06.26.25 Bookseller News & Information

June 26, 2025

in Bookseller Newsletter,

IN THIS ISSUE

CALIBA Programs:

Tri-West Summer School

*ON THURSDAYS* Office Hours with Hannah

*OPT-IN* Golden Poppy Shelf Awareness Mailings

*REGISTRATION OPENS IN JULY* 2025 Fall Fest, September 17-18th

CALIBA Committees:

*JOIN NOW* BIPOC Bookseller Committee

*POLL RESULTS* Political Advocacy Committee

Bookseller & Industry News:

Beach Reads Display: Books Inc. Opera Plaza

Lore Bookstore Opens in Los Angeles, Calif.

CALIBA Bookstore Map

Catalogs:

2025 Summer Reading Guide

2025 Winter Catalog

Marketing Assets:

*NEW WEBPAGE* CALIBA Marketing Assets

Indie to Indie

Celebrate Audiobook Month with Libro.fm

Bookstore Romance Day

Grants & Scholarships:

SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund Independent Bookstore Grant

ABA Announcements:

Q3 Prep Checklist

ABA 2025 Fall Show Special

Partnership Opportunities:

Word for Word: "Annunciation" with Lauren Groff

Dates and Deadlines

Bestseller Lists

Classifieds

CALIBA Currently Reading

Bookseller Resources

NEW MEMBER CORNER

Welcome to CALIBA, The Fleuria Romance Book Truck!

Owner Name: Stephanie Pao

Established: March 2025

Location: Los Angeles

About Our New Member: The Fleuria is Los Angeles’ first romance-focused book truck, bringing a curated selection of romance and romantasy books to readers across Southern California. Housed in a vintage Volkswagen truck, The Fleuria will pop up at local establishments, host private events, and create community gatherings for book lovers to connect and discover new favorites.

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.

HOUSEKEEPING

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

How to set up auto-pay for dues.

CALIBA PROGRAMS

TRI-WEST SUMMER SCHOOL

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

Panel: Creating Successful Bookstore Crawls and Passport Programs

Wednesday, July 9th at 12:00pm PDT

Collaborative activities and events that generate foot traffic and awareness of indie stores for Independent Bookstore Day and beyond are growing in popularity. Join our panelists to hear about the successful programs they've created and participated in, including the lessons they've learned along the way. Bring your ideas and questions for a discussion with the panel. Click here to register for the session.

Did you miss the Intro to Finances session, June 18th? There isn’t a recording available but Professional Booksellers School has a course with more information.

Click here to access past session recordings.

VIEW THE FULL COURSE SCHEDULE

OFFICE HOURS WITH HANNAH

Join our office hours to co-work with Hannah! Need help planning your catalog strategy? 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.

Thursday Mornings (9-10am) - Registration Link

Thursday Afternoons (2-3pm) - Registration Link

OPT-IN TO THE *FREE* GOLDEN POPPY SHELF AWARENESS MAILINGS

Share the Golden Poppy Award finalists and winners with your customers for easy online shopping!

These mailings include a store-branded landing page with a unique URL specific to your store, making it easy to share the entire list on your website and through social media. CALIBA will create a QR code using this URL for even easier sharing upon request.

Mailing Schedule for Golden Poppy Book Awards:

December 2, 2025 (Finalists)
January 30, 2026 (Winners)

NOTE: If you have participated in this program, or any other email program via Shelf Awareness, you don’t need to supply a logo or reply-to email again, just upload your current e-mail list and we’ll use the logo and reply-to address already on hand.

Deadline to opt-in: November 3rd

OPT-IN TO GOLDEN POPPY MAILINGS

2025 FALL FEST: REGISTRATION OPENS IN JULY

Please join us for two full days (September 17-18) of education, authors, and connection with booksellers throughout the state of California.

South San Francisco Conference Center

255 South Airport Boulevard

South San Francisco, CA 94080-6703

Click here for more information.

CALIBA COMMITTEES

BIPOC BOOKSELLERS COMMITTEE

The BIPOC Booksellers committee welcomes BIPOC store owners and booksellers to gather for community building, knowledge sharing, and education development with the goal of uplifting BIPOC storytelling and creating sustainable communities of BIPOC readers.

Interested in joining the BIPOC Bookseller committee? Click here to fill out the form.

Learn more abour our committees.

POLITICAL ADVOCACY COMMITTEE: SURVEY RESULTS

Our Political Advocacy Committee would like to provide more targeted assistance to our members.

Poll results for the issues impacting you the most:

A. Soft Book Bans in Store (12%)

B. Soft Book Bans in Partnering Schools (24%)

C. Tariffs (20%)

D. Neighborhood Political Climate (16%)

E. Isolationism (16%)

F. Other (12%)

If you answered "F. Other," please reach out to info@caliballiance.org.

BOOKSELLER & INDUSTRY NEWS

CALIBA BOOKSTORE MAP

This map shows our current bookstore members.

Don't see your store on the map? Make sure your information on our website is correct, then contact Alecia to update the map.

CATALOGS

Summer Reading Guide Arriving in the Mail

2025 SUMMER READING GUIDE

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

Use the digital catalog and marketing assets to promote the Summer Reading Guide:

Share your display and marketing ideas with us on Discord, tag us on social, or add us to your newsletter list (info@caliballiance.org).

2025 WINTER CATALOG: RESOURCES PAGE NOW LIVE!

Prep for your marketing, buys, and hand selling with the catalog resources page.

IMPORTANT DATES:

July 5-19 (continuous): Imprint proofs to stores.
September 5: Marketing assets available and digital catalog pages published.
October 1: Catalogs shipped to stores and to newspapers.
November 1: Catalog direct mailing date.

Have any questions? Contact Alecia, alecia@caliballiance.org.

MARKETING ASSETS

CALIBA MARKETING ASSETS: NEW WEBPAGE

We've created assets that you can share with your customers to give you time back for other projects. Visit our Marketing Assets webpage.

July themes:

Disability Pride Month
International Self-Care Day (available July 10)
National Avocado Day (available July 17)

August themes:

Back to School Month (available July 17)
International Cat Day (available July 24)
National Dog Day (available August 7)
National Beach Day (available August 14)

Have more marketing ideas or special events members would find useful? Send in your ideas here.

INDIE TO INDIE

The Independent Publishers Caucus has TWO playlists to help corral the kiddos and give parents some solace — one focusing on climate change and the other their latest Young Readers Edition of the Indie-to-Indie Playlist, focusing on summer reading. Also, check out the Indie Press Backlist Essentials!

AUDIOBOOK MONTH

Kids Sale (tons of audiobooks for kids priced between $0.99-$5.00) through June 30

Audiobook Walk Event Kit

Display Contest in honor of the web player and Audiobook Month

BOOKSTORE ROMANCE DAY

August 9th is a day designed to give independent bookstores an opportunity to celebrate Romance fiction—its books, readers, and writers—and to strengthen the relationships between bookstores and the Romance community.

Mark your calendars for the seventh celebration of Bookstore Romance Day! Click here for information and to sign up to participate!

GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

*DUE BY JULY 15TH* 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 here.

ABA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Q3 PREP CHECKLIST

Plan for Bookstore Romance Day
Complete Your ABACUS - new deadline: July 8th
Audit & Adjust Your Financial Reports
Follow Through on Children’s Institute Insights
Register for Winter Institute 2026
Nominate a Bookseller for the Annual BIPOC Bookseller Awards
Register for and Attend Your Fall Regional Trade Show (Fall Fest Registration Opens in July)
Order Your 2025 Best Books for Young Readers Catalogs
Start Planning for Banned Books Week
Take Advantage of Publisher Discounts

Click here for details and helpful links.

ABA 2025 FALL SHOW SPECIAL

Not an ABA Member? No worries! The 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.

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

(Offer good until October 31, 2025 for Bookstore and Provisional members).

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

WORD FOR WORD: "ANNUNCIATION" WITH LAUREN GROFF

Word for Word, the San Francisco theatre company (based at Z Space), will be producing Lauren Groff's short story "Annunciation" from June 18 - July 13. On July 9, Lauren Groff herself will be joining them for a post-show conversation. Click here for more info and to download event poster for your store.

Would you like to attend the event at a discounted rate? Contact JoAnne Winter, jwinter@zspace.org, (415) 659-8133 for discounted tickets.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

June: Pride Month / Audiobook Appreciation Month

July: Disability Pride Month / #MarginsBookselling Month / Find Waldo Local

July 8-11: Ditch the Algorithms and Shop Indie This Pr*me Day!

July 9: Tri-West Summer School - Panel: Creating Successful Bookstore Crawls and Passport Programs

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

July 16: Tri-West Summer School - Roundtable: Tips & Tricks for Recognizing and Battling "Soft" Book Bans

July 23: Tri-West Summer School - Holiday Prep Starts Now: Create Your Checklist

August: Back to School Month / Black Business Month

August 6: Tri-West Summer School - Edelweiss: What Is It? Why Do You Need It? And How to Get Started!

August 9: Bookstore Romance Day

August 13: Tri-West Summer School - Round Table: Marketing Audiobooks and E-Books as Part of Your Brand to Capture Non-traditional Reading Customers.

August 20: Tri-West Summer School - Understanding & Improving Cost of Good Sold

August 25: Fall Fest Hotel Group Rate Ends - Book Now!

September: Self-Care Awareness Month / National Hispanic Heritage Month

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.

1 - Octavia’s Bookshelf in Pasadena 2 - Wild Sisters Book Co. visited Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego 3 - Kepler’sBooks in Menlo Park 4 - A Seat at the Table Books in Elk Grove 5 - Orinda Books 6 - Towne Center Books in Pleasanton 7 - Green Apple Books in San Francisco 8 - Ruby’s Books in Folsom

1 - Octavia’s Bookshelf in Pasadena, celebrated Octavia E. Butler’s birthday 🎂

2 - Wild Sisters Book Co. visited Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego. Look at that amazing staff picks display 🥹

3 - Kepler’sBooks in Menlo Park, has an honorary bookseller 😍

4 - A Seat at the Table Books in Elk Grove, offered more ways to protest and get involved 🪧✍️✉️

5 - Orinda Books highlighted a few diverse kids lit books 🌈

6 - Towne Center Books in Pleasanton, shows off their many Pride Month displays around their store 🏳️‍🌈

7 - Green Apple Books in San Francisco, kicked off an adult summer reading program with a bang 🥁

8 - Ruby’s Books in Folsom, has a super cute “Save A Horse, Read A Cowboy Romance” display 🏇

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

Visit our classifieds for more listings

CALIBA CURRENTLY READING:

Alecia

Supporting Staff

Black Sun

Rebecca Roanhorse

9781534437685

Hannah

Executive Director

Rogue Protocol:

The Murderbot Diaries

Martha Wells

9781250191786

Valentina

Operations Manager

A Head Full of Ghosts

Paul Tremblay

9780062363244

CALIBA RESOURCES

2025 LA Fires Resources Page

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

Bookseller Mentorship Program | Mentee Sign-Up Form Here (Login Required) Mentor Sign-Up Form Here ((Login Required)

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 b ookstore 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.

Support CALIBA

Publishers support CALIBA when bookstores participate.

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

Hannah Walcher, Executive Director

Livermore CA 94550

06.19.25 Publisher News & InformationJune 19, 2025 06.26.25 Publisher News & InformationJune 26, 2025