 Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association Seeking Operations and Events Coordinator
Position: Operations and Events Coordinator Schedule: Part Time, 20 Hours Per Week, Remote To Start: Immediately Salary: $20 per hour Timeline: Applications will be accepted through Monday, August 24 About Us The Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association is a non-profit independent bookstore advocacy organization based in the Great Lakes and Midwest. Covering Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. We provide education, events, social networking opportunities and marketing programs annually. More information about us can be found here gliba.org. About the Role We are seeking an Operations and Events Coordinator to handle day to day tasks of the organization, attend weekly and monthly meetings as well as planning and execution of annual events. Travel to attend Spring Forum, Heartland Fall Forum, annual Board Meeting and other industry events as needed. Responsibilities Include but are not limited to: assisting the Executive Director, managing day-to-day tasks of the organization, email scheduling, newsletters, invoicing, membership management, bookstore and publisher outreach, author events, trade show and large-scale event planning and execution, bookstore tours, catering management, author events, trade show floor management, general event coordination. Desired Experience Not required but seeking individuals with experience in the following: • Independent bookstore and or publishing experience • Working on a trade show or large-scale events Including, event programming, author events, education, floor plans and publisher relations • Marketing experience • Familiarity with the following programs and platforms: Constant Contact, Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, AirTable, Quickbooks, Instagram, Facebook Qualification • Strong communication skills • Excellent attention to detail, organization and self-motivation • Excellent time management skills • Able to work on multiple projects at the same time under deadline pressure • Ability to communicate professionally and build positive relationships while representing the organization. • A flexible team player able to take on shifting responsibilities as needs arise • Desire to support and engage with bookstores, publishers and industry partners • Must Live in the GLIBA region (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio or Wisconsin) Please email cover letter, resume and three references to Larry Law, Executive Director, at [email protected]. We may not interview all applicants.
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 Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association Announces Transition to Goth Trade Association The Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association (GLIBA) today announced a bold evolution in its organizational identity: it is now officially a Goth trade association. Inspired by the rapid rise of genre dedicated bookstores, romance, sci-fi, romantasy, mystery and more. GLIBA leadership began asking an important question: If retail spaces can specialize by genre, why can’t a regional trade association? Effective immediately, GLIBA will embrace a Goth forward approach to bookselling advocacy, education, and community building. This shift reflects both aesthetic and philosophical alignment, including:
Programming updates will include candlelit educational sessions, increased focus on gothic literature and adjacent genres, and a reconsideration of dress code expectations at conferences.  In conjunction with the announcement, GLIBA has released a new shirt featuring its updated logo. Shirts are now available for purchase.
“At our core, we’ve always been about community, resilience, and carving out space for independent voices in a world that often feels increasingly homogenized. Those values align naturally with Goth culture. Also, many of us were already wearing a lot of black.” - Larry Law, Executive Director of GLIBA GLIBA encourages its member bookstores and partners to lean into the transition at whatever level feels appropriate. Whether that’s expanding gothic sections, hosting themed events, or simply acknowledging that the vibe has shifted. “As someone that loves a pastel color scheme, this is definitely a trying time for the organization. However, we are no strangers to industry shifts, and we’ll always be pillars of support for our stores. (Although maybe a lot more dour.)” - February Spikener, Executive Coordinator of GLIBA For more information, membership resources, or to purchase official GLIBA merchandise, please visit GLIBA’s website.
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