Three SIBA booksellers at Hub City Books

SIBA for Bookstores and Booksellers

Benefits of Membership

SIBA members are booksellers like you who connect, inspire, and grow their businesses through the opportunities and benefits SIBA offers. SIBA provides a forum to discuss common problems and share ideas, offers educational programs and workshops, and strives to promote a high standard of ethics and business practices among its membership. SIBA exists to help you become a more profitable business, and sell more books.

"The most valuable thing about SIBA is the facilitation of discussion between colleagues. I can't tell you how many times I've been part of a discussion that originated with relationships formed through SIBA and drew a straight line back to a new idea or approach for my store."
~ John Cavalier, Cavalier House Books, Denham Springs, LA

New Members: Apply to Join SIBACurrent Members: Create Account

If you are interested in joining SIBA as a new member, apply to learn more about which membership option suits your organization.  If you are a current SIBA member, create your account on the new SIBA site to access your existing member information.

Already created your account? Log in here.

New or prospective store owners: Start here!

SIBA Membership Benefits and Resources

Bookseller Marketing Programs and Opportunities

Take advantage of SIBA's wide range of member-exclusive programs and marketing outlets to expand your store's reach and increase your selling power. Expand the tab below to explore all your options or download the Membership Brochure.
The Southern Bookseller Review

The Southern Bookseller Review (SBR), SIBA's innovative consumer-facing book review site and weekly newsletter is powered by Edelweiss reviews submitted by SIBA members. The SBR website highlights thousands of shareable store reviews, and features an updated store directory. The weekly newsletter is sent to thousands of subscribers and highlights the books SIBA booksellers are buzzing about. Publisher support of The Southern Bookseller Review also provides vital funding for SIBA's educational and advocacy events and programs.

Learn how SBR can benefit your store!

SIBA Seasonal Catalogs

SIBA partners with three other regional association (NAIBA, GLIBA, and CALIBA) to form the Regional Association Marketing and Promotions (RAMP) in a seasonal catalog program to offer a significant membership benefit to stores. The summer catalog (print and online) is a perfect kick-off to the summer selling season. The winter holiday catalog is tailored to each association's membership base, and offers a full-fledged distribution program including custom cover imprinting, marketing resources, newspaper insertions, custom online catalogs, and direct mail options. All proceeds from catalog orders and ad sales provide crucial revenue to support SIBA programs and events.

Learn how SIBA catalogs can benefit your store!
SIBA and NAIBA booksellers posing in a group before Charis Books and More during the 2025 New Voices New Rooms conference.

Bookseller Events

From virtual workshops, retreats, and sessions; to March Madness, our in-person bookstore event series across SIBA's 11-state territory; to New Voices New Rooms, our signature annual conference and trade show (in partnership with the New Atlantic Booksellers Association (NAIBA), SIBA is committed to meeting you where you are in your bookselling journey.
New Voices New Rooms Annual Conference and Trade Show

Fresh, innovative in-person and virtual programming created by NAIBA and SIBA for booksellers and industry. NVNR is four full days in August packed with education sessions, author signings and panels, exploring local bookstores, inspiring keynote talks, exhibits from publishers and vendors, and fun social activities, all designed to energize your busy fall season.

Learn More About New Voices New Rooms

March Madness Bookseller Series

SIBA's store-focused early event series featuring eight to twelve in-person bookseller gatherings hosted by member bookstores. Events are within two to three hours driving distance for a majority of SIBA member bookstores. Come share skills and information, and network with each other in a fun and sociable setting.

Learn more about March Madness

Owners Retreats and Strategy Sessions

Network, strategize with your peers, learn, and build community in SIBA's store owners retreats and strategy sessions. Offered both virtually and in person at the annual conference, these sessions are led and facilitated by fellow store owners.

Learn more about Retreats and Strategy Sessions

Publicity Speed Dating

Fast-paced, fun, and a great way to pitch your bookstore to publishers for author events and more. Presented in partnership with NAIBA as part of ongoing New Voices New Rooms programming, participants learn how to build a professional publicity kit for their store, and attend pre-event practice sessions to refine your pitch. Look for event announcements and details in SIBA emails and newsletters.

Learn more about Publicity Speed Dating

Editor presenting the book Together, United at NVNR 2025Scholarships and Financial Assistance

SIBA prioritizes making our programs and events accessible to all members in all meanings of the word. Thanks to the generosity of the book industry, SIBA receives grants and funding from publishers, authors, and other institutions in support of bookseller development. Application information is posted when the applications open for each scholarship or grant.

Learn more about Scholarships and Financial Assistance

Two women sharing a computer screen at NVNR 2025The Peer Bookseller Resource Library

Why reinvent the wheel?
Booksellers know that their best resources are often their own bookseller colleagues. SIBA has created the Peer Bookseller Resource Library (PBRL) as a way for its members to share information and tools that have been especially helpful.

Learn more about the Peer Bookseller Resource Library *
  * You must be a bookseller member and logged into your SIBA member account to access.