11.05.26 CALIBA Bookseller News & Information

November 5, 2026

in Bookseller Newsletter,

IN THIS ISSUE

CALIBA OFFICE

CALIBA Board of Directors:
Nominations Open for One Seat
(In Progress Term)

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Send in Your Bookseller Recommendations for January & February

Office Hours Will Return in January

Tips for Using the Winter Catalog

2027 Golden Poppy Awards Submissions Are Open

Substitute Bookseller Program

*SAVE THE DATE* 2027 CALIBA Bookstore Map Orders Open Soon

SCHOLARSHIPS & FUNDRAISERS

*CLOSES NOV. 19TH* Children's Insitute 2027 Scholarship Form

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 - October 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.

CALIBA OFFICE

CALIBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS: NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR ONE SEAT (IN PROGRESS TERM)

CALIBA’s Board of Directors invites you to join the dynamic team that helps steer the organization to best serve our indie bookselling community.

If you are interested in nominating yourself or another bookseller for this "in progress term seat," email Recruiting Committee Chair, MarkO’Neal.

Nominations to the board will close in January.

More updates on the voting period to come.

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

CALIBA Monthly Bookseller Recommendations

SEND IN YOUR BOOKSELLER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR JANUARY & FEBRUARY: MONTHLY SOCIAL POST

We're bringing back the monthly social media assets and we want your help with the book lists. Contribute your reading recommendations each month. You all contribute to the list of titles and we'll make the creative assets for every CALIBA member to use on their social pages or repost!

Now accepting recommendations for JANUARY (Financial Wellness Month) and FEBRUARY (Black History Month).

SUBMIT YOUR READING RECOMMENDATIONS

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

OFFICE HOURS WILL RETURN IN JANUARY

Office Hours with Hannah will take a break in November and December. If you would like to schedule a one-on-one meeting before January's Office Hours email Hannah.

TIPS FOR USING THE WINTER CATALOG

CALIBA creates the Winter Catalog to help booksellers sell books and support the organization. With the help of the other regionals, we have compiled a list of ideas for making the most of your winter catalog that you can find here.

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.

Catalog Resources

Winter Catalog Rebate Fo rm
Download professionally designed catalog resources.
Edelwe iss list of CALIBA winter catalog titles.
Starting October 1, Ingram will add a 2% discount on all winter catalog titles. No code needed.

2027 GOLDEN POPPY AWARDS SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN!

Help spread the word with your Sales Reps so they can get their Fall/Winter Books by California authors ready for the 2027 Golden Poppy Awards (eligible titles published between November 16, 2026-November 15, 2027)! Click here to learn more about the Golden Poppy Awards.

Signed up for a committee? Watch your inbox for an email from Valentina confirming your assignment soon!

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!

We help readers discover their next favorite book through reliable reviews, author features, and thoughtful recommendations. We share booksellers' passion for connecting readers with great books.

SCHOLARSHIPS & FUNDRAISERS

Children's Institute 2027 Scholarship Form Now Open

CLOSES NOV. 19TH - CHILDREN'S INSITUTE 2027 SCHOLARSHIP FORM

Click here for more information.

MORE SCHOLARSHIPS & FUNDRAISERS

BOOKSTORE PROMOTIONS & MARKETING

PRH TWO-DAY HOLIDAY TRANSIT IS BACK

Penguin Random House's 15th annual two-day holiday transit program for independent bookstores began Monday, October 26, and will run through January 11, 2027.

The initiative, a cornerstone of the company's support for independent booksellers during the all-important fourth quarter, will continue to feature the popular "no minimums" requirement. Booksellers can submit orders in any quantity, on their schedule, without having to build up to a minimum-retail-value threshold.

HOLIDAY SHIPPING CUTOFF DATES FROM INGRAM

To help ensure timely delivery, Ingram strongly encourages you to place holiday orders as early as possible. Based on projected volumes and carrier holiday schedules, they recommend the following last order dates for delivery by Christmas:

U.S. Retailers: Order by Dec. 15, 2026

Please note: These recommendations are based on current information and may be subject to change. Ingram will continue processing and shipping orders beyond these dates, but delivery by Christmas cannot be guaranteed.

Additionally, please be aware of the following carrier holiday closures:

Thanksgiving – November 26, 2026
Christmas Day – December 25, 2026
New Year's Eve & Day – December 31, 2026, and January 1, 2027

2026 Readers' Choice Awards - Golden Poppy Book Awards

CALIBA MARKETING ASSETS

2026 GOLDEN POPPY AWARDS RESOURCES

*NEW ASSETS ADDED* Readers' Choice Awards Raffle Marketing Assets - Updated January Assets and Updated Social Captions!
2026 Winter Book Bingo & Readers' Choice Awards Marketing Assets
2026 Golden Poppy Display Contest Ends January 31, 2027.
*NEW POSTERS ADDED* Marketing resources for Finalists & Winners.
Click here to order free supplies and merchandise.

ABA MARKETING ASSETS

Indies Choice Book Awards - Marketing Assets | Shortlist Voting
Sign up for Shop Indie Local 2026 Holiday Campaign
*NEW* Q1 2027 Marketing Assets
Q4 2026 checklist
Shop Small for a Big Impact
Indies First publisher specials
2026 Indie Gift Guide for Genre Lovers Preview
Indie Bookstore Day Planning Guide

HAVE YOU JOINED THE ABA BOOKSELLER FORUMS?

Check out the new ABA bookseller forums for a digital space to come together for connection, share best practices and resources, talk about your businesses, and crowdsource ideas and solutions to problems!

To access the forums, use your BookWeb login, complete your forum profile, then begin posting.

Please note: All ABA groups previously hosted on Discord have been moved to the new BookWeb bookseller forums!

Friends of Fantasy Day returns on January 30th, 2027!

Join hundreds of bookstores and libraries across the country in celebrating the fantastical and fantasy-adjacent by creating displays, hosting author events, inviting your staff and community to dress up, or any way you'd like to honor the magic of fantasy, sci-fi, and speculative fiction. Sign up here to be included on their participating bookstore list and featured on their social media.

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

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

OPEN ENROLLMENT REMINDERS FOR BOOKSELLERS

ABA's health coverage partner, Gallagher (formerly LIG), has compiled reminders and key dates to help you prepare for this Open Enrollment season. Click here to learn more.

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

November 5: Independent Bookstore Day Form Closes

November 8: Diwali

November 9, 10am PT: Skill Swap: Pop-Up Bookstores On Book Fairs - Register for ABA Session

November 11: Veterans Day

November 9-13: University Press Week

November 9-15: Children's Book Week

November 18: Indies Choice Book Awards Shortlist Voting Closes

November 19: Children’s Institute 2027 Scholarship Applications Close

November 26: CALIBA Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving

November 27: Plaid Friday

November 28: Small Business Saturday/Indies First

November 30: Cider Monday

December 1: Giving Tuesday

December 1-12: Hanukkah

December 3-7: #ReadingAfrica

December 7: Gallagher Medicare Open Enrollment Closes

December 24: Jólabókaflóð

December 25: CALIBA Office Closed in Observance of Christmas

December 26-January 1: Kwanzaa

December 31: New Year's Eve

PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL INVENTORY MANAGEMENT - REGISTRATION OPENS NOV. 16TH AT 10AM

PBS' Inventory Management course teaches owners and/or store buyers to create buying strategies and routines that get the best discounts, maintain cash flow, work within budgets, and integrate with the store’s marketing and merchandising. The skills students learn will help them analyze and improve their buying process.

Click here to learn more about the course.

PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL PROFITABILITY COURSE - REGISTRATION OPENS NOV. 16TH AT 10AM

PBS' Profitability Course helps stores move into the black by teaching diverse strategies for increasing income, decreasing expenses, and improving margins.

Download the syllabus to learn more.

MORE INFO ABOUT PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL

1 - The Pleasant Pheasant Bookstore, in Woodland, has been open for a year. Congratulations!

2 - Spectator Books, in Oakland, commemorated Sir Patrick Stewart's passing.

Happy Diwali!

3 - The Love Potion Library, in San Francisco, will be celebrating Diwali on Sunday with a henna artist and treats.

Get out the Vote!

4 - Noe Valley Books (San Francisco)

5 - The Booksmith (San Francisco)

6 - Casita Bookstore (Long Beach)

7 - A Seat at the Table (Elk Grove)

Autumn Vibes

8 - Once Upon a Time Bookstore, in Montrose, is ready for all of the holidays with their Fall themed display.

In the News

Don't forget to follow CALIBA (@caliba_20)!

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.