2026 SIBA Annual Meeting Recap
SIBA's Annual Meeting on October 29, 2026, was upbeat, if a little melancholic, as Executive Director Linda-Marie Barrett acknowledged it as her last meeting with the organization. Board members came forward to thank her personally for her service to SIBA and for her support of the board. The meeting, which drew 43 participants, lasted slightly over 30 minutes.
In her final "State of SIBA" address, Barrett was encouraging, citing rising membership, strong engagement in SIBA programs, and a stable financial position. Highlights included:
- Increasing membership numbers, including an influx of new and prospective bookstore members
- The redesign and launch of SIBA's website and upgrade of its member platform
- Record attendance at SIBA's signature March Madness events, which received enthusiastic feedback from booksellers
- The launch of two new programs, Jumpstart and the Lunch & Learn Industry Partner Series
- A redesign of SIBA's winter catalog, which is receiving very positive feedback from both bookstores and publishers, although expected revenue will be down compared to 2025
- A highly successful New Voices New Rooms (NVNR) conference in August, which netted $40,000 in revenue, to be split between SIBA and NAIBA, its NVNR partner
The last point was welcome news, since it was reported at the SIBA Town Hall meeting during the conference that sharply rising costs might impact the event and result in a loss. Barrett affirmed that SIBA's expenses are in line with its income, and that the organization should close the year in the black. SIBA is, she said, "in a great position for the future."
Julia Davis, SIBA's outgoing board president, also spoke, welcoming the new incoming board members and thanking those on the board who will be stepping down at the end of the year. She outlined the current priorities for the board, most importantly:
- The search for a new executive director
- Continuing the work of updating SIBA's governance policy to bring it in line with SIBA's revised bylaws
The board already has a timeline for the executive director search and will share more news as the month progresses. Revising SIBA's governance policy has been in progress since 2025. At the NVNR meeting, the board announced it would move the organization away from the Carver Method it currently operates under. Davis stressed that the plans are for a smooth transition, and that regular SIBA operations would not be interrupted.