GLIBA Regional Newsletter: February 14, 2025

Check out the cover of the 2025 GLIBA Summer Catalog!

Booksellers: Order Your Free Summer Catalogs by March 15!

Order Summer Catalogs Here >>

Just in time for Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer, this 8-page square catalog is THE summer resource for readers. Don't miss this high-energy compendium of summer titles!

• Member stores can order 500 FREE catalogs to be shipped direct-to-store at no cost

• Catalogs can be distributed in-store, at curbside, through store order shipments and delivers, at events, AND through neighborhood partners!

• Personalize the catalog back cover with a store stamp or label

• Quantities over 500 may be purchased for $55 per 500

• Catalogs are full-color, 8 pages, 7.125" × 7.125" square on thick paper

Target date for catalog delivery is May 8

ATTENTION PUBLISHERS! SUBMIT AUTHORS FOR GLIBA'S

2025 SPRING FORUM!

GLIBA 2024 Holiday Catalog Rebate Form

If you have distributed the catalog more than once this year please submit a separate form for each distribution. GLIBA reimburses a percentage of each rebate. Once we have calculated and processed your rebate a check will be mailed.

Please submit the form and attach all documentation by February 28, 2025. Click the button below for the form. Thank you!

NEW! Heartland Fall Forum Virtual Office Hours

Below are the sessions for the months of February and March 2025:

• February 18th, 10am & 4pm CST: For Booksellers/Attendees: Author Pitches + Events; Feedback for the Trade Show Floor + Rep Picks
• March 4th, 10am & 4pm CST: Call for Education Topics!
• March 18th, 10am & 4pm CST: Call for Education Topics!

Click here for the Google Meet link for sessions, or click the button below to the Events page on the GLIBA site. For any questions, reach out to Executive Coordinator February Spikener at [email protected].

Heartland 2024

Rep Picks Survey



Please take this short Heartland Rep Picks survey. This survey is for publishers that have participated in the Heartland Fall Forum Rep Picks event or wish to participate in future Heartland Rep Picks events.

This short survey will help us evolve Rep Picks to better meet the needs of of our publishing and industry partners.

If you have any questions, please email Executive Director Larry Law at [email protected].

Kalamazoo Mourns Dean Margaret Hauck of Michigan News Agency

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Anyone who has driven down Michigan Avenue through downtown Kalamazoo has probably noticed a sign that reads "Michigan News Agency."

Opening in 1947, Michigan News Agency is a longtime newsstand and bookstore business that has withstood decades of change in the city.

According to family members on social media, the owner and locally-known icon, Dean Margaret Hauck, died on Saturday.

Hauck was known for her love of reading and writing, and keeping the community connected through newspapers and magazines. These values were reflected in the large sign at the front of the store that says "Eat Sleep Read Local".

Additionally, Hauck made sure the store maintained its reputation of being open seven days a week. In 2019, she told News Channel 3 why the store would remain open even during a blizzard:

"You can't be closed, never. We're open everyday of the year," Hauck said. "Staff are sourced so that we are open because that's our reputation--and we live by it."

However, customers looking to shop at the store over the weekend noticed an unfamiliar sight: a closed sign on the door with no indication as to when it will reopen.

Hauck was so well-known in the community that State Rep. Julie Rogers took to Facebook Sunday to express her condolences.

The Book Table (Oak Park, IL)

Selling Store Fixtures

The Book Table is looking to sell the fixtures in their storefront including bookcases, tables, modular tempered glass display cubes, book easels from Clear Solutions, card racks, display spinners, etc. For inquiries of available inventory, setting up a store visit, and price lists, email Rachel Weaver at [email protected].

Save the Date! Third Annual MI Book Hop

Saturday April 26 through Sunday, May 26, 2025

Happy New Year! We hope that your holiday season was successful, rewarding, and not too stressful. 

While January is typically a time of rest, it’s also when we are dreaming, scheming, and planning the new year. And for GLIBA Member Stores in Michigan, we’re asking that you include the 2025 MI Book Hop on your calendar! 

If you’ve not heard of the MI Book Hop, let us introduce ourselves! MI Book Hop is a volunteer-run Book Hop across Michigan organized and administered by fellow Booksellers. It kicks off on Independent Bookstore Day and runs through Mother’s Day weekend – Saturday April 26 through Sunday, May 26, 2025. MI Book Hop started in 2023 when Laura Harvey from Adventure Ink in Milan pulled a group of interested stores together and started outreach to more stores. GLIBA Director Larry Law has served as a sounding board since its inception and generously donated his time to design our mascot graphic and create our Bingo cards each year. The MI Book Hop became an official GLIBA Committee late 2024.

The Hop was created to generate more fun around Independent Bookstore Day and extend the excitement out a little farther and introduce potential new customers to stores. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for stores to participate as well as simple and fun for participants. 2024, the second year of MI Book Hop, showed exponential growth both in stores and customers participating, and we believe our third year will be even better.

Participation is easy! Customers pick up a Bingo sheet at participating stores, then visit stores and complete other bookish tasks to get a Bingo or fill their sheet. Stores stamp Bingo cards, collect finished cards, report results, and assist in distributing gift cards to winners. They also share in marketing the Hop by posting on their social media channels and featuring in store emails. There is a small buy-in fee to participate which is used to purchase the grand prize, gift card prizes from winning stores, and commemorative pins.

MI Book Hop has a website, and Facebook and Instagram accounts. We also have a Bonfire store. Bingo cards may be viewed on our social media channels for reference.

If you’d like to indicate your interest in participating and be included on the 2025 MI Book Hop emailing list, click here! Deadline to apply for participation is March 3, 2025.

Indie-to-Indie Playlist: Women's History Month

Publisher members of the Independent Publishers Caucus have curated a list of titles to help populate and distinguish your Women's History Month displays. View the list in Edelweiss by clicking here!

March is Indie Press Month!

 $500 display contest and a social media campaign to raise awareness

for indie presses and the bookstores that love them!

What You Need To Know:

COMMIT: To creating an in-store display of Indie Press month titles (available on Airtable and Edelweiss). You are welcome to feature titles outside of this list (we want every bookstore to celebrate in a way that is authentic to them) but we ask that 50% of your display include these promotional titles! 

SUBMIT: A picture of your display. All stores, regardless of social media, will be considered for the $500 prize.

PROMOTE: Indie Press Month, your display, and indie presses in general on social media. You can post anytime in March, but the first five posts on March 5 will receive $50 in co-op. (Tag us @indiepubs on Instagram).

Marketing assets for social, email newsletters, and in-store displays are available. 

All of this information and more is available on our Indie Press Month website, so check it out now! We hope you'll celebrate with us and take this opportunity to raise greater awareness for the awesome work indie presses do! 

Books Across Borders Announces Spring Fellows; 2025-26 applications open 

Books Across Borders (BAB) has announced their Spring 2025 Fellows to the RISE Bookselling Conference in Riga, Latvia and Salone Internazionale del Libro in Turin, Italy. The RISE fellows include Ramunda Young of Mahogany Books, Washington D.C. and Melissa Taylor of E. Shaver, Bookseller; Savannah, GA. The Salone Internazionale del Libro Torino Fellow is Shane Mullen of Left Bank Books, St. Louis, MO.

Books Across Borders aims to connect US booksellers to the international book community through sponsored trips to the world’s premier book fairs. Fellowships include fair attendance, travel expenses and stipend, networking events with international book professionals, the opportunity to report on the event in Shelf Awareness, and participation on a panel of professional relevance or interest to the fellow. BAB fellowships also aim to help raise booksellers’ industry profiles and support their professional development.  

Books Across Borders is accepting applications for the Fall 2025-Spring 2026 season starting Wednesday, February 12, 2025. Booksellers interested in diverse and international literature and in fostering relationships with the international literary community are encouraged to apply. Strong consideration is given to booksellers who demonstrate a history of reading and promoting international literature, and who communicate a kinship with Books Across Borders’s mission and values. Fellows are chosen by the Books Across Borders Board of Directors. The application deadline is May 1, 2025.

Batch for Books Announces Partnerships

with Hachette Book Group

NEW YORK (February 12, 2025) — Batch for Books is proud to announce a new partnership with the Hachette Book Group that marks a significant milestone in Batch’s ongoing mission to provide bookstores and publishers with a simpler, more efficient way to manage invoices and payments.

“This is an exciting milestone for Batch for Books,” said Nathan Halter, US Program Manager. “We are thrilled to partner with Hachette Book Group, whose commitment to supporting Batch underscores their dedication to fostering real, lasting change for independent bookstores. Together, we’re building a stronger future for indie booksellers and the publishing ecosystem.”

Batch for Books offers an intuitive, paperless platform that helps independent bookstores

streamline invoice management and payment processes. The service is currently trusted by over 450 bookstores across the United States and continues to grow.

“These invaluable publisher partnerships reinforce Batch’s dedication to becoming an essential business tool for the bookselling community, delivering significant benefits to both independent bookstores and publishers alike,” said Halter.

“We’re thrilled to see Hachette Book Group’s strong support for the indie channel this past

year,” said Allison K. Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association (ABA). “Their

participation in Batch is further proof of their commitment to both the indies and innovation

within the book industry, and ABA is grateful for their participation and leadership.”

Hachette Book Group expects to be fully integrated with Batch by June 2025. Bookstores

interested in signing up for Batch should email [email protected] for more

information.

Countdown to Independent Bookstore Day 2025

We are just over three months out from Independent Bookstore Day 2025!

Get your store ready with the ABA's To-Do List for January.

Independent Bookstore Day Planning Guide

IBD Key Dates

• March 31, 2025: Indie Bookstore Day 2025 Participation Form closes. (Stores that didn't order exclusive items can sign up to participate until this date.)
• April 4, 2025: Indie Bookstore Day Searchable Map goes live on IndieBound
• Early- to mid-April: All exclusives ship to bookstores
• April 21–25, 2025: Indie Bookstore Day Spirit Week
• April 26, 2025: Independent Bookstore Day

Children's Book Week Assets

Children’s Book Week, established in 1919, is a celebration of books and the connection they bring. This year's celebration will be May 5-11! Assets and more are available from the Children's Book Council.

Children's Book Donation Drive

The Children's Book Council is organizing a book drive for children of all ages. From board books to YA, if you have some to spare and can ship them to California, there are children in need. Book donations are being received by CALIBA. For donations, please mail to the following address:



Children's Book World

Attn: Donation Drive

10580 1/2 W Pico Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90064

Send us your store's news to be included in our future newsletters!

Professional Booksellers School Links



A Learners' Guide to PBS Independent Study

Basic Bookselling Self Guided

Basic Bookselling Store Subscription

Bookstore Financial Literacy Bundle

Upcoming Courses

BINC Links



Binc Mental Heath Wellness Program

Financial Assistance for BOOKSELLERS from Binc

Scholarship Opportunities

ABA Links

Apply for Winter Institute 2025 Scholarships

Take the Annual Membership Survey Now

Independent Bookstore Day Planning Guide

ABFE: ABA's Free Expression Initiative

Indies Take the Gold Campaign Assets

Current and Previous ABACUS Data

Monthly Marketing Calendars

Nominate Someone for the ABA Board

Download the Bookseller Resources Poster

ABA Event & Program Calendar

Indie Next List Deadlines

Report Sales to New York Times, Indie Bestseller Lists

ABA Affiliate Partnership Offers for Members

GLIBA Regional Newsletter: February 7, 2025

Booksellers: Order Your Free Summer Catalogs by March 15!

Order Summer Catalogs Here >>

Just in time for Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer, this 8-page square catalog is THE summer resource for readers. Don't miss this high-energy compendium of summer titles!

• Member stores can order 500 FREE catalogs to be shipped direct-to-store at no cost

• Catalogs can be distributed in-store, at curbside, through store order shipments and delivers, at events, AND through neighborhood partners!

• Personalize the catalog back cover with a store stamp or label

• Quantities over 500 may be purchased for $55 per 500

• Catalogs are full-color, 8 pages, 7.125" × 7.125" square on thick paper

Target date for catalog delivery is May 8

GLIBA 2024 Holiday Catalog Rebate Form

If you have distributed the catalog more than once this year please submit a separate form for each distribution. GLIBA reimburses a percentage of each rebate. Once we have calculated and processed your rebate a check will be mailed.

Please submit the form and attach all documentation by February 28, 2025. Click the button below for the form. Thank you!

NEW! Heartland Fall Forum Virtual Office Hours

Below are the sessions for the months of February and March 2025:

• February 18th, 10am & 4pm CST: For Booksellers/Attendees: Author Pitches + Events; Feedback for the Trade Show Floor + Rep Picks
• March 4th, 10am & 4pm CST: Call for Education Topics!
• March 18th, 10am & 4pm CST: Call for Education Topics!

Click here for the Google Meet link for sessions, or click the button below to the Events page on the GLIBA site. For any questions, reach out to Executive Coordinator February Spikener at [email protected].

Heartland 2024

Rep Picks Survey



Please take this short Heartland Rep Picks survey. This survey is for publishers that have participated in the Heartland Fall Forum Rep Picks event or wish to participate in future Heartland Rep Picks events.

This short survey will help us evolve Rep Picks to better meet the needs of of our publishing and industry partners.

If you have any questions, please email Executive Director Larry Law at [email protected].

The Book Table (Oak Park, IL)

Selling Store Fixtures

The Book Table is looking to sell the fixtures in their storefront including bookcases, tables, modular tempered glass display cubes, book easels from Clear Solutions, card racks, display spinners, etc. For inquiries of available inventory, setting up a store visit, and price lists, email Rachel Weaver at [email protected].

Save the Date! Third Annual MI Book Hop

Saturday April 26 through Sunday, May 26, 2025

Happy New Year! We hope that your holiday season was successful, rewarding, and not too stressful. 

While January is typically a time of rest, it’s also when we are dreaming, scheming, and planning the new year. And for GLIBA Member Stores in Michigan, we’re asking that you include the 2025 MI Book Hop on your calendar! 

If you’ve not heard of the MI Book Hop, let us introduce ourselves! MI Book Hop is a volunteer-run Book Hop across Michigan organized and administered by fellow Booksellers. It kicks off on Independent Bookstore Day and runs through Mother’s Day weekend – Saturday April 26 through Sunday, May 26, 2025. MI Book Hop started in 2023 when Laura Harvey from Adventure Ink in Milan pulled a group of interested stores together and started outreach to more stores. GLIBA Director Larry Law has served as a sounding board since its inception and generously donated his time to design our mascot graphic and create our Bingo cards each year. The MI Book Hop became an official GLIBA Committee late 2024.

The Hop was created to generate more fun around Independent Bookstore Day and extend the excitement out a little farther and introduce potential new customers to stores. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for stores to participate as well as simple and fun for participants. 2024, the second year of MI Book Hop, showed exponential growth both in stores and customers participating, and we believe our third year will be even better.

Participation is easy! Customers pick up a Bingo sheet at participating stores, then visit stores and complete other bookish tasks to get a Bingo or fill their sheet. Stores stamp Bingo cards, collect finished cards, report results, and assist in distributing gift cards to winners. They also share in marketing the Hop by posting on their social media channels and featuring in store emails. There is a small buy-in fee to participate which is used to purchase the grand prize, gift card prizes from winning stores, and commemorative pins.

MI Book Hop has a website, and Facebook and Instagram accounts. We also have a Bonfire store. Bingo cards may be viewed on our social media channels for reference.

If you’d like to indicate your interest in participating and be included on the 2025 MI Book Hop emailing list, click here! Deadline to apply for participation is March 3, 2025.

Children's Book Week Assets

Children’s Book Week, established in 1919, is a celebration of books and the connection they bring. This year's celebration will be May 5-11! Assets and more are available from the Children's Book Council.

Children's Book Donation Drive

The Children's Book Council is organizing a book drive for children of all ages. From board books to YA, if you have some to spare and can ship them to California, there are children in need. Book donations are being received by CALIBA. For donations, please mail to the following address:



Children's Book World

Attn: Donation Drive

10580 1/2 W Pico Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90064

Bookshop.org Launches Ebooks

Browse and buy on Bookshop.org, and read right in your web browser, or download our iPhone or Android apps for the full reading experience. Every purchase financially supports local, independent bookstores! Have questions? Click here to learn more!

Don't read ebooks? Please download the app(s) anyway and let's get those apps to the top of the lists for people who do read them! Not a Bookshop.org affiliate? Learn how to become one.

Countdown to Independent Bookstore Day 2025

We are just over three months out from Independent Bookstore Day 2025!

Get your store ready with the ABA's To-Do List for January.

Independent Bookstore Day Planning Guide

IBD Key Dates

• March 31, 2025: Indie Bookstore Day 2025 Participation Form closes. (Stores that didn't order exclusive items can sign up to participate until this date.)
• April 4, 2025: Indie Bookstore Day Searchable Map goes live on IndieBound
• Early- to mid-April: All exclusives ship to bookstores
• April 21–25, 2025: Indie Bookstore Day Spirit Week
• April 26, 2025: Independent Bookstore Day

ABA's Valentine's Day Campaign

The ABA is thrilled to announce their new campaign for Valentine’s Day, Indie Bookstores: Your Happily Ever After Starts Here.

This campaign includes social media assets (photos and videos) as well as recommended text you can use for newsletters or socials. 

Send us your store's news to be included in our future newsletters!

Professional Booksellers School Links



A Learners' Guide to PBS Independent Study

Basic Bookselling Self Guided

Basic Bookselling Store Subscription

Bookstore Financial Literacy Bundle

Upcoming Courses

BINC Links



Binc Mental Heath Wellness Program

Financial Assistance for BOOKSELLERS from Binc

Scholarship Opportunities

ABA Links

Apply for Winter Institute 2025 Scholarships

Take the Annual Membership Survey Now

Independent Bookstore Day Planning Guide

ABFE: ABA's Free Expression Initiative

Indies Take the Gold Campaign Assets

Current and Previous ABACUS Data

Monthly Marketing Calendars

Nominate Someone for the ABA Board

Download the Bookseller Resources Poster

ABA Event & Program Calendar

Indie Next List Deadlines

Report Sales to New York Times, Indie Bestseller Lists

ABA Affiliate Partnership Offers for Members