The American Booksellers Association's 21st annual Winter Institute, held last week in Pittsburgh, Pa., was another well-run, exciting show and an excellent opportunity for a thousand indie booksellers to get together, talk shop, meet authors, brush up on their bookselling knowledge and skills, and more. Panels delved into a range of issues, from nuts and bolts about POS systems to how to deal with book bans, ICE, and other pressures of a challenging political situation. And as always, attendees were reminded of the power of meeting in person, whether catching up with old friends or making serendipitous connections with new people.

City Lights' Paul Yamazaki with his niece Katie Yamasaki, who signed her picture book Ripples (Norton Young Readers) at the author reception.

"Given the significant challenges attendees had faced this past year and in the days leading up to the conference, we wanted Wi2026 to give people the community and joy we felt they needed right now," ABA CEO Allison Hill said. "And thanks to the staff's intentions and hard work, as well as the spirit and energy of attendees, both community and joy were evident in spades. Winter Institute felt great, and we've been overwhelmed by the positive feedback and thank yous from attendees. It really was a great week. As I said in my closing, I hope everyone who was there took some of that joy and community with them when they left and that they're able to draw from it in the days ahead as they continue doing the vital work they do in the world--work we desperately need right now."

Downtown Pittsburgh drew positive reviews as a site for Winter Institute, with hotels close to the convention center, plenty of restaurants and bars nearby, and a picturesque riverside location. Congratulations to the ABA staff for hosting another smoothly run show.

Binc's Heads-or-Tails Contest: Kathy Bartson, BINC director of development; winner Charlie Marks, Fountain Bookstore, Richmond Va.; and Shelf Awareness's Neil Strandberg, official coin tosser.

Among the highlights of Winter Institute were keynotes featuring authors LeVar Burton, Xochitl Gonzalez, Colson Whitehead, Min Jin Lee, Marlon James, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and Isaac Fitzgerald (all of whom offered effusive thanks to and praise for independent booksellers); the Independent Publishers Caucus's Indie Press Summit; a poetry showcase; the IGNITE conference for BIPOC booksellers and others; an expansive authors reception; the opening reception at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center; rep and editor pick sessions; a range of publisher dinners and parties; a full Galley Room, and more.

An especially enthusiastic moment came at the end, when Allison Hill announced the time and location of the next Winter Institute, a spot that "will be in such a better place than they are now": Minneapolis, Minn., February 10-14. The shouts and applause in response indicated a deep solidarity with the people of that city and what they've gone through over the past several months.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc) again sponsored a heads-or-tails contest, which this year raised some $4,500. At the end of the show, Charlie Marks of Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, Va., won the contest--and $500.

One of the most popular "displays" was at Bookshop.org's table, which featured a Bezos the Clown balloon that was about three feet tall. Passersby were encouraged to kick the balloon, which usually fell to the floor in a satisfying way. 

What's a Winter Institute without a little drama? This year some attendees arrived late or didn't make it because of a blizzard that hit much of the East Coast the day the event opened. 

The usual town hall or community forum was quietly deleted from the schedule, an event that was a major part of the first 20 Winter Institutes. With the demise of BookExpo, the gatherings were the only time that a large group of ABA members could meet together in person, make comments, bring up issues, and--this year of all years--rally and join as community in a difficult time. Of course, the meetings are sometimes contentious, but that is an old tradition in the book world and often winds up being very constructive. In 2017, for example, a tense town hall led to major positive changes in the board structure and representation.

Lucy Kogler of Talking Leaves... Books, Buffalo, N.Y., gave away more than 200 of these pins.

Some attendees were glad the town hall was scrubbed, mainly because of how contentious the last two were. But others asserted that the meetings themselves weren't the problem; the problem was they needed to be managed better. In a kind of Catch-22, because there was no town hall this year, there was no forum to discuss the value of a town hall, whether to continue them, how to improve them, etc. (There will be a virtual community forum in connection with the ABA's virtual annual meeting in June, but some noted that the Zoom format isn't as effective as an in-person meeting.)

And in another troubling turn, media were barred from several panels, including two that were the most topical and potentially very useful for booksellers across the country: "ICE and Bookstores" and "Staying Safe in Uncertain Times: Physical & Event Security for Booksellers." Reportedly some panelists had security concerns that led to the media exclusion. The "ICE and Bookstores" panel was not recorded, so only those people who attended in person could benefit.

[Despite our attempts to compromise--keeping panelists anonymous or reporting on the panelists' advice without mentioning that the recommendations came from a panel--we were not permitted to be in the room. We're trade press, and our mission is to support indie bookstores. We hope this trend doesn't continue.]

Shelf Awareness will have more coverage of Winter Institute 2026 this week. --John Mutter

Magnolia & Main Books in Ridgeway, Va., which announced in January that it would be closing its bricks-and-mortar location and switching to a pop-up model, will remain open after all. Owner Traci Knight Morton had said that she made the decision primarily because of her parents' health concerns and the unpredictable nature of her caregiving responsibilities.

Over the weekend, however, Morton posted on the store's Facebook page: "I've got some exciting news! I will not be closing the storefront after all! As you know, I had made the announcement last month to close the storefront and only do pop-ups, due to more time needed with my parents.

"I have been inundated with offers to help so that I can do both. Y'all have literally made me cry at the support and love you've shown. Many of you have been in the same position with caring for parents while working full time, and understand the need to be there for them. You all have shown that I'm not alone in this, and that this really is Ridgeway's bookstore, not my own. 

"Some days the hours will be erratic, depending on help and what's going on with life outside the bookstore. For now the weekly schedule will remain Thursday through Saturday. I will update social media with any daily changes that need to be made. I can't repeat enough how much I appreciate every single one of you. Thank you for your loyalty, your purchases, your shares, friendship, and grace."

Denver Book Society has opened at 1700 Humboldt St. in Denver, Colo. Owned by Kwame Spearman, former Tattered Cover CEO-turned 2023 mayoral candidate, and Rich Garvin, the business was inspired by "the late and lamented BookBar, which closed its doors in 2022 after a too-brief near-decade in business," Westword reported. 

There will not be an official grand opening event. "I'm not in love with the concept of grand openings for two reasons. One, it's just too hard to be ready for something like that," Spearman said, recalling the 2022 launch of the Colorado Springs Tattered Cover location. "It stressed everyone out, and it's so tough to give everyone a good first impression that way. Not great. And secondly, it attracts a different kind of attention; we don't necessarily want the pomp and circumstance. We really just want to get the word out naturally by opening our doors and doing our thing in the best way we can."

Denver Book Society's owners intentionally excluded the word "store" from the name because "retail, while it's part of how DBS will survive and thrive, isn't the focal point. It's the society--the culture, the people, their passions, and how they take it in and put it out into the world--that's more important," Westword noted.

"There's nothing better than books to facilitate conversation," Spearman said. "You can have disagreement, engagement, alignment--it would be amazing if we as a city could get back to that.... Rich and I are serious about creating that third space.... That's something that extends not only to welcoming up-and-coming writers to read from their works, but also to embracing small print publishers and big books alike."

Local coffee roasters, bakers, and small farms will provide a rotating, seasonal menu of food and drink at the café and wine bar. The curated selection of books will be enhanced by author readings, creative workshops, story hours, poetry nights, and community gatherings.

"What's most important to me is that people can come here, either as a group or by themselves, and interact with other people," Spearman noted. "Everyone wants that, needs that. Having a conversation with the person next to you. We need more of that in the world. Books are just the amazing and inspirational conduit."

Barnes & Noble will open its new bookstore in First & Main Town Center at 3173 Cinema Point, Colorado Springs, Colo., on Wednesday, March 4. The event will feature Rebecca Yarros (the Empyrean series). 

The 18,000-square-foot store, with mountain views, is new construction in the large shopping area, and includes a B&N Café. It joins two other B&N stores in the city and is the third new location to open in Colorado in the last two years.

"Bookstores are enjoying an extraordinary renaissance, with new Barnes & Noble stores opening across the country, as also so many new independent bookstores," B&N said. "What could be more exciting than to have Rebecca Yarros opening our latest, in Colorado Springs. No author better exemplifies the excitement of books and reading, and the unique pleasures of bookstores as places of discovery."

Also on Wednesday, B&N will open its new Downtown Hyde Park bookstore in Hyde Park Shopping Center at 524 E 55th St., Chicago, Ill. Author Lindsay Currie will be cutting the ribbon and signing copies of her novel X Marks the Haunt. 

The 18,000-square-foot store, which includes a B&N Café, will be joined this summer by two more B&N stores, each located in historic buildings: the Marshall Field building at 1144 Lake St. in Oak Park and the Butler Building at 150 N. State St. in the West Loop. 

"Barnes & Noble cements its return to Chicago after a long absence," the company said. "The new bookstores in Wicker Park and Clark & Diversey have been stand-out successes, and are now followed in quick succession with new bookstores in Hyde Park, Oak Park, and the West Loop."

My Secret Shelves opened February 14 in Pineville, La., the Town Talk reported. Located at 1315 Military Hwy. and owned by Tanja and Brad Lunney, My Secret Shelves carries general-interest titles primarily for adults, with a small section for children's books and YA. Highlighted genres include fantasy, mystery, and horror, along with some Christian books and Bibles. The store also plans to carry local and self-published authors as well as manga and graphic novels.

The store's name alludes to the fact that it has multiple secret spaces, with one hidden behind a door looking like a wardrobe, and another behind a bookshelf that opens at the pull of a lever. The room behind the wardrobe will function as a reading space and contain journals that visitors can write in.

"The secret part is you don't expect that to be something you can just walk through, but it's absolutely open to the public," Tanja Lunney explained to the Town Talk.

Lunney plans to host plenty of community events, including writing workshops for aspiring authors and date nights in partnership with other businesses. The store's grand opening on Valentine's Day included specialty coffee and other drinks made by a local coffee shop.

Lunney is the owner of the arts and crafts store Let Love Be My Motive Studio in Glenmora, La., where she has held events such as a book fair for adults. She has always wanted to open a bookstore, and at her Glenmora store she often had customers coming from Pineville and other communities who wanted "to have the experience of coming into a bookstore."

"It's really about community for me, if I could sum it up," said Lunney. "I very much want this to be a central hub where people can come as they are. They're loved and able to heal through books. To experience new worlds through books."

Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, N.J., hosted the launch event for N. West Moss's middle-grade novel Birdy (Christy Ottaviano Books). Moss (l.) was in conversation with Montclair State University literature professor Lee Behlman before a packed crowd. 

Posted on Facebook by Buffalo Books & Coffee, Buffalo, Minn.: "It's a beautiful day for a rooftop wedding!! We are so proud and happy to be a part of their day. We wish you all the best!"

Analog Books, Lethbridge, Alb., Canada, shared a pic of the shop's bookseller cat in a pawselling mood, noting: "You should think about your future, boy. The more treats you give me, the brighter your prospects will be. Overlord Copper declares today is a great day to pick up a new book!"

Darryll Colthrust is joining Macmillan as chief technology officer, a newly created position, effective April 7. Colthrust has more than 20 years of experience leading digital transformation and technology strategy across publishing, finance, retail, local government, and real estate. He is currently co-founder and co-CEO of CHAPTR. He will continue to serve as AI Board Advisor to Holtzbrinck and as co-CEO of CHAPTR in a scaled-back, strategic capacity.

Eggs: All Day, Every Way by Tove Nilsson (Tra Publishing).

Today:
CBS Mornings: Roger Bennett, author of We Are the World (Cup): A Personal History of the World's Greatest Sporting Event (Dey Street, $30, 9780063320772).

Good Morning America: Christina Applegate, author of You with the Sad Eyes: A Memoir (Little, Brown, $32, 9780316594929).

Late Night with Seth Meyers: Cazzie David, author of Delusions: Of Grandeur, of Romance, of Progress (St. Martin's Press, $29, 9781250357632). 

Tomorrow:
CBS Mornings: Michaeleen Doucleff, author of Dopamine Kids: A Science-Based Plan to Rewire Your Child's Brain and Take Back Your Family in the Age of Screens and Ultraprocessed Foods (Avid Reader Press, $30, 9781668049839).

Today: Corinne Bailey Rae, author of Put Your Records On (Rocky Pond Books, $18.99, 9780593533024).

The View: Joan Lunden, author of Joan: Life Beyond the Script (Lasega Books, $32, 9781637634929).

Late Night with Seth Meyers: Tayari Jones, author of Kin: A Novel (Knopf, $32, 9780525659181).

Jimmy Kimmel Live: Gov. Gavin Newsom, author of Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery (Penguin Press, $30, 9781984881939).

The shortlist has been selected for the 2025 Republic of Consciousness Prize, United States and Canada, celebrating "the commitment of small presses to exceptional works of literary merit." Organizers will distribute a total of $35,000: each press with a longlisted book receives $2,000; the five shortlisted books will be rewarded an additional $3,000 each, split equally between publisher and author, or publisher, author, and translator. The winner will be announced March 10.

The shortlist:
Dreaming of Dead People by Rosalind Belben (And Other Stories)
Little Lazarus by Michael Bible (CLASH Books)
The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, trans. by David McKay (New Vessel Press)
The Endless Week by Laura Vazquez, trans. by Alex Niemi (Dorothy, a publishing project)
Hothouse Bloom by Austyn Wohlers (Hub City Press)

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The shortlist has been announced for the European Union Prize for Literature, which recognizes "emerging fiction writers from the European Union and beyond." The Prize honors 41 outstanding new literary talents over a three-year period. This year there are 14 shortlisted books, nominated by national entities knowledgeable about the literary scene in their countries and used to promoting their own literature abroad. The winner and two special mentions will be announced May 29 in Warsaw. To see the shortlisted titles, click here.

The EUPL is organised by a consortium of associations comprising the Federation of European Publishers and the European and International Booksellers Federation, with the support of the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

Anyone who has felt a twinge of regret when their smartphone reminds them how much time they've spent looking at a screen the previous week will appreciate Screen People, Megan Garber's well-informed account of how electronic devices have come to dominate modern lives. Asserting that "screens change things," Garber, a staff writer for the Atlantic, delivers a thoughtful, high-level survey of all the ways they are doing so.

At the outset, Garber acknowledges her considerable debt to '60s media theorist Marshall McLuhan and his aphorism "the medium is the message," and to scholar and cultural critic Neil Postman and his 1985 book, Amusing Ourselves to Death. Far from aging poorly, McLuhan's and Postman's ideas about television's culture-shaping effects have only become more urgent in the age of interactive media, as technology rapidly evolves, and so does society's relationship to it. Now, instead of functioning as passive receivers of content, "we are both actors and audiences, producers and consumers, directors and extras in the show," she writes. "We become one another's critics. We become one another's fun. We defer to entertainment as a value system."

Writing from the perspective of a cultural journalist who grew up in the 1980s and '90s, and emphasizing breadth rather than depth, Garber supports her argument with timely material drawn from diverse sources, including news, politics, social media, artificial intelligence, and reality television (a subject recently covered comprehensively in Emily Nussbaum's Cue the Sun!). She's as comfortable sharing thoughts gleaned from the writings of Walter Benjamin and George Orwell as she is assessing the enduring influence of P.T. Barnum or how The Apprentice turbocharged the political rise of Donald Trump. In these disparate but converging electronic spaces, users and consumers are pulled "constantly, between the possibilities of fact and fiction." That tension, she asserts, "is both enticing and misleading," and, increasingly, deeply disorienting.

Garber recognizes that powerful economic, political, and, above all, technological forces are driving these fundamental social changes, and it seems there is precious little one individual can do to resist their power. Nonetheless, for all its darkness, she concludes her book on a cautiously optimistic note. "We will decide. We will determine what it means, in the end, to live among screens," she says. The challenge, in her view, is to decide how society would like to shape itself in that decision. Armed with some of the insights she shares, perhaps the task of meeting that challenge and reclaiming essential humanity will seem a bit less daunting. --Harvey Freedenberg, freelance reviewer

Shelf Talker: Journalist Megan Garber explores the ways our encounters with life through our immersion in screens have shaped our reality.