Members of the Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC) voted in favor of a merger with the American Booksellers Association (ABA) in October.
Representatives from 128 stores voted, and 105 favored the merger. The ABC was formed in 1984 as an ABA spin-off focused on children’s issues. The ABA began in November 1900 and recently celebrated its 110th anniversary.
ABC executive director Kristen McLean had this statement: “I’m very proud of the stores of the ABC. This vote was much larger than the issue of who will administer ABC’s programming. We are in a time of unprecedented industry evolution, and I believe the independent booksellers of the ABC are sending a message that they can also evolve to meet the demands of the changing industry positively.”