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR ICE RAIDS IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Here are the top 6 things to do to prepare for ICE raids at your store or in your community.

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY

Proud Member of CALIBA digital sign

Booksellers

Provisional Bookstore: $100 (online only and prospective bookstores)

Bookstore: $200

Membership Perks:

  • Free admission to our annual Fall Fest for you and your staff
  • Free or reduced rates at education and member programs for you and your staff
  • Subscription to our weekly e-newsletter for you and your staff
  • Stay up-to-date with industry, Alliance and bookstore news
  • Bestseller list
  • Classified ads
  • Online access to the Rep Directory updated regularly
  • Inclusion on our Find A Store webpage
  • Fall Catalog Marketing Campaign produced for you and promoted to drive business to your store
  • Independent Bookstore Day in conjunction with your ABA membership
  • Access to exclusive IBD merchandise
  • A list of current Publisher Promotions
  • Bookseller Resources
  • Tools for the Trade
  • Credit card processing with Gravity Payments

Click here for more details.

SHOW OFF YOUR CALIBA SPIRIT
Click here to download the Proud Member of CALIBA file
(Login required).

INDUSTRY EVENTS & SMALL BIZ CORNER

Is there another association you suggest CALIBA follow for small business education? Share with us.

ILSR logo

WEBINAR RECORDING: HOW TO HELP YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT STOP BUYING FROM AMAZON, SAVE MONEY, AND SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

A virtual briefing on Amazon’s growing capture of your local public dollars — and what you can do about it. ILSR’s investigation exposed how Amazon is using dubious contract terms, algorithmic pricing, and other problematic tactics to eliminate competing local suppliers and drive up costs for basic supplies used by cities and school districts.

Missed the live event? Watch the recording here.

WHEN ALGORITHMS SET THE PRICE: HOW DOMINANT CORPORATIONS INFLATE COSTS AND UNDERMINE COMPETITION: MARCH 3RD

A live virtual event examining how pricing algorithms deployed by powerful corporations — including Amazon, Instacart, and major landlords — are inflating prices, undermining competition, and threatening independent businesses and communities. RSVP here to join the March 3rd virtual event.

HR Boot Camp

HR BOOT CAMP VIRTUAL SEMINAR: FEBRUARY 26TH-27TH, 9AM-12:30PM

Managing employees in California comes with high stakes—and little room for error. HR Boot Camp is designed to give you practical, real-world guidance across the full employment lifecycle so you can make decisions with confidence, not hesitation.

Join CalChamber’s employment law experts for this two-day virtual seminar covering essential requirements from hiring to termination, with live instruction, interactive examples, and real-time Q&A. Thursday, February 26th and Friday, February 27th, 9am-12:30pm, $349 per seat. RSVP link

Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature

THE JUDY LOPEZ MEMORIAL AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE:

MARCH 1ST

Celebrate the 40 years of children's literature at the Judy Lopez Memorial Award Brunch with special guest Author Alda P. Dobbs. Click here for more information. Special CALIBA Bookseller rate with promo code: CALIBA

Making Effective Third Spaces

MAKING EFFECTIVE THIRD SPACES WEBINAR: MARCH 12TH, 12-1PM PST

Offering a “third space” — somewhere that is neither work nor home where people can encounter others — is already central to many bookstores’ missions. But what steps can you take to create a third space that is as impactful as possible? What determines whether a third space is effective in promoting social good? And how do you overcome the difficulties of making a social space for book people — many of whom are introverts? Sarah Stein Lubrano, author of Don’t Talk About Politics, will answer these questions with booksellers in mind. Register here!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

February: Black History Month

February 22-26: IGNITE and Winter Institute

March: Women's History Month / National Reading Month / Indie Press Month / Ramadan (Feb 17-Mar 19)

March 15: 2026 RAMP Summer Guide Bookstore Orders Close

March 22: 2026 NorCal Spring Forum Bookseller Registration Closes

March 31: Indie Bookstore Day 2026 General Participation Form closes

April 25: Independent Bookstore Day

May 18: 2026 SoCal Spring Forum Bookseller Registration Closes

 Basic Bookselling Store Subscription, which is being vastly under-used. For $350, a store can have any number of staff members access the Independent Study version of the Basic Bookselling course, including all 9 recorded classes and handouts, for an entire year. Your IS discount applies to this, which makes the price even lower.
Bookseller Shoutouts Header

Don't forget to follow and tag us (@caliba_20) to be featured! CALIBA's Media Outlet Resource Doc has info about being featured by Shelf Awareness, USA Today, and Bay City News.

Bookseller Shoutouts - February 19, 2026

1 - Casita Bookstore, in Long Beach, celebrated their first day at their new shop location. It looks great!

2 - Pages a Bookstore, in Manhattan Beach, closed their doors and counted ALL of the books for inventory 2026!

3 - Banter Bookshop, in Fremont, welcomed Robbie Arnett for a book signing of his new picture book, Thwistle Ping!

4 - The Spine & Vine Bookstore, in Temecula, showed off their peaceful vibes.

5 - Black History Month

Bookshop Benicia | Pegasus Books (Berkeley) | Mysterious Galaxy (San Diego)

6 - Benito Bowl

Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary & Garden Arts (Berkeley) | Word Horde Emporium (Petaluma)

7 - Valentine’s Day

Judging by the Cover (Fresno) | The Book Jewel (Los Angeles) | Alibi Bookshop (Vallejo)

Pleasant Pheasant Books (Woodland) | Camino Books (Del Mar) | Book Soup (West Hollywood)

La Playa Books (San Diego) | Wild Sisters Book Co. (Sacramento)

8 - Lunar New Year

Bookshop Santa Cruz | Noe Valley Books (San Francisco) | Flintridge Bookstore (La Cañada Flintridge)

In the News

Want to share your personal story or concerns as a small business owner more broadly? Share your OpEd, Think Piece, or Slice of Life story with your local media outlets. CALIBA is building a shared Media List here. Find or add contacts.

FUNDRAISERS

SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

CLASSIFIEDS

  • *NEW* Summer Camp Writing Instructor - Book Passage, Corte Madera
  • Associate Editor - Chronicle Books, San Francisco
  • Editorial Freelancers - Chronicle Books, San Francisco
  • Bookstore for Sale - Camino Books, Del Mar

CALIBA'S CURRENTLY READING

Alecia

Supporting Staff

I, Medusa Ayana Gray 9780593733769

I, Medusa

Ayana Gray

9780593733769

Hannah

Executive Director

The Fox Wife Yangsze Choo 9781250266033

The Fox Wife

Yangsze Choo

9781250266033

Valentina

Operations Manager

Don’t Fear the Reaper Stephen Graham Jones 9781982186609

Don’t Fear the Reaper

Stephen Graham Jones

9781982186609

Check out CALIBA’s 2026 Reading List!

RESOURCES

CALIBA RESOURCES

CALIBA new logo

Complete resource list.

American Bookseller Association logo

ABA LINKS

BOOK INDUSTRY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION LINKS

Binc Book Industry Charitable Foundation logo
Professional Booksellers School

PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL LINKS

5% DISCOUNT FOR CALIBA MEMBERS - Independent Study: CALIBAind | Live Courses: CALIBAlive

INDIE TO INDIE LINKS

Independent Publishers Caucus

BOOKSTORE MAP

CALIBA Bookstore Map

This map shows our current bookstore members.

Note this info is public. Check your information on our website, then contact Alecia to update the map.

JOIN US ON DISCORD

Email Valentina to join.

Current CALIBA bookseller membership required.

HOUSEKEEPING

We're working hard to make your life easier with membership tips & tricks:

How to set up auto-pay for dues.

CALIBA Merchandise
Become a Member

CALIBA STAFF

Hannah Walcher

Executive Director

hannah@caliballiance.org

Valentina Moberg

Operations Manager

valentina@caliballiance.org

Alecia Reddick

Supporting Staff

alecia@caliballiance.org

Support CALIBA

Publishers support CALIBA when bookstores participate.

Bookstore Participation = Publisher Sponsorship = CALIBA = Bookstore Education, Advocacy, Networking +++

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