A play on Elton John’s Bennie and the Jets here. Here I will write a monthlyish column on SIBA benefits that core members get. Survey results indicate that booksellers are very aware of some membership benefits and less aware of others. It may be that booksellers do not find some benefits valuable but before making that decision, I want to make certain that booksellers know of the benefit, try it, and then accept or reject its value to them. So here and in the monthly SIBA eInk, I will be highlighting underused benefits to make certain that core members are aware of them.

First, let’s look at the latest survey results.  Core members indicate the most valuable benefits of SIBA Membership are: SIBA Book Awards, Southern Indie Bestseller List, the Holiday Catalog, Indie Bookseller Revivals, and Find a Bookstore

And rated less valuable?  SIBA eInk, Southern Indie Lit Crossword Puzzle book, Wanda’s Wonderful Book Blog, Free Book Stimulus Plan, and The Document Library.

So this first post will deal with SIBA eInk, SIBA’s monthly newsletter directed at SIBA’s core indie bookstore members and distributed to the industry.  This email newsletter takes the place of SIBA’s bi-monthly print publication of previous years and is the best, direct way to communicate with you about valuable upcoming opportunities.  In addition to the SIBA listserv, this is the must current up-to-date material to assist you in maximizing your membership.

To pump up interest in this monthly electronic publication, SIBA will be offering a Twitter Contest each month where core members will be entered to win a FREE All Pass to #SIBA11.  This will require setting up a FREE Twitter Account and following @SIndies.  If you need help with that, please give me a call, and I will walk you thru it.  Very easy, very economical, very efficient!  The SIBA phone number is:  803.994.9530