The American Booksellers Association (ABA) is a non-profit industry association founded in 1900 that promotes independent bookstores in the United States and Canada. The ABA and its members support freedom of speech through the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, literacy, and programs that encourage reading. Many independent booksellers are concerned about the potential negative impact on free speech by giant megachains and nationwide web retailers. The concern is that publishers cater to these retailers and that control over what books, and hence what ideas, are available will ultimately rest in the hands of these few companies.
The ABA has been shrinking from a peak in 1991 when there were 5200 members. There were 5500 members with 7000 stores in 1995; 3300 members in 1998; 3100 members with 4000 stores in 2000; 2794 members in 2001; 2191 members in 2002; and 1702 members in 2005. In 2010 the number of members increased for the first time in almost two decades, with 1410 members, up nine from the previous year.
In recent years, the ABA has released the number of new member bookstores to counter media reports of bookstore closings, with 97 opening in 2006; 115 stores opened in 2007.
The ABA sponsored the Book Sense marketing program and associated BookSense.com web site, intended to preserve a connection between consumers and local independent bookstores. In June 2008, Book Sense was replaced by IndieBound, a new program and website. After a period of beta testing, a social network-style community feature was launched on the website on September 11, 2008.
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“European society has always been divided into classes in a way that American society never has been. A European writer considers himself to be part of an old and honorable tradition—of intellectual activity, of letters—and his choice of a vocation does not cause him any uneasy wonder as to whether or not it will cost him all his friends. But this tradition does not exist in America.”
—James Baldwin (1924–1987)
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“In this great association we know no North, no South, no East, no West. This has been our pride for all these years. We have no political party. We never have inquired what anybody’s religion is. All we ever have asked is simply, “Do you believe in perfect equality for women?” This is the one article in our creed.”
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