Overcoming Challenges Together at New Voices New Rooms

A Letter from Linda-Marie Barrett, SIBA Executive Director

Registrations for New Voices New Rooms (NVNR) are up from last year, but we hear from those who have yet to register that they have concerns about the economy, tariffs, travel safety, and time away from their stores.

While a trade organization cannot solve all these problems for members, we can provide opportunities to do what many members feel is their best investment of time and money during difficult times: being in community. Meeting up with colleagues and sharing ideas, attending education, discovering new authors, connecting with new vendors, and visiting other stores for inspiration can provide the boost members need as they head into the fall season. As my SIBA colleague, Nicki, shared so eloquently, “I think of attending NVNR as believing in the future and our ability to overcome challenges together.”

Booksellers, authors, publishers, service providers, community organizers, and educators are coming together for a few days in August with the purpose of lifting each other up and fostering a real sense of connection, support, and community. We would love to see you there with us. We’re here if you want to ask us questions about the programming or accommodations, or need more information about how to make the New Voices New Rooms conference work for your goals.

Here’s some reasons booksellers have shared about why they attend NVNR:

"To learn about as many authors and titles that I can absorb and to pick up new tricks for managing my store."

"To get new ideas and meet fellow booksellers who face similar problems that we encounter as a store/place in the community."

"Get books and book recommendations, learn about what’s going on in the industry."

"To take back three new ideas or systems that I can implement in my store within the next three months."

"To network with other booksellers and see what is and isn’t working with them."

"To talk to my reps. To learn more about upcoming books and authors."

"To enjoy time with my tribe!"

"To have fun and network!"

Attending NVNR may be the best thing you can do to make your business ready to face future challenges. We are in this together!

Linda-Marie Barrett
Executive Director
Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance