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IndieBound = Passionate Readers.
IndieBound appeals to booksellers and readers who care about their local bookstores because they care about books. Book Sense helped booksellers and readers discover—and get excited about—new books. IndieBound empowers them to share that excitement with everyone. By leveraging the enthusiasm of the most passionate members of the community, IndieBound will create excitement about books—and bookselling—like never before.

From Relationships to Families.
The Book Sense program reinforced a crucial relationship: publishers produce great books, but readers need venues through which to discover them. Independent booksellers have always played a key role in this process by providing the personal bridge between publisher and reader—sharing their own passion and wisdom, and talking to each customer to help discover the perfect book for them. Book Sense fortified this chain by spotlighting many of the best new books for both booksellers and customers. Now IndieBound seeks to forge a lifetime bond by uniting bookstores and their customers in a celebration of intelligence, insight, and independence—which is (of course) what makes books so great in the first place.

Get in on the action.
As publishers, you are the fuel that can help make this indie machine run.  And with that in mind, we thought it was only fair that we make it as easy as possible for you to incorporate the IndieBound brand into your materials.  As this program takes root, it will expand the visibility and influence of indie bookseller recommendations in the eye of the consumer—IndieBound will be a badge that sells a book and assures the quality of the next book that bears the seal.  So we ask for your help in expressing IndieBound in the promotional materials for your books. Downloadable art, including logos for IndieBound and the Indie Next List, are available to publisher partners through the Online Identity Manager.

How will the ABA help bookstores implement IndieBound?
Besides providing member stores with IndieBound materials, the ABA has a full time staffer, the IndieBound Outreach Liaison, to work with stores to help them get the most out of the IndieBound program.

What are the new venues for booksellers’ recommendations?

The Indie Next Lists will be continue to be distributed in the monthly Red Box, and the Indie Bestsellers list will be available for download from BookWeb.org. The respective nomination and reporting processes will remain the same, as will the reservation process for materials publishers wish to include in the monthly Red or White Box mailings.

Will the Advance Access program continue?
Absolutely! Each month, we email over 1,000 independent booksellers with news of galleys, reading copies or finished books that publishers are offering for review. After receiving a free review copy from you, stores will read and decide whether to carry the title. We make no promises, but the Advance Access program has proved to be a very effective way to get the word out about titles. Stores will email you directly, and generally, you can expect requests from 25-50 booksellers. (Learn more about Advance Access.)

What about new opportunities for publisher support?
ABA publisher partners know the incredible difference that the enthusiastic support of independent booksellers can make for a title (see Water for Elephants!). IndieBound continues the traditions of Book Sense, but takes them further with revamped and redesigned materials, and new ways to reach both booksellers and consumers. To learn more about new opportunities for publisher partners under IndieBound, contact Mark Nichols.

Have questions? Want more information?
Email indieinfo@bookweb.org or visit www.bookweb.org/indiebound.

Topics: IndieBound, Publisher Partners