05.22.25 CALIBA Bookseller News & Information

Bookseller Newsletter,

Winter Catalog Saturation Mailing
Bookseller News & Information

IN THIS ISSUE

CALIBA Office:

*VOTING CLOSES MAY 29TH* CALIBA Board of Directors

CALIBA Road Trip

CALIBA Programs:

*PRIDE MONTH ASSETS AVAILABLE* CALIBA Marketing Assets for Bookstores

Tri-West Summer School is Back!

Office Hours with Hannah

*SATURATION/DIRECT MAIL ORDERS & COVER CONTEST VOTING CLOSE JUNE 1ST* 2025 Winter Catalog

*BOOKSELLER EVALUATION & TRAVEL ASSISTANCE* Del Mar Spring Forum

2025 Summer Reading Guide

Professional Booksellers School:

*9 SEATS REMAINING* Your Brand/Your Story: Advanced Display & Marketing Course

Read to Lead: From To-Do to Done

Grants & Scholarships:

Macmillan Professional Development Scholarship

SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund Independent Bookstore Grant

ABA Announcements:

ABA 2025 Fall Show Special

*REQUEST KIT BY JUNE 15TH* Banned Books Week

Bookseller Shoutouts

Dates and Deadlines

Bestseller Lists

Classifieds

CALIBA Currently Reading

Bookseller Resources

NEW MEMBER CORNER

Buteo Books logo

Welcome to CALIBA, Buteo Books!

Owner: Lyzy Lusterman

Established: was a mail-order business in 1971; moved to California and opened as a brick-and-mortar under new ownership in 2024.

About Our New Member: Buteo Books is an independent, family-owned, specialty bookstore carrying one of the largest selections of bird books in the world! We’re proud to serve the birding community with a mix of new, used, fine, and rare books, plus art, gifts, and events all centered around birds, ornithology, and natural history.

LA WILDFIRES UPDATE

The fires are contained, but the work to rebuild continues. We will continue to update the LA Wildfires Mutual Aid Google document to share ways that you can support bookstores affected by the fires. You can find this document plus resources for booksellers affected by the fire on the CALIBA LA Fires Resource page.

CALIBA STAFF

Hannah Walcher

Executive Director

hannah@caliballiance.org

Valentina Moberg

Operations Manager

valentina@caliballiance.org

Alecia Reddick

Supporting Staff

alecia@caliballiance.org

JOIN CALIBA'S DISCORD!

Email Valentina to join.

Current CALIBA bookseller membership required.

CALIBA Bookstore Map

CALIBA BOOKSTORE MAP

This map shows our current bookstore members.

Don't see your store on the map? Make sure to update your information on our website

or contact Alecia.

CALIBA Bookseller Mentorship Program

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

The CALIBA Office will be pairing booksellers interested in learning from each other to help their businesses thrive. Click here for more info.

Substitute Bookseller Program

SUBSTITUTE BOOKSELLER PROGRAM

Find a Substitute Bookseller Here (Login Required). If you would like to be a Substitute Bookseller, fill out this form!

If you are having trouble accessing your account, email Valentina.

CALIBA OFFICE

CALIBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS: VOTING CLOSES MAY 29TH

On the ballot: Mary Williams, President (Skylight Books, Los Angeles); Katerina Argyres, Vice President (Noe Valley Bookstore, San Francisco); Zack Dubuc, Treasurer (Book Passage); Claire Bone, Board Member (Wild Sisters Book Company, Sacramento); Mark O'Neal, Publishing Rep (Karel/Dutton Group); and Leslie Jobson, Publishing Rep (Ingram Content Group).

One vote per bookstore (owner/designated proxy only).

CALIBA Road Trip

CALIBA PROGRAMS

Social Marketing Slides

*PRIDE MONTH ASSETS AVAILABLE* CALIBA MARKETING ASSETS FOR BOOKSTORES

We know that it takes time and another skillset to create marketing materials for your store. So to give you back some time we are working on assets that you can share with your customers. Publishers and authors will be pitching their upcoming titles for inclusion in the assets. While we get this project off the ground, let us know if you have any titles in mind that should be included (see the themes we have planned below).

Marketing themes:

Click here to access the CALIBA Marketing Assets Google Drive (includes: co-op info, captions, tips for use and creative assets.

What is Co-Op? Click here for an introduction to Co-Op?

Have more marketing ideas or special events members would find useful? Email Alecia.

Bookseller Summer School

TRI-WEST SUMMER SCHOOL IS BACK!

These FREE, virtual summertime sessions offer professional development and networking opportunities for every bookseller, no travel required! Co-produced by CALIBA, MPIBA, and PNBA.

Round Table: Community Events for Fun & Profit

Wednesday, June 11th at 12:00pm PDT

In this idea sharing session we'll discuss successful author-less, community events that generate traffic and revenue. Come with your best ideas and questions.

Click here to register for the virtual event.

Full course schedule to come in late May.

OFFICE HOURS WITH HANNAH: ON THURSDAYS

Join our office hours to co-work with Hannah! Need a buddy while you fill out the Winter Reading Guide form? Have a question, idea, or comment about a CALIBA program? Office hours are a great chance for you to check in directly with your Executive Director. Office hours will take place Thursdays, 9-10am and 2-3pm; from May 15th to July 31st (except May 29th).

Thursday Mornings (9-10am) - Registration Link

Thursday Afternoons (2-3pm) - Registration Link

Winter Catalog Saturation Mailing

2025 WINTER CATALOG: SATURATION/DIRECT MAIL ORDERS CLOSE JUNE 1ST

Winter Catalog orders are now open for CALIBA storesWinter Catalogs accelerate your Fall/Winter sales, make your store stand out, and benefit CALIBA by providing revenue that supports booksellers with essential services and industry opportunities.

Winter Catalog Cover Contest

COVER CONTEST VOTING CLOSES JUNE 1ST

It's time to vote for the 2025 Winter Catalog Cover. Publishers have delivered beautiful, thoughtful, and heartfelt designs. Please spend time with each design and rank your favorites in the contest cover ballot. One vote per person.

Vote for your favorite cover now.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES:

  • JUNE 1ST Deadline for saturation/direct mail orders
  • JUNE 15TH Deadline for all other orders, payments, and bookseller recommendations
  • OCTOBER 1ST Target date for catalog delivery to stores and newspapers
  • NOVEMBER 1ST Target date for catalog deliver via direct mail

Visit RAMP for more detailed information.

Catalog Gallery

RECOMMEND BOOKS FOR THE WINTER CATALOG BY JUNE 15TH

Do you have anticipated Fall titles you're excited to handsell? Nominate the books now for inclusion in the Winter Catalog.

Del Mar Spring Forum

Thank you to all the booksellers, authors, and sales reps that attended the Del Mar Spring Forum last Wednesday, May 7th. Booksellers, visit our website to see more photos, access our evaluation survey (this will help us improve future events) and apply for travel assistance.

Summer Reading Guide Arriving in the Mail

2025 SUMMER READING GUIDE: USAGE GUIDELINES

Looking for ways to share the Summer catalogs within your community? Click here to view the usage guidelines and our 12-week Summer Challenge.

Share your display and marketing ideas with us on Discord, tag us on social, or email Hannah. 

RAMP Summer Reading Guide - Digital Catalog

USE THE DIGITAL CATALOG & MARKETING ASSETS TO PROMOTE THE SUMMER READING GUIDE

Check your inboxes for your digital catalog and start promoting it now! To help you kickoff your marketing plan we've created marketing assets for you to share with your community.

Resources:

PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL

CALIBA is a supporting sponsor of PBS, making it possible for our members to access professional development for independent booksellers at all levels.

 YOUR BRAND/YOUR STORY: ADVANCED DISPLAY & MARKETING COURSE - REGISTRATION OPENS MAY 5TH

YOUR BRAND/YOUR STORY: ADVANCED DISPLAY & MARKETING COURSE: 9 SEATS REMAINING

Co-teachers Lisa Uhrick and Steve Wax help bookstores identify and build their brands, to move beyond a place to purchase products to an engaging customer experience.

Advanced Display & Marketing

Registration is open!

Course begins: June 4, 2025

Discount code ($20 off): CALIBAmd

CALIBA will reimburse booksellers for completion and certification of each live course. For those auditing courses, 1/2 of the cost will be reimbursed with proof of attendance.

 READ TO LEAD: FROM TO-DO TO DONE - PBS BOOK CLUB LAUNCH

READ TO LEAD: FROM TO-DO TO DONE: 

BOOK CLUB LAUNCH

PBS has a new 3-session book club with attention management/productivity expert Maura Thomas. Sourcebooks is generously providing all registrants with 3 of Maura's books:

Attention Management: How to Create Success and Gain Productivity - Every Day

From To-Do to Done: How to Go from Busy to Productive by Mastering Your To-Do List

The Happy Inbox: How to Have a Stress-Free Relationship with Your Email and Overcome Your Communication Clutter

The group will meet for three sessions on June 6, June 13, and June 20 at 12 pm PDT. 

GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

Macmillan Scholarship

*APPLICATIONS OPEN* Macmillan Professional Development Scholarship: provides $750 to booksellers traditionally underrepresented within the industry to attend their region’s fall trade show. Applications due by May 31st.

SCBWI

*APPLICATIONS OPEN* SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund Independent Bookstore Grant: three independent bookstores will be awarded a $1,000 grant to host a public program or bookstore event featuring a children's book author or illustrator. Apply by July 15th.

ABA ANNOUNCEMENTS

ABA logo

ABA 2025 FALL SHOW SPECIAL

Not an ABA Member? No worries! ABA is offering a Show Special for Non-ABA Members! 

Test drive ABA membership for free until January 31, 2026, and enjoy all the benefits of membership. Use promo code FallPromo2025. (Offer good until October 31, 2025 for Bookstore and Provisional members).

If you have any questions or want to set up an appointment with ABA, reach out to info@bookweb.org.

Banned Books Week 2025

BANNED BOOKS WEEK: REQUEST KIT BY JUNE 15TH

Sign up now to receive a free Banned Books Week kit from the American Booksellers Association! Supplies are limited and will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis only for ABA member stores. Find details and sign up now!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

May: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month / Jewish American Heritage Month / National Small Business Month

May 26: Memorial Day

May 29: CALIBA Board of Director Voting Closes

May 31: Macmillan Professional Development Scholarship Applications Close

June: Pride Month / Audiobook Appreciation Month

June 11-14: ABA Children's Institute 2025 in Portland, OR

June 14: ABACUS, ABA’s free annual financial benchmarking survey due

June 15: Banned Books Week Kit Sign Up Deadline

June 15: Father’s Day

June 19: Juneteenth

July 15: SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund Independent Bookstore Grant Applications Close

September 17-18: Fall Fest @ South San Francisco Conference Center

October 5-11: Banned Books Week

Now More Than Ever, I Stand with Bookstores is a fundraising campaign to engage all book lovers to join some of their favorite authors/creators and stand with their community stores during this time of uncertainty. They can help stores by making an in-store purchase and/or making a donation to Binc. Your support is appreciated and optional. The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation is our safety net. Whether you are facing a life-altering medical situation or the effects of a climate related disaster, Binc is the place you can call for help. Donations will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling your impact, up to a total of $50,000.
Bookseller Shoutouts
1 - dym-book & boba shop, in Pasadena, gave a tour of their bookshop for AANHPI Heritage Month.🧋 2 - Octavia’s Bookshelf, in Pasadena, visited the Thoughts About Feelings podcast to answer the question: do bookstore owners and libraries have beef? 📚 3 - Wild Sisters Book Company, in Sacramento, welcomed author Lyla Sage into their store and got their whole Rebel Blue Ranch stock signed! 😍 4 - {pages} a bookstore, in Manhattan Beach, teamed up with Ron Chernow for a great event celebrating his new book about Mark Twain. ✍️ 5 - Ruby’s Books, in Folsom, received a special delivery this week! The Where’s Waldo Shop Local marketing materials. 📬 6 - Avid Reader Bookstore, in Davis, showed off some of the great titles in the Summer Reading Guide. 🌞 7 - Flintridge Bookstore, in La Cañada Flintridge, showing off their assortment of books and throwback items to celebrate grad season! 🎓 8 - La Playa Books, in San Diego, is holding a Congressional Letter Writing event tonight! ✉️  Don't forget to follow and tag CALIBA (@caliba_20) to be featured! CALIBA resources has info about being featured by Shelf Awareness, USA Today, and Bay City News.

1 - dym-book & boba shop, in Pasadena, gave a tour of their bookshop for AANHPI Heritage Month.🧋

2 - Octavia’s Bookshelf, in Pasadena, visited the Thoughts About Feelings podcast to answer the question: do bookstore owners and libraries have beef? 📚

3 - Wild Sisters Book Company, in Sacramento, welcomed author Lyla Sage into their store and got their whole Rebel Blue Ranch stock signed! 😍

4 - {pages} a bookstore, in Manhattan Beach, teamed up with Ron Chernow for a great event celebrating his new book about Mark Twain. ✍️

5 - Ruby’s Books, in Folsom, received a special delivery this week! The Where’s Waldo Shop Local marketing materials. 📬

6 - Avid Reader Bookstore, in Davis, showed off some of the great titles in the Summer Reading Guide. 🌞

7 - Flintridge Bookstore, in La Cañada Flintridge, showing off their assortment of books and throwback items to celebrate grad season! 🎓

8 - La Playa Books, in San Diego, is holding a Congressional Letter Writing event tonight! ✉️

Don't forget to follow and tag CALIBA (@caliba_20) to be featured! CALIBA resources has

info about being featured by Shelf Awareness, USA Today, and Bay City News.

BESTSELLER LISTS

Click here for the Los Angeles Times & Southern California Independent Bookstore Bestseller List

Click here for the San Francisco Chronicle & Northern California Independent Bookstore Bestseller List

CLASSIFIEDS

  • Part-Time Administrative Assistant - The Collective Book Studio, San Francisco Bay Area
  • National Accounts Manager - Chronicle Books, San Francisco
  • Social Media Assistant - Chronicle Books, San Francisco
  • Contracts Manager - Chronicle Books, San Francisco
  • Experienced Bookseller Wanted - Camino Books, Del Mar

CALIBA CURRENTLY READING:

Alecia

Supporting Staff

Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen

Red String Theory

Lauren Kung Jessen

9781538710289

Hannah

Executive Director

The Payback by Kashana Cauley

The Payback

Kashana Cauley

9781668075531

Valentina

Operations Manager

We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad

We Love You, Bunny

Mona Awad

9781668059869

CALIBA logo

CALIBA RESOURCES

2025 Oakland Spring Forum Evaluation Form and Travel Reimbursement

Find a Substitute Bookseller Here (Login Required) Sign-Up to be a Substitute Bookseller

Golden Poppy Awards 2024 Resources Edelweiss List of Titles (Note: 2% Ingram Discount)

Summer Catalog Resource Page Edelweiss List of Titles (Note: 2% Ingram Discount)

Indie-to-Indie Playlists

Join the CALIBA Edelweiss Community - Email Valentina

The Brown Bookshelf

Anti-Censorship Resources

Panorama Picks - Books in Demand at US Libraries

Workplace Violence Prevention Plans Required for California Employers by July 2024 - Are you compliant?

Bookseller Summer School is Out - Access the Videos

Shelf Awareness features bookstore news daily. To submit bookstore news email news@shelf-awareness.com.

The USA Today Books Page spotlights an independent bookstore each week. ABA member bookstores can pitch their bookstore to USA Today. Good Luck!

Bay City News is partnering with booksellers, librarians, and authors. Share your events, ideas and contributions with the newsroom to get into their newsletter. Feel free to send them your newsletters!

Become a participating bookstore with Little Free Library. Email Lexie Neeley to get involved!

Click here for a complete list.

American Bookseller Association logo

ABA LINKS

Recording Available: Support Trans, Nonbinary, Intersex, and Gender-Nonconforming Staff and Community (Login Required)

Welcome to Bookselling: A List of Resources to Support Booksellers

Urge Congress to Reverse Tariffs

How to Prepare Staff for Possible ICE Raids

How to Support Staff Impacted by Recent Anti-LGBTQIA2S+ Actions

Planning a Secure Drag Story Time Event

2025 Q1 Top 10 Checklist

Order "Right to Read" Handbooks for your Store

ABFE: ABA's Free Expression Initiative

Current and Previous ABACUS Data

Monthly Marketing Calendars

Nominate Someone for the ABA Board

ABA Event & Program Calendar

Indie Next List Deadlines

Report Sales to New York Times, Indie Bestseller Lists

ABA Affiliate Partnership Offers for Members

Independent Bookstore Day Newsletter

6 Steps to Help Deal with Curation Protests

Training Staff to Deal with Curation Challenges

Dealing with Online Harassment Tool Kit

11 Ways to Take Action When Barnes & Noble Comes to Town

Binc Book Industry Charitable Foundation logo

BINC LINKS

Binc Mental Heath Wellness Program

Financial Assistance for BOOKSELLERS

Scholarship Opportunities

Apply to be a BincTank Entrepreneur

Professional Booksellers School

PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL LINKS

A Learners' Guide to PBS Independent Study

Basic Bookselling Self Guided

Basic Bookselling Store Subscription

Bookstore Financial Literacy Bundle

Upcoming Courses

CALIBA Reimbursement Details

become a member _2_.png

Support CALIBA

Publishers support CALIBA when bookstores participate.

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

Hannah Walcher, Executive Director

Livermore CA 94550

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