Two bookseller associations have come together to create the New Voices New Rooms conference, offering educational programs, author readings, and editor’s picks to booksellers in marginalized groups. The New Atlantic and Southern Independent Booksellers Associations hope to spotlight and bring resources to independent bookstore owners of color who may not have the same access to knowledge that other industry professionals do.
The conference runs for five days (September 27 – October 1), and already it seems to have a great start to the week ahead. As the conference is private to those not registered, Publishers Weekly recounted today’s events, which included conversations with Black authors on the importance of themes specific to Black writers and a preview of The New Atlantic’s Professional Bookseller Certification program. There were discussions on how to approach school book fair committees to develop relationships with schools and round-table sessions covering everything from confidence to book shortages.
With how successful this first day went, it will be exciting to see what’s in store for the rest of the week. So far, the 50+ attendees have gotten invaluable resources that can help them gain confidence in a white-dominated industry and grow their stores. The whole conference is virtual, so no need to travel outside of your comfort zone to join in on the fun. If you are interested in attending the conference, click here for more information. We can’t wait to hear what else New Voices New Rooms has in store for this week!
In support of the conference’s spotlight on Black voices, click here to read our Juneteenth article where we interviewed five black authors on the importance of the Civil War holiday. In addition, we just interviewed author Bethany C. Morrow on Black and queer representation in her newest book, So Many Beginnings.
FEATURED IMAGES VIA NAIBA AND SIBA ORGANIZATIONS