07.16.26 CALIBA Bookseller News & Information

July 16, 2026

in Bookseller Newsletter,

PLAN FOR FALL FEST 2026 | GLENN GOLDMAN SCHOLARSHIP FOR Wi2027

Complete ABACUS for a chance at a Winter Institute 2027 Scholarship

IN THIS ISSUE

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

*AUTHOR SESSIONS* 2026 Fall Fest, September 14-15th

*THIS YEAR ONLY* San Diego Bookstore Tours, Sept. 13th: Mysterious Galaxy & UC San Diego Bookstore

*REGISTER NOW* Tri-West Summer School is Back!

Office Hours with Hannah

INDUSTRY EVENTS, PROMOTIONS & MARKETING

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 - June 2026

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.

IS YOUR CALIBA MEMBERSHIP EXPIRED?

Check your member compass here to make sure you don't miss out on any of our programming.

RECENTLY OPENED A NEW LOCATION? Add a new store location on our website and label your original location as the "Parent Company."

JOIN US ON DISCORD

Email Valentina to join.

Current CALIBA bookseller membership required.

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

2026 FALL FEST, SEPT. 14TH-15TH: AUTHOR SESSIONS

Please join us for two full days of education, authors and connection with booksellers throughout the state of California. One of our biggest CALIBA membership perks!

DoubleTree by Hilton Mission Valley San Diego

7450 Hazard Center Drive

San Diego, CA 92108

VIEW THE SCHEDULE

MODERATOR/PANELIST INTEREST

BOOKSELLER SCHOLARSHIPS

Click here for more details.

*THIS YEAR ONLY!* SAN DIEGO BOOKSTORE TOURS, SEPT. 13TH: MYSTERIOUS GALAXY & UC SAN DIEGO BOOKSTORE

Join fellow booksellers the day before Fall Fest for a special tour of San Diego Stores. Made possible by our friends and members at the UC San Diego Bookstore!

We've asked the participating stores to share what they love about San Diego and what places to visit! We'll feature 2 stores each week leading up to August 30th (end of registration).

BOOKSTORE TOUR ROUTES

"San Diego is more than great weather: it's a big, international city full of diverse, unique neighborhoods that make it feel like a bunch of small towns. It's full of people who love the outdoors, breweries, and dogs. Outside of visiting the many indie bookstores in the county, we enjoy exploring Balboa Park (which includes the San Diego Zoo and many museums), sampling the different restaurants in Little Italy and North Park, and spending the day at Liberty Station in Point Loma." —Matthew Berger, Mysterious Galaxy

"San Diego is a book town! We have so many different bookstores & libraries. I love walking around our campus full of trees and bees. My favorite part of town is South Park, where The Book Catapult is located with several great food stops and cool shops in walking distance. Coffee, tea & panini's, vintage clothing, art, home decor, craft beer, wine bar, vinyl, fun stuff!"—Teri Den Herder, UC San Diego Bookstore

View Teri's recommendations

TRI-WEST SUMMER SCHOOL IS BACK! REGISTER NOW

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

Buying to Boost Your Brand

Wednesday, July 22nd at 12pm PDT

Newer buyers sometimes lack a sophisticated concept of turns and how important they are for the bottom line, as well as for their store's inventory management strategy. Professional Booksellers School Dean Carol Price will explain how the restocking process helps buyers learn what their customers are buying so they can, in turn, better curate the frontlist, also allowing for frontlist "risks" that support a store’s identity and mission. Click here to register now.

VIEW THE FULL COURSE SCHEDULE

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.

CALL FOR BOOKSELLERS

Looking for extra staffing or employment this summer?

CALL FOR MENTORS

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

JOIN A CALIBA COMMITTEE

INDUSTRY EVENTS, PROMOTIONS & MARKETING

BOOKS ACROSS BORDERS "HOT TRANSLATION SUMMER" BOOK BUZZ - WEDNESDAY, JULY 22ND

"Books Across Borders (BAB) will host a free virtual webinar for booksellers and librarians, previewing upcoming books in translation. Publisher reps from Europa Editions, Other Press, NorthSouth Books, Princeton University Press, Deep Vellum, New York Review Books, and Tapioca Stories will present a range of translated titles coming out this fall."

CALIBA MARKETING ASSETS

Paperback Book Day (7/30) - assets available on site
Book Lovers Day (8/9) - assets available on site July 24!
BIPOC Committee: We Are America Campaign
Certified Indie Bookstore Campaign

MORE MARKETING ASSETS

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

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

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

July 23-25: Black Lit Weekend 2026 - Register Now

*EXTENDED* July 24: ABACUS Survey due

July 30: Paperback Book Day Marketing Assets

August: Black Business Month / Women In Translation Month / Back to School Month

August 9: Book Lovers Day - Marketing Assets Available July 24th

August 14: Love Your Bookshop Day

August 15: Bookstore Romance Day

August 29: Black Boosktsore Day

September 13-15: 2026 Fall Fest: Bookstore Tour & Bookseller Conference - Register Now

1 - Christopher’s Books, in San Francisco, received 35th anniversary flowers from Noe Valley Books.

2 - Children’s Book World, in Los Angeles, is getting ready for the inaugural Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl next week!

3 - Bel Canto Books, in Long Beach, celebrated a successful event—Festival of AAPI Books.

4 - A Seat at the Tabe, in Elk Grove, reminding their customers for America’s 250th that “Dissent is Patriotic.”

5 - Napa Bookmine, is honoring books written through a different lens for Disability Pride Month.

6 - The Reading Bug, in San Carlos, has adorable soccer plushies (the red card!) and books for World Cup.

7 - Linden Tree Books, in Los Altos, is in the midst of Where’s Waldo season.

8 - LibroMobile, in Santa Ana, isn’t waiting until October to highlight spooky reads. Summerween FTW.

In the News

Binc Announces Scholarship Winners
Chapter 3 Bookstore & Cafe Coming to San Francisco, Calif.
Pete Mulvihill Selling His Part of Green Apple to Co-Owner Kevin Ryan
Hanif Abdurraqib Named 2026 ABA Indie Bookstore Ambassador
Children’s Institute 2026 in Photos
Tiny new bookstore in Larkspur caters to kids
13 bookstores kick off first-ever Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl July 24-26
Warwick's bookstore in La Jolla welcomes 'vibrant,' new art piece
Judging by the Cover Completes Move in Fresno, Calif.

BOOKSTORE FEATURES

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.

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.

BOOKSTORE: 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.

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