Australian Booksellers Association
Encyclopedia
The Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) is the peak industry group representing all booksellers in Australia. The association has a diverse membership of chain
, franchise
, independent
, campus
and secondhand bookshops. It was formed in 1924 and incorporated as a not for profit association in Victoria
in 1984. The ABA promotes the benefits that booksellers bring to the Australian community and, with advocacy
and commercial benefits, assists booksellers in the profitable and sustainable running of their businesses. The association has a grassroots campaign to encourage customers to support their local bookshop with the catchphrase, What could be more convenient than your local bookshop?.
The ABA undertakes two major projects each year for the benefit of members: the annual national conference in June and the children’s reading guide in November. The guide is a 32 page full colour list of recommended new releases and classics reviewd by specialist children's booksellers who are passionate about literacy
. Throughout the year the association produces training workshops and publications for members to improve their bookselling skills and administers the national book voucher scheme.
The ABA manages the annual Booksellers Choice Award, given to the book that Australian booksellers most enjoyed reading and selling the previous year. The 2007 winner was Susan Duncan
for her book, Salvation Creek. The ABA is a minor sponsor of the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award.
The Australian book industry has a philanthropic project to raise funds for The Fred Hollows Foundation
's literacy projects in remote Australian communities. On Indigenous Literacy Day, more than 200 booksellers and publishers donated a percentage of their day's trading to the project.
The ABA has strong links with other book industry organisations including the Australian Publishers Association and the Australian Society of Authors
and their international counterparts Booksellers New Zealand, the Booksellers Association of Great Britain and Ireland, the Canadian Booksellers Association and the American Booksellers Association
. ABA is a member of the International Booksellers Federation.
Chain
A chain is a sequence of connected links.Chain may also refer to:Chain may refer to:* Necklace - a jewelry which is worn around the neck* Mail , a type of armor made of interlocking chain links...
, franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
, independent
Independent bookstore
An independent bookstore is a retail bookstore which is independently owned.-Literary and countercultural history:Author events at independent bookstores sometimes take the role of literary salons. The bookstores themselves, "have historically supported and cultivated the work of independent...
, campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
and secondhand bookshops. It was formed in 1924 and incorporated as a not for profit association in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1984. The ABA promotes the benefits that booksellers bring to the Australian community and, with advocacy
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
and commercial benefits, assists booksellers in the profitable and sustainable running of their businesses. The association has a grassroots campaign to encourage customers to support their local bookshop with the catchphrase, What could be more convenient than your local bookshop?.
The ABA undertakes two major projects each year for the benefit of members: the annual national conference in June and the children’s reading guide in November. The guide is a 32 page full colour list of recommended new releases and classics reviewd by specialist children's booksellers who are passionate about literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
. Throughout the year the association produces training workshops and publications for members to improve their bookselling skills and administers the national book voucher scheme.
The ABA manages the annual Booksellers Choice Award, given to the book that Australian booksellers most enjoyed reading and selling the previous year. The 2007 winner was Susan Duncan
Susan Duncan
Susan Duncan is an Australian author and breast cancer activist from Pittwater, New South Wales. Before becoming an author, she worked as a journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald.-Breast cancer activist:...
for her book, Salvation Creek. The ABA is a minor sponsor of the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award.
The Australian book industry has a philanthropic project to raise funds for The Fred Hollows Foundation
The Fred Hollows Foundation
The Fred Hollows Foundation is a non-profit aid organization based in Australia founded in 1992 by eye surgeon Fred Hollows. The Foundation focuses on treating and preventing blindness and other vision problems...
's literacy projects in remote Australian communities. On Indigenous Literacy Day, more than 200 booksellers and publishers donated a percentage of their day's trading to the project.
The ABA has strong links with other book industry organisations including the Australian Publishers Association and the Australian Society of Authors
Australian Society of Authors
The Australian Society of Authors is the peak body representing Australia's literary creators and is the major advocate for the rights and remuneration of authors in Australia...
and their international counterparts Booksellers New Zealand, the Booksellers Association of Great Britain and Ireland, the Canadian Booksellers Association and the American Booksellers Association
American Booksellers Association
The American Booksellers Association is a non-profit industryassociation founded in 1900 that promotes independent bookstores in the United States and Canada. The ABA and its members support freedom of speech, literacy, and programs that encourage reading...
. ABA is a member of the International Booksellers Federation.