**No newsletter next week - in observance of Thanksgiving**
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2025 GOLDEN POPPY BOOK AWARDS: FINALISTS ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK
The members of CALIBA present The Golden Poppy Book Awards to recognize the most distinguished books written by writers and artists who make California their home. Click here for more info.
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Golden Poppy Schedule:
-MONDAY, November 24: Shelf Awareness x Golden Poppy Awards Finalists Email Proofs Sent to Bookstores - be sure to check your inbox!
-Week of November 24: Shelf Awareness x Golden Poppy Awards Finalist Emails Sent to Bookstore Customers
-January 1-11: Bookseller Voting Period
-January 29: Golden Poppy Book Awards Virtual Ceremony
-January 30: Shelf Awareness x Golden Poppy Awards Winners Emails Sent to Bookstore Customers
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2026 GOLDEN POPPY BOOK AWARDS: EXCITING NEWS
As the Golden Poppy Committee Members get ready to announce their 2025 finalists, the CALIBA Staff and Board are thrilled to announce exciting changes to the program.
Since its creation in 2020, the dream of the CALIBA Board has been an in-person Golden Poppy Award ceremony and in 2026 we are finally making it happen!
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WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU: COMMITTEE MEMBERS!
We are starting to build our committees for 2026 now. Please review the requirements in the 2026 Golden Poppy Committee form (some are new this year!)
We are so excited to finally be bringing this dream into reality. We hope you and your authors are as excited by this update as we are!
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GET INVOLVED! JOIN A CALIBA COMMITTEE
Join one of our committees and contribute your insights, passion, and creativity to the future and strength of CALIBA. Most committees require a few zoom calls a year, assisting the office, vetting authors and books for programs, and/or volunteering at in-person conferences. Sign up before committees resume in January. Click here for more details about CALIBA Committees.
The following committees are seeking members:
- Education Committee
- BIPOC Booksellers Committee (formerly Mosaic)
- Nominating Committee
- Publisher Relations Committee
- Political Advocacy Committee
Interested in joining one of the committees above? Click here to fill out the form.
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INTRODUCING A POP-UP TOOL KIT FROM CALIBA
We've been working on a Pop-Up Tool Kit doc to share as a resource for CALIBA member stores that are new to pop-up/mobile events (an Advisory Council suggestion). Do you have any additional tips you think we should include in this document for future members? Email Alecia.
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TIPS FOR USING THE WINTER CATALOG
CALIBA creates the Holiday 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 holiday catalog that you can find here.
Note: CALIBA has 1,000 catalog copies. If you run out of copies or missed the order deadline - email info@caliballiance.org.
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Catalog tip from Flo at Linden Tree Books, in Los Altos:
We keep catalogs by the door, cash register, and add them to bags.
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Have other ideas on how bookstores can use the Winter Catalog? Share it on Discord or email Alecia!
Catalog Resources
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DECEMBER MARKETING ASSETS: ON OUR SITE NOV. 26TH
-National Cookie Day (12/4)
-National Cocoa Day (12/13)
-International Tea Day (12/15)
JANUARY MARKETING ASSET: NATIONAL BIRD DAY
We included a poll in last week's newsletter to see which theme you all would like us to make marketing assets for in January. National Bird Day (1/4/26) was the poll winner! Look for assets to be delivered in our Dec. 24th newsletter.
Click here to access the marketing assets page.
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PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL
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INDIE BOOKSTORE PROMOTIONS
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EXPAND YOUR REACH WITH BAY CITY NEWS
Bay City News is reimagining its new book beat through editorial partnerships with booksellers, libraries, author groups and publishers and wants your events, ideas and contributions. Since 1979, the regional news wire has covered Northern California's 13 counties for regional media partners; the agency launched its nonprofit arm in 2018, providing features direct to audiences and via services like MSN and Newsbreak. Share your events to newsroom@baycitynews.com, as well as your interest in contributing to inventive features and/or suggesting ideas for collaboration. Feel free to send them your newsletters! Click here for more ways to get your store featured in Bay City News.
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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, 2025
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 27, 2025
- Christmas Day – December 25, 2025
- New Year's Eve & Day – December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026
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PRH TWO-DAY HOLIDAY TRANSIT IS BACK
Penguin Random House's 14th annual two-day holiday transit program for independent bookstores began October 15, and will run through January 26, 2026.
The program, which supports independent bookstores during and beyond the holiday season, will continue to feature the "no minimums" requirement first introduced during the Covid pandemic. Booksellers can submit orders in any quantity, on their schedule, without having to build up to a minimum-retail-value threshold.
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SCHOLASTIC OFFERS EXPEDITED SHIPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS
To help you stock up on titles for the holiday season, Scholastic is bringing back the Indie Expedited Ship Program.
Indies can receive expedited shipping on all orders placed between now and December 19! You will need to log in to BookWeb to view expedited shipping details.
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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.
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1 - Bird Rock Bookshop, in La Jolla, was featured in the San Diego Union Tribune!
2 - Warwick’s, in La Jolla, has partnered with the San Diego Food Bank to provide a collection bin for much needed food for their community.
3 - Read the Region’s Sacramento Holiday Book Crawl will start on Small Business Saturday, with CALIBA members: Beers Books, Bloodstone Books, Capital Books, Crawford’s Books, Ruby’s Books, A Seat at the Table Books, Underground Books, and Wild Sisters Book Co.
4 - Leigh’s Favorite Books, in Sunnyvale, is celebrating with a tiered giveaway to thank their supporters.
5 - The Book Jewel, in Los Angeles, is celebrating Fall with their staff picks.
6 - The Book Seller, in Grass Valley, are stocked up and ready to fulfill your gifting needs.
7 - Vroman’s Bookstore, in Pasadena, amazing Holiday Shop is here!
8 - The Reading Bug, in San Carlos, is officially ready for the holiday season!
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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.
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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
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- Associate Buyer - Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
- Bookstore for Sale - Camino Books, Del Mar
- Bookstore Manager - Chevalier's, Los Angeles
- Publishing Assistant - The Collective Book Studio, Oakland
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Cemetery Boys
9781250792075
Aiden Thomas
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Hannah
Executive Director
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Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
V.E. Schwab
9781250320520
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Valentina
Operations Manager
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The Raven Scholar
Antonia Hodgson
9780316577229
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This map shows our current bookstore members.
Don't see your store on the map? Check your information on our website, then contact Alecia to update the map.
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Email Valentina to join.
Current CALIBA bookseller membership required.
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We're working hard to make your life easier with membership tips & tricks:
How to set up auto-pay for dues.
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Support CALIBA
Publishers support CALIBA when bookstores participate.
Bookstore Participation = Publisher Sponsorship = CALIBA = Bookstore Education, Advocacy, Networking +++
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