06.04.26 CALIBA Bookseller News & Information

June 4, 2026

in Bookseller Newsletter,

Macmillan Booksellers Professional Development Scholarships

IN THIS ISSUE

CALIBA ANNOUNCEMENT

CALIBA Board of Directors: Results Are In!

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Pasadena Owners' Retreat & Spring Forum: Thank You!

2026 Winter Catalog Cover Contest Winner: Congratulations, Nosy Crow!

2026 Summer Reading Guide:
12-Week Summer Challenge

Tri-West Summer School is Back!

Bookstore Promotions & Marketing Assets

Dates and Deadlines

Bookseller Shoutouts & In the News

CALIBA's Currently Reading

Resources

Become a Member Today

CALIBA Staff

BESTSELLERS LISTS

The Los Angeles Times & Southern California Independent Bookstore Bestseller List

The San Francisco Chronicle & Northern California Independent Bookstore Bestseller List

Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers

Indie Next List & Kids' Indie Next List

BLK Bestsellers list - May 2026

TOP 5 BESTSELLERS

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

CALIBA OFFICE HOURS

Join our monthly office hours (fourth Thursdays) to co-work with Hannah! 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. Click here to register for a morning session (9-10am) or afternoon session (2-3pm) —
or email Hannah to set up an appointment.

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.

CALIBA ANNOUNCEMENT

CALIBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS: RESULTS ARE IN!

Sam Robertson, Board Member (Arvida Book Company), Bridget Schinnerer, Secretary (Vroman's Bookstore), Jhoanna Belfer, Board Member (Bel Canto Books), Seth Marko, Board Member (The Book Catapult), Vanessa Martini, Board Member (Green Apple Books), and Shannon Grant, Publisher Member (Simon & Schuster).

Congratulations and we appreciate your service to our booksellers!

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Owners' Reteat & Spring Forum - Pasadena: 5.27-5.28.26 - Event Recap

OWNERS' RETREAT & SPRING FORUM: THANK YOU!

Thank you to all the booksellers, authors, and sales reps that attended the Pasadena Owners' Retreat & Spring Forum May 27th-28th! We know that travel is costly, so CALIBA is offering reimbursements for booksellers that traveled to the show! You can request rebates for travel, hotel and parking through the link below. We will ask for proof of payment/receipts. Request Travel Assistance

We've gathered some stats for all of the participants:

Owners' Retreat:

⛵ 31 Booksellers representing 28 bookstores

Spring Forum:

⛵ 66 Booksellers representing 35 Bookstores

⛵ 27 Authors from 14 Publishers

⛵ 14 Sales Reps

Your feedback is valuable to our team, allowing us to improve future CALIBA events. If you attended the Owners' Retreat or Spring Forum, please fill out the forms below:

Education Resource Links: Owners' Retreat Session Resources|Spring Forum Presenting Reps & Author Links

OWNERS' RETREAT EVALUATION

SPRING FORUM EVALUATION

Continue the conversation in our Discord - Email Valentina to join our Discord community!

2026 WINTER CATALOG COVER CONTEST WINNER

Publishers delivered beautiful, thoughtful, and heartfelt designs for the Winter Catalog Cover Contest. You all voted and we have a winner - Tomorrow Bright Before Us Illustrated by Victoria Ball (pub date: September 8, 2026). Congratulations, Nosy Crow!

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL

We've currently got 44% of our goal in for the 2026 Winter Catalog 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 15 minutes.

ORDER DEADLINES:

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

ORDER WINTER CATALOGS

2026 SUMMER READING GUIDE:
12-WEEK SUMMER CHALLENGE

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

Resources:

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

TRI-WEST SUMMER SCHOOL IS BACK!

These FREE, virtual sessions offer professional development and networking opportunities for every bookseller, no travel required! Co-produced by CALIBA, MPIBA, and PNBA. Full course schedule to come next week.

CALL FOR BOOKSELLERS

CALL FOR MENTORS

In need of more mentors for BIPOC, niche & small stores

JOIN A CALIBA COMMITTEE

BOOKSTORE PROMOTIONS & MARKETING ASSETS

Juneteenth (6/19)
ABA's Shop Small for a Big Impact! (6/23-6/26)
Paperback Book Day (7/30) - assets on site June 26th!
Find Waldo Local Toolkit
ABA's 2026 Q3 marketing calendar handouts
National Book Ban Bills: Help Raise Awareness!
Banned Books Week Kit (10/4-10/10) - request a kit by June 25th!
Certified Indie Bookstore Campaign

Which theme for August would you like us to create for bookstores to share?

Book Lovers Day (8/9)

National Relaxation Day (8/15)

World Photography Day (8/19)

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

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

June: Pride Month / Audiobook Appreciation Month

June 15: 2026 Winter Catalog Orders (excl. Saturation Mailing) & Bookseller Recommendations Close

June 19: Juneteenth

June 21: Father's Day

June 25: Deadline to request a 2026 Banned Books Week Kit

June 26: Paperback Book Day Marketing Assets Available

June 26-29: ABA Children's Institute

July: Disability Pride Month / Margins Bookselling Month / National Culinary Arts Month / National Independent Retailer Month

July 4: Independence Day

July 20-25: Shark Week

*SAVE THE DATE* September 13: Fall Fest Bookstore Tour

*SAVE THE DATE* September 14-15: Fall Fest Bookseller Conference

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.

1 - A Great Good Place for Books, in Oakland, hosted a goodbye toast for Kathleen and the store.

2 - Ember & Ink, in Hermosa Beach, commemorated their soft opening.

3 - Alibi Bookshop, in Vallejo, is 7 years old and will be celebrating on Saturday.

4 - Wild Sisters Book Co., in Sacramento, is hosting a cake party (a la Cake Picnic) to ring in 5 years.

5 - The Fleuria, in Los Angeles, gave a sneak peek of their new Airstream in Costa Mesa.

6 - Napa Bookmine is showing off their variety of Pride displays to celebrate love in all its forms.

7 - Towne Center Books, in Pleasanton, has books for grads of all kinds.

8 - Once Upon a Time Bookstore, in Montrose, joined CALIBA and Vroman’s Welcome Party ahead of the Pasadena Spring Forum, with book-themed cocktails. 50 Shades of Earl Grey, anyone?

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.