Events programs are a key part of an indie bookstore’s strategy. They bring new customers into the store, they raise the bookstore’s visibility in their community, and they provide a unique experience for the people who shop there. A memorable event will raise the reputation of a bookstore with publishers. A vibrant, successful events program […]

There is something special — even magical — about childrens books. These are the books that made us readers. The Children’s section is the most beloved in the store – by customers young and old, and by the bookstore staff. At NVNR’s Children’s author panels, you can hear from the writers who keep that magic

Booksellers have the opportunity to hear from and meet a bevy of authors at New Voices New Rooms. There are author events scheduled every day – some at big keynote events, some at mix-and-mingle social events, and some at smaller, more focused panel sessions. Even on the exhibit floor booksellers can often meet authors at

Service to its “community” is at the center of the independent bookstore ethos. The relationship of the store with its community is why bookstores are often seen not just as “shops” but as cultural institutions. And it is what makes independent bookstores so important and so beloved by their patrons and customers. The NVNR Community

Education tracks at NVNR allow booksellers to focus on a particular aspect of their business in a more comprehensive way. Each track has at three or four sessions, allowing for an in-depth look at the topic. This year’s tracks are: Community: Building community relationships Events/Marketing/Promotions: Enhancing store events programs Industry Insider: Addressing book industry-specific challenges

Visiting Greedy Reads, Charm City, Growing Minds & Backwater Books GREEDY READS: SMALL SPACE, BIG IMPACT At only 500 square feet with no stockroom, Greedy Reads manages to do big volume and make a real impact in the cultural landscape of Baltimore. Owner Julia will talk about her strategies around inventory, merchandising and ruthless curation,

Visiting Snug Books, Bird in Hand, Greedy Reads: Remington SNUG BOOKS: CREATING A SPACE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Many bookstores are primarily adult books with a special section or nook for kids. But Snug Books is basically half and half, an intentional multigenerational space to grow readers. Katie and Emanuel discuss the space and inventory

Visiting The Ivy Bookstore, Atomic Books and Urban Reads Bookstore THE IVY BOOKSTORE: EVENTS AS COMMUNITY OUTREACH Often we see events and community outreach as different things or even potentially opposed. At The Ivy, the outlook is different: they believe they feed each other and are fully intertwined. ATOMIC BOOKS: KEEPING IT SMALL (PRESS) Atomic

The NVNR Bookstore Bus Tours are a signature event of the conference. Booksellers may think of the New Voices New Rooms conference as a place to learn what is happening in the book industry, but NVNR is also a place where the book industry comes to learn about indie bookstores. A key part of the

NVNR is FRESH! I love the fact that SIBA and NAIBA join forces to present this unique conference, giving us an opportunity to interact with fellow booksellers from the South and Mid-Atlantic regions, meet up with authors, and network with publishers. As a member of the SIBA board, it’s an especially meaningful opportunity to get

One of my favorite things about NVNR is the chance to spend time with people who understand both the joys and challenges of bookselling. I always leave inspired by the conversations, the ideas, and the generosity of our community. Sometimes, bookselling can feel like a lonely venture, even when you are surrounded by lovely customers

The very first bookseller conference I attended was NVNR. I arrived on my own, not knowing many people in the industry and unsure of what to expect. Coming from a corporate background, I was hoping to find something different—and I did. NVNR remains my favorite conference. It reminds me why independent bookselling is so special.

New Voices New Rooms is holding orientation sessions for booksellers and exhibitors on July 15. Click on an Orientation to register: Bookseller Orientation: 7/15 at 1:00 PM ET Exhibitor Orientation: 7/15 at 3:00 PM ET Each orientation will give attendees and exhibitors a chance to hear what to expect and what is new for the 2026 conference. Even if you have

I’m so excited to see booksellers descend on Baltimore! The city is full of neighborhoods all with their own character, history, and atmosphere–much like independent bookstores, in fact. I’m really looking forward to talking with stores that are similar to mine, and stores that are different. No matter how long you’ve been in this business,

This year NVNR has created a $1000 Buyers Raffle to encourage stores to place orders on site. Exhibitors give out a raffle ticket to the store when they place an order. The more orders you place, the better your store’s chance of winning a $1000 cash prize. Booksellers can view the list of companies that

Finding your bookstore friends in the corridors, meeting your favorite editors, finally connecting with that bookstore hundreds of miles away that feels spiritually connected to your own; this is the joy of New Voices New Rooms! Bringing together our NAIBA and SIBA booksellers to share how to grow and stabilize our industry offers the unique

NVNR Introduces $1000 Exhibit Hall Buyers Raffle New for 2026, New Voices New Rooms is introducing the NVNR Exhibit Hall Buyers Raffle, where every order placed at the conference earns a chance to win a $1000 cash prize. Bookstores receive tickets from exhibitors when they place an order on site. The drawing will be held

Booksellers have all the best ideas! After every NVNR, attendees are asked, among other things, “What was the best part of the conference?” And every year, one of the most common answers is “meeting people.” Meeting authors. Meeting reps and publishers. And most especially, meeting other booksellers. Booksellers frequently say that some of the best

May is an important month for booksellers thinking of applying for a grant or scholarship to attend New Voices New Rooms in Baltimore. Both NAIBA and SIBA offer grants and scholarships for their member stores to help defray the costs of attending the conference, but application deadlines vary depending on the grant and the association.

Why NVNR? Year After Year, Bookstores Prioritize Attending New Voices New Rooms “I am one year in to my role as store manager, and I have learned so so much from other bookstores, other booksellers, publisher reps, and workshops. The things I am learning are only helping our store grow, and I’m so excited about

A note to NVNR booksellers from Julia Fleischaker, owner, Greedy Reads, Baltimore and Remington “Welcome to Baltimore, all of you beautiful book people! One of my favorite things about my adopted city is that our love for literature and a culture of reading is so seamlessly woven into the fabric of the city. From incredible

“My goal for attending NVNR? Expanding my knowledge of how to efficiently manage and run a bookstore. Meet lots of awesome people. Join group discussions. Be inspired by new ideas!” –NVNR 2025 Attendee   When early bird registration closed at the end of the night on May 1st, 193 booksellers from 123 bookstores had signed

One of the primary goals of every New Voices New Rooms conference is to foster connections between booksellers and exhibitors. Both SIBA and NAIBA have experienced strong membership growth in the last year, with many new members and new store owners. The conference features a fully functional attendee app that makes it easy for attendees

The behind-the-scenes work of putting together the New Voices New Room Conference each year sometimes feels like a whirlwind, as new authors are confirmed, new exhibitors are signed on, and new ideas for education sessions are added almost every day. It is also something of a marathon for the NVNR planning team, which, after only

Booksellers receive an extra day to save $50 on each full event pass New Voice New Rooms has extended its early bird pricing through Friday, May 1, 2026, giving booksellers an extra day to receive a reduced rate when they register for a full event pass to the conference. With early bird pricing the full

Over 140 people from more than 90 bookstores have already taken advantage of NVNR’s early-bird pricing and registered for New Voices New Rooms 2026. Is your store on the list? NVNR 2026 Bookseller Registration: NAIBA | SIBA Here are some of the stores you will meet: SIBA Bookstores A Novel Romance LLC, Louisville, KY Auburn Oil Company Booksellers,

Congratulations to the booksellers who received NVNR Travel Grants to attend the New Voices New Rooms 2026 conference in Baltimore, MD, in August! Deema Alawa from Mavey Books, Ardmore, PA Anna Karla Carreño from People’s Book, Takoma Park, Maryland Victoria Costa, University Store on Fifth, Pittsburgh, PA Hayley Botticello, from Fred & June’s Books, Mooresville,

New Voices New Rooms has opened up two dedicated channels in its Discord community for booksellers to arrange ride and room shares. Recognizing that travel expenses are a major factor in a store’s decision on whether to attend the conference, NVNR created space to help attendees work with each other to arrange to share travel

by Linda-Marie Barrett, SIBA Executive Director Booksellers love to be in community. Beyond the education sessions, author keynotes, and receptions, it’s those moments when booksellers connect, network, and have fun hanging out together that receive the most attention in our event surveys. As one member said about a recent gathering during SIBA’s March Madness, “We

by Eileen Dengler, Executive Director, New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association   Now is the right time to sign up for New Voices New Rooms. The full conference ticket package discount will end on April 30, so don’t delay. What will you get?  Amazing things! Sunday, August 2, we will take you to a wide variety

What booksellers have to say: “Investing in NVNR is a priority for Baldwin & Co. because the education and programming are consistently top-tier. Every year, I walk away with actionable insights and connections that directly contribute to our store’s growth and long-term goals. It is an invaluable resource for any independent bookseller.” DJ Johnson, Owner,

There is still space available for publicists to participate in the NVNR Virtual Publicity Speed Dating event on May 7, 2026. Meet booksellers from NAIBA and SIBA and hear about all the unique events they host in their stores, their venues and the community partners they work with. This virtual event runs from 9:30 am

There is still time to submit authors for the 2026 New Voices New Rooms Conference, August 2-5 in Baltimore. From panels to receptions to featured authors at meals, NVNR offers many opportunities to get your author in front of booksellers from SIBA and NAIBA. An intimate experience on a grand scale, author appearances are curated

I cannot wait to greet you at New Voices New Rooms on Sunday, August 2 in Baltimore. And then, on Wednesday, August 5, I will say my final goodbye. New Voices New Rooms will be my last book industry event. The last time I get to create an experience for you. The last time I

In the wake of opening NVNR 2026 for registrations, several people have reported that the conference hotel room block has sold out. However, only the pre-event night of July 31st is currently unavailable. Rooms are available for all the nights of the conference: August 2-5. NVNR has created a wait list for conference attendees who

Over 65 booksellers from 43 different bookstores have already registered for the New Voices New Rooms conference since it opened on April 2. Because NVNR serves bookstores from such a large region — almost the entire eastern seaboard and beyond — the NVNR team works hard to make the conference affordable even for booksellers who

Exhibitor Sales and Attendee Registrations are now open for the 2026 New Voices New Rooms (NVNR) conference in Baltimore, Maryland from August 2-5. The conference will be held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront hotel in the Harbor East neighborhood, and accessible to Fells Point and the inner harbor area. The NVNR conference brings together hundreds of booksellers

NVNR 2026 Publicity Speed Dating (Virtual Edition) May 7, 2026 on Zoom There is still limited space available for the upcoming NVNR Publicity Speed Dating virtual event on May 7. Bookstores interested in expanding their events programs will have a chance to pitch their stores to a Zoom room of publicists from both large and

May 7, 2026 on Zoom NVNR’s 2026 Publicity Speed Dating event will be hosted on Zoom on May 7th. This is an opportunity for booksellers to meet publicists and share all the unique events they host in their store. This virtual event begins at 9:30 AM and ends at around 4:30 PM (ET), with a lunch break. Publicists will

Travel grant applications are now open for the New Voices New Rooms Annual Conference (NVNR), taking place August 2-5, 2026, in Baltimore, Maryland. Twelve travel grants will be awarded, six to bookstores in the NAIBA region and six to bookstores in the SIBA region. Applicants must be from a bookstore that is a current member

May 7, on Zoom Meet booksellers from NAIBA and SIBA and hear about all the unique events they host in their stores. This virtual event begins at 9:30 am and ends at around 4:30 pm, with a lunch break. Publicists will receive access to the publicity kits and a complete list of stores attending. There

Publicity Speed Dating (PSD)was invented by NAIBA, and is now a regular feature of NVNR Programming. Originally designed to help bookstores expand their events programs, PSD flips the bookstore/publisher dynamic. Instead of listening to publishers pitch books to them, booksellers have a chance to pitch their bookstores to publishers and publicists, and have their undivided

Author submissions are now open for the 2026 New Voices New Rooms Annual Conference, to be held August 2-5 in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference features author opportunities throughout the program, including author panels, featured spots at meals, evening receptions, and the ever popular Moveable Feast. Eligibility Criteria: The author’s book must be represented on the

Room reservations are now open for the 2026 New Voices New Rooms Conference, happening August 2-6 in Baltimore, Maryland. The official conference hotel is the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront located near the Inner Harbor Marina in downtown Baltimore. Make a reservation / $185 Special NVNR Room RateThe deadline to make a reservation at the conference rate

New Voices New Rooms (NVNR) is excited to announce that its annual conference will be held in Baltimore, Maryland at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront from  August 2 – August 5, 2026. Baltimore, known as the “Charm City,” boasts a long, vibrant literary tradition, and approximately two dozen independent bookstores are located in the greater Baltimore

The fall NVNR Owner Strategy Session began with booksellers sharing their 4th Quarter plans and strategies, before opening the discussion to a variety of issues that were "top of mind" for booksellers in the current uncertain economic climate. 4th Quarter Strategies takeaways: 1. Take Care Self Care is important for owners and staff during the

Publicity Speed Dating is the popular event, conceived by NAIBA, where booksellers looking to expand their event program can meet with publicists one-on-one to share their publicity kit and “pitch” their store as a good partner for author events. It is an invaluable opportunity for booksellers and publicists to make connections and put themselves on

The post-conference feedback about New Voices New Rooms is usually enthusiastic, but NVNR has never received the kind of outpouring of praise from attendees that is has this year. Here are fifteen things –just a small part of the responses we received — that people had to say about NVNR 2025: "This was so helpful

by Kit Little This year’s SWAG SWAP table at New Voices New Rooms was a huge success with lots of fun, branded items being traded by booksellers. Items included stickers, pens and pencils, pins, t-shirts, and more. We asked where you sourced these items and here is what you shared: Death By Stickers: deathbystickers.com; @death_by_stickers:

by Sara Braverman When we attend a conference, we often leave inspired and motivated — but once we’re back in our regular routines, it’s easy for that energy to fade. One of the best ways to keep momentum going is to focus on resilience — the ability to adapt, recover, and keep moving forward in

The 2025 New Voices New Rooms Conference in Atlanta last week received high marks from booksellers and exhibitors. "Really great and really positive" and "a vibrant show" announced the coverage in the book industry press. Booksellers commented on the quality of the education offered by the program, and especially of the sessions in the Children’s

The ever-popular Genre Buzz event at NVNR this year took place over lunch, with different tables reserved for specific genres. Booksellers sat at the table dedicated to the genre they love. It was basically the biggest book talk in the eastern US that day! The lists below are some of the titles booksellers talked about.

A fun and speedy rep talk about new titles they want you to love and connect with customers. When sales reps sign up for a spot at the "Pick of the Lists" event at NVNR, they get five minutes to present their favorite fall books. They select their top five books and spend a fraught

(with a big thank you to Jamille Christman of Eagle Eye Books in Decatur for allowing NVNR to use their screen shots) Step one: Select a show to register for, and choose "Attendee Registration"   Step two: Search on your email or company name to find your account. Step three: If your info is not

Tips and Resources Register as a buyer in advance. This will allow you to place orders, instead of just window shopping. It will also allow you to receive updates on new vendors and future shows. AmericasMart is open to the trade only. What you need to register. Wear comfortable shoes. The docent-led tour is a

One of the highlights of New Voices New Rooms in Atlanta is our docent-led tour of AmericasMart Atlanta, a leading wholesale marketplace housing the nation’s largest gift product mix. Although booksellers who signed up for the tour will have guest passes to visit the Mart, we highly recommend you take a few minutes before the

Excitement was high as the organizers reported that registration numbers were already higher than previous years, and also included a high number of new bookstores and first-time attendees. The NVNR Team of NAIBA and SIBA staff gave an overview of some of the schedule highlights, the extensive author events, and fun activities planned for the

The NVNR Team of NAIBA and SIBA staff gave an overview of some of the schedule highlights and opportunities available to exhibitors for putting their books and their companies in front of booksellers. They did a walk through of the conference app, and offered suggestions for how to make the most out of the conference

In response to an increased demand, the deadline to reserve a hotel room at the NVNR rate of $180/night has been extended through July 20. Reserve your hotel room

NVNR is looking for booksellers volunteers to share their expertise with their colleagues to volunteer for NVNR’s "Ask Me Anything" table in the Exhibit Hall lobby from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Tuesday, 8/5. A shift is 30 minutes. "Expertise" can be in anything that helps you run a successful business, from operational skills

The Advantage of NVNR Day Passes New Voices New Rooms travels to different cities every year, but the general structure of the program is purposely consistent from year to year: Bus Tours on the first day, education on day two, exhibits on day three, and bookseller retreats on the final day of the conference. The

Attending the New Voices New Rooms conference can be overwhelming, especially if you are attending as the sole representative of your bookstore. The 2025 NVNR program has concurrent education tracks, multiple bus tours, and programming that goes from before breakfast to late-night receptions. The exhibit hall holds up to 100 vendors, with rep picks discussions

Whether you are an exhibitor planning your booth, or a bookseller planning your schedule, it is time to get your ducks in a row for NVNR The NVNR Orientations for attendees will be held on July 16, on Zoom: Bookseller Orientation: 7/16 at 11:00 AM ET Exhibitor Orientation: 7/16 at 3:00 PM ET Both session will be

When I was a bookseller, I waited in a very long line at BookExpo to meet David Levithan, whose writing I cherished. When I finally got to the front of the line and met him, I shared how much his work meant to me and our customers. I invited him to our store, and (gently)

One of the little-known “insider” perks of supporting NVNR is a big discount on association advertising. Publishers can send a dedicated eblast to both NAIBA and SIBA booksellers, or put a banner in the NAIBA and SIBA newsletters, effectively reaching booksellers in both organizations for the price of one. Exhibiting is not required! This offer

A now regular feature and attendee favorite of the NVNR Conference, the Store Swag Swap invites bookstores to bring some of their store-branded merchandise to put on a display table in the conference lobby. Stores are encouraged to show off their creative (and clever, and funny) side: from bookmarks and book totes to puzzles, ball

Confirmed exhibitors are currently receiving their table number assignments. Shipments to the Advance Shipments Warehouse begins on July 1st. As in the past, NVNR’s partner for handling exhibits shipping and set up is General Exposition Services (GES). Information to create an account can be found on page 7 of the NVNR Exhibit Sales Brochure, or

Dear friends, I’m thrilled to invite you to this year’s New Voices New Rooms (NVNR) annual conference – and even more excited to share that it will be hosted in Atlanta! As a Georgia bookstore, I couldn’t be happier to welcome you to our vibrant, book-loving city. NVNR has always been a special conference for

Genre Buzz is an event unique to NVNR , a book conversation among booksellers about recently released and forthcoming books in their favorite genres. This year, NVNR is hosting a Genre Buzz Lunch on Monday, August 4th — a full hour and change for booksellers to sit with their collegues and talk about new and

Seeking Booksellers Who Love Genre Books! Genre Buzz is an event unique to NVNR, a book conversation among booksellers about recently released and forthcoming books in their favorite genres. This year, NVNR is hosting a Genre Buzz Lunch on Monday, August 4th — a full hour to sit with fellow fans and talk about what

Ask, don’t take. New Voices New Rooms has updated its code of conduct to include an explicit anti-theft policy. The updated policy is available on the NVNR website. Conference attendees will be required to acknowledge they have read and agree to the code of conduct when they check in. NVNR will also make "Ask. Don’t

Bookseller registration for the NVNR 2025 Conference is well ahead of last year! The 150 bookstores currently registered (and counting!) includes both a larger number of first-time and newly-opened bookstores, and bookstores from every state in the combined SIBA and NAIBA territories. Registrants are already logging into their account and using the conference app to

Important shipping dates and deadlines have been added to the exhibitors information hub. Conference shipping is managed by General Exhibition Services (GES). Exhibitors can find contract information in the NVNR 2025 Sales Brochure. Mark the following dates your calendars June 30: Deadline to cancel and receive a refund (less 25%). No refunds after 6/30. July

Registered exhibitors can look forward to receiving their booth numbers before the end of the month. New Voices New Rooms encourages exhibitors to host booth signings when the exhibit hall is open, and will support them with promotions to attendees: Booth signings will be listed in the schedule and specially tagged as a signing. Booth

During my days running the ABA convention, the United States Secretary of Defense sat with his wife, a publisher of children’s books, at a small press table in the convention hall. I was privy to his presence because I had to work with the Secret Service. Out of curiosity, I took a stroll over to

New Voices New Rooms is holding orientation sessions for booksellers and exhibitors on July 16. Click on an Orientation to register: Bookseller Orientation: 7/16 at 11:00 AM ET Exhibitor Orientation: 7/16 at 3:00 PM ET Each orientation will give attendees and exhibitors a chance to hear what to expect and what is new for the 2025 Conference. Even if you have not yet

My favorite thing about NVNR is getting to be with other booksellers. The conference is a reminder of how isolated being a bookseller can be and how fulfilling it can be to spend time together. – NVNR 2024 Attendee Attendees at NVNR have several tools for finding their way around the conference. Up to date

Exhibitor listings will start publishing on the NVNR 2025 Conference Website and App in June. Exhibitors should submit their initial listings here. Listings will appear 2-3 business days after submission. Only listings from confirmed exhibiting companies will be published. This is your initial listing. Each exhibitor will be able to designate one of their conference

"My goal for attending NVNR? As a new bookstore owner, to learn best practices from experienced booksellers and store owners. And to network with publishers and gain insight into lists, with a focus on my niche interest store." –NVNR 2024 Attendee One of the most important resources any small business has for facing an uncertain

Did you know? There are an extensive number of ways to put your books in front of booksellers with NVNR advertising. Advertising is sold separately from Exhibit reservations, and does not require you have a table or be present at the event: Book advertising here | Conference Information Conference Journal Ads: Every attendee receives a

Follow NVNR@IG: #NVNR25 #thiswillbesomuchfun! New Voices New Rooms is growing every year — in attendees, in exhibitors, in programming, in fun! And while we will always keep booksellers and exhibitors updated about important information on the NVNR website and via email, we also know that the average email inbox is, well, pretty full pretty much

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

The behind the scenes work of putting together the New Voices New Room Conference each year sometimes feels like a whirlwind, as new authors are confirmed, new exhibitors are signed on, and new ideas for education sessions are added almost every day. There is method to the madness, however. The planners work hard to create

New Voices New Rooms 2025 shines a light on the ongoing fight against censorship and book banning, an issue impacting every level of the book industry. On Sunday, August 3 at 8:30 PM, NVNR will host a special screening of the the award-winning documentary, Banned Together. The film follows three students from Beaufort, South Carolina,

One of the primary goals of the 2025 New Voices New Rooms conference is to foster connections between booksellers and exhibitors. Both SIBA and NAIBA have experienced strong membership growth in the last year, with many new members and new store owners. The 2025 conference features an updated platform and fully functional attendee app that

Booksellers may think of the New Voices New Rooms conference as a place to learn what is happening in the book industry, but NVNR is also a place where the book industry comes to learn about indie bookstores. A key part of the NVNR mission is to showcase NAIBA and SIBA bookstores to publishers, vendors,

The deadline to submit authors for the New Voices New Rooms 2025 conference in Atlanta (August 3-6) is fast approaching! Submissions close on May 1st, after which the NVNR Team will start placing authors in the program and promoting their appearances to booksellers. Publishers must be confirmed exhibitors before their authors can be confirmed for