10.15.26 CALIBA Bookseller News & Information

October 15, 2026

in Bookseller Newsletter,

CALIBA MEMBERSHIP PERKS - FALL 2026 EDITION

IN THIS ISSUE

TAKE ACTION

News from Small Business Rising and AMIBA

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

2026 Winter Catalog: Shipped to Stores

2026 Golden Poppy Awards: New Marketing Resources

Substitute Bookseller Program

*SAVE THE DATE* 2027 CALIBA Bookstore Map Orders Open Nov. 1st

Fall Fest Virtual Education Sessions from Show Sponsors in October

BOOKSELLER SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

James Patterson Bookstore Bonus Program Nominations Close Oct. 29

BOOKSTORE 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 - September 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.

MEMBERSHIP EXPIRED?

Check your member compass here.

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.

FREE FIXTURES

"We’d like to get the cases out by the end of November if we can. They were made by Franklin Fixtures and are well built and sturdy as heck....We also have (mostly brown) metal folding chairs (pictured) and a couple of rolling carts (pictured). Lots of acrylic slatwall book display items and some acrylic cascades (for cards or books). These items are all FREE."

Bonnie, Alexander Book Co.

Cell: 415.272.7704

Email: Bonnie@AlexanderBook.com

Link to free item pictures.

TAKE ACTION

NEWS FROM SMALL BUSINESS RISING

87% OPPOSE INCREASING SBA SIZE STANDARDS + DEADLINE EXTENDED!

The GovCon Intelligence SubStack found 87% of public comments submitted opposed SBA’s proposed increased sizes for “small businesses.” The rule would expand the definition so far that firms with $1 billion in annual revenue, banks with $5 billion in assets, and companies with thousands of employees could qualify. Responding to the outpouring of concern, the SBA extended the public comment period an additional 60 days. Learn more from ILSR here. If you’re a small business owner, it’s your chance to have your voice heard. You can find a template letter here.

Business Insider covers California's fight against Amazon's practice of price-fixing. Watch their 20 min report and add your name to the sign on.

AMIBA INVITATION TO JOIN THE ACTION NETWORK

Bringing Power and Prosperity Back to Our Communities: 100+ Signers - Declaration for Independent Businesses. Click here for more info and/or sign on today!

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

2026 WINTER CATALOG: SHIPPED TO STORES

Thank you for ordering your winter catalogs. CALIBA will provide up to $200 rebate for bookstores that participated in newspaper insertions and saturation mailing. Winter Catalog Rebate Form

Note: CALIBA has a select number of copies of the catalog if you run out of copies or missed the order deadline. Email info@caliballiance.org.

Download professionally designed catalog resources.

Edelweiss list of CALIBA winter catalog titles.

Starting October 1, Ingram will add a 2% discount on all winter catalog titles. No code needed.

MAKE THE MOST OF THE WINTER CATALOG

RAMP's Winter Catalog is an amazing marketing resource that comes with your membership. Learn the ins and outs on how to use the catalogs to your advantage during Hannah's Office Hours on Thursday, October 22nd. Click here to RSVP: 9am Session or 2pm Session.

2026 GOLDEN POPPY AWARDS: NEW MARKETING RESOURCES

BOOKSTORE DISPLAY CONTEST
Create a display featuring Golden Poppy Award Finalists anytime between now and January 31st.
A bookstore winner will be announced in February 2027. 2025 Display Contest Winner: Moonstone & Mist Bookshop. To enter the display contest tag @caliba_20 on instagram or submit photos of the display to Alecia.

WINTER BOOK BINGO & READERS' CHOICE AWARDS

We want to keep your customers reading Golden Poppy Finalists through the end of the year with bingo*, leading into our Readers' Choice Awards. Readers will choose their winning finalists for the 13 Golden Poppy categories. Click here to access marketing resources.

*Bingo prizes to be provided at the discretion of each bookstore.

2026 GOLDEN POPPY AWARDS RESOURCES

2026 Golden Poppy Award Winners & Finalists!
*NEW POSTERS ADDED* Marketing resources for Finalists & Winners.
Click here to order free supplies and merchandise.

JOIN A 2027 GOLDEN POPPY BOOK AWARDS COMMITTEE TODAY!

Interested in joining a Golden Poppy Committee next year? Complete the Committee Interest Form Here.

SUBSTITUTE BOOKSELLER PROGRAM: NEED HELP AT THE BOOKSTORE FOR AN EVENT OR DURING THE HOLIDAY RUSH?

If you are looking for some help, we have a few booksellers that have already filled out the form! Find a Substitute Bookseller Here (login required). If you are having trouble accessing your account, email Valentina.

If you would like to be a Substitute Bookseller, fill out this form!

*SAVE THE DATE* 2027 CALIBA BOOKSTORE MAP ORDERS OPEN NOVEMBER 1ST

CALIBA is excited to launch our first-ever CALIBA Member Bookstore Map for Indie Bookstore Day 2027!

The map is a beautifully designed, quality product bookstores can sell at their register to customers who love supporting Independent Bookstores. These maps are for book lovers looking for epic road trip inspiration! Art and layout done by Works by Abigail, a Bay Area artist, author, and former bookseller! Click here for more info.

MISSED THE SOUND INVESTMENT: MAXIMIZING THE LIBRO.FM REVENUE STREAM VIRTUAL SESSION?

Here is the link to the virtual session recording:
Access recording

Passcode: yVC=A3jH

Link to the session toolkit

INTRODUCING COVERED - INGRAM'S DRC AND CATALOG SITE | OCTOBER 21TH, 12-1PM PT

Booksellers are always looking for standout titles to share with their customers. Join us for a look at Covered, Ingram’s new site designed to connect booksellers with digital review copies (DRCs) and title information direct from publishers. Brought to us by Fall Fest Sponsor, Covered. Click here to register.

EDELWEISS OMNIBUS: NEXT STOP, YOUR BOOKSTORE | OCTOBER 28TH, 12-1PM PT

Your store is wherever you are… in the stacks, at the counter, at an offsite two towns over. So is Omnibus for Booksellers.Brought to us by Fall Fest Sponsor, Omnibus. Click here to register.

VIRTUAL EDUCATION SESSIONS CALENDAR

CALL FOR MENTORS

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

JOIN A CALIBA COMMITTEE

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

We are looking for volunteers to help with running our shows.

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!

Bookstores & Provisional Bookstores

Bookstore: $200

Provisional Bookstore (expires after two years at this level): $100

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 Bookstore Map
Summer and Winter Catalog Marketing Campaigns 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

JOIN CALIBA NOW

Click here for more details.

BOOKSELLER SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

James Patterson Bookseller Bonus Fall 2026

JAMES PATTERSON HOLIDAY BOOKSTORE BONUS PROGRAM

James Patterson is once again supporting independent booksellers with a revival of his Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program!

Patterson has pledged a personal contribution of $300,000, to be distributed in amounts of $500, to 600 booksellers from ABA member bookstores.

The nomination form is open until October 29th. Click here for more information and to nominate booksellers.

MORE SCHOLARSHIPS & FUNDRAISERS

BOOKSTORE PROMOTIONS & MARKETING

CALIBA MARKETING ASSETS

Start the Season at Your Indie Bookstore

ABA MARKETING ASSETS

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

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

October: LGBTQ+ History Month / Filipino American History Month / National Book Month / National Reading Group Month / National Cookbook Month / TeenTober™ / National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15)

October 21: Introducing Covered - Ingram's DRC and Catalog Site

October 28: Edelweiss Omnibus: Next Stop, Your Bookstore

October 29: James Patterson Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program Nominations Close

October 31: Halloween

November: National Native American Heritage Month / Nonfiction November / Picture Book Month

November 1: Cast your vote for the Indies Choice Book Awards!

November 3: General Election Day

November 8: Diwali

November 11: Veterans Day

November 9-13: University Press Week

November 9-15: Children's Book Week

November 26: Thanksgiving

November 28: Small Business Saturday/Indies First

Our 2026 Storyselling Course begins on Wednesday, October , and registration opens on Monday, September 28 at 1 pm ET / 12 pm CT / 11 am MT / 10 am PT Formerly known as "Advanced Marketing and Design," Storyselling is a master class on connecting your bookstore to your customers and help stores move to providing unique experiences beyond simply selling products. Taught by Lisa Uhrik and Kit Little, the course has three sessions: Clarity: Knowing Your Store Curiosity: Knowing Your Customers Creativity: Unforgettable Together Registration is $275 with discounts available for members of all regions that support PBS. Find out more and register here. Registration is limited to 20 students, and to stores that are already open, with no more than one employee from each store. The course graphic is attached. As always, please reach out with any questions. Info on registration for the 2027 live courses is coming soon!

PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL STORYSELLING COURSE - 9 SPOTS REMAINING

PBS' 2026 Storyselling Course begins on Wednesday, October 21st, registration opened on Monday, September 28th.

Formerly known as "Advanced Marketing and Design," Storyselling is a master class on connecting your bookstore to your customers and will help stores provide unique experiences beyond simply selling products.

Find out more and register here.

Happy Banned Books Week (cont'd), Everyone!

1 - Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural and Bookstore (Sylmar)

2 - Banter Bookshop (Fremont)

3 - Diesel, A Bookstore (Santa Monica)

4 - Postalworks (Los Angeles)

5 - Bel Canto Books (Long Beach)

6 - Once Upon a Time Bookstore (Montrose)

7 - Alibi Bookshop (Vallejo)

8 - Mysterious Galaxy (San Diego)

In the News

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.