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Greetings, We hope February has been kind. This month, we’re revealing our custom campaign artwork for CIBD 2026, sharing updates on TBL, and more. Settled in? Coffee in hand? Let’s go!
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We can’t wait to celebrate indies across the country on April 25! In December, we shared that we were working with talented artist and illustrator Sid Sharp to design this year’s campaign artwork. We’re delighted to reveal Sid’s illustration below, which celebrates indie bookstores and the booksellers who bring them to life. We asked Sid to share some behind-the-scenes insights about their approach. Read the interview here. Our graphic designer is using Sid’s artwork to create campaign resources, including digital graphics for posters, web banners, and social media images. These graphics will be made available to members in March. In the meantime, you can download our Save the Date here. We'll be posting this on Facebook and Instagram this coming Friday! |
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Recap: 2026 Member Survey
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Thank you to all the Bookseller Members who participated in this year’s survey. Your feedback helps ensure CIBA’s work reflects the real needs, challenges, and opportunities facing independent bookstores across Canada.
Members can find an overview of key themes and responses from the survey results on the Member Blog. We are sharing this summary with members in advance of the Coffee Break session on March 9. We invite members to attend that session to expand on their survey responses and ask additional questions.
Click here to read the recap.
Following this event, the team will address the feedback and communicate strategic priorities for the coming years to the full membership. Stay tuned! |
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Hot Books for the Cold Season We’re halfway through our campaign to promote the Winter 2026 edition of TBL. We have loved seeing the creative ways booksellers are promoting the list and are delighted to see TBL selections popping up on indie bestseller lists! Our social channels are driving engagement across the country with help from TBL authors and publishers. ICYMI, check out these recent videos from authors: A reminder that CIBA members have access to our marketing toolkit, which includes a variety of templates to help you promote TBL in-store and online. Looking Ahead Nominations for TBL Spring 2026 have now closed. Thank you to everyone who championed their favourite titles over the last eight weeks. Stay tuned: we will share the Spring list with members next week. Nominations are now open for Summer 2026! Let us know which books you want to see on the next list. Books for adult audiences published between June 30 and August 31 are eligible. Submit your picks via CataList, NetGalley, or our web form by Monday, May 4, 2026. All key dates for TBL 2026—including nomination deadlines and list announcements—are available in the Member Portal. You can find these dates in the Guidelines for Booksellers or Guidelines for Publishers. Questions and comments can be sent to Nicola Dufficy. |
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Register Now: Upcoming Events
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Getting Ready for CIBD 2026
Thursday, February 19
12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4 pm AT, 4:30pm Newfoundland Join us for a dynamic session designed to help you make the most of Canadian Independent Bookstore Day. Get an overview of CIBA-led campaign initiatives, learn bookseller tips for taking advantage of the celebration, and share ideas for community-driven activities for CIBD 2026. Discussion Group for Shopify Users
Thursday, March 5
12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4pm AT, 4:30pm Newfoundland Curious about the new Canada-wide bookselling initiative booksellers.ca? Join current and prospective Shopify users to discuss wins and challenges, with a special focus on how the plugin works with Shopify. This event will feature direct testimonies from booksellers who are already using the platform. CIBA Coffee Break
Monday, March 9
9am PT, 10am MT, 11pm CT, 12pm ET, 1pm AT, 1:30pm Newfoundland Grab a coffee, pull up a chair, and join us for a (virtual) chat! This meeting provides a dedicated space to ask questions, share concerns or experiences, and let the team know where CIBA's support is most needed. Following the results of the recent Bookseller Member Survey, we also invite members to raise topics or share additional comments so we can understand how to better serve them in the coming years. It's as Easy as Un, Deux, Trois!: Build Your French Section with Orca
Thursday, March 12
12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4pm AT, 4:30pm Newfoundland Looking to stock French books, but don't know where to start? Join Bronte, Jen, and Alex to hear what and how to order from the wide selection of French titles published and distributed by Orca Book Publishers. Tune in for an overview of Orca's book selection for this growing market, an intro to eight Quebecois publishers whose books you can order through Orca, and title picks from Orca’s back- and front-list to help you build your French section. |
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RISE Bookselling is a network project organized by the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF). CIBA provides regular updates on RISE programming and promotes opportunities to get involved. Contribute to the new RISE Reading Promotion Toolkit How do you reach young readers? That’s what RISE Bookselling is asking for their new project. They’re collecting practice-based examples of bookseller initiatives that motivate reluctant or vulnerable young readers, especially children aged 9-15. By sharing your experience, you will help shape the catalogue of actionable best practices, a core component of the Reading Promotion Toolkit that can help other booksellers promote a culture of reading across the globe. Click here to fill out the survey. RISE Booksellers Exchange: Call for Host Bookshops The RISE Booksellers Exchange offers passionate booksellers the chance to spend a few days immersed in a foreign bookshop, share experiences, exchange best practices, and build lasting connections.
Although the application to participate as a traveller has now passed, the program is also seeking host bookstores in Canada. Hosts offer their time, insight, and everyday expertise, while gaining fresh perspectives and building lasting connections in return. This week, Mill Street Books is hosting Ruth McCarthy, a bookseller from Limerick, Ireland!
For more information, visit the FAQ section on risebookselling.ca. Those interested in applying to be a host can do so here. |
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BookNet Canada: January Sales & Insights
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How did Canadian indie bookstores perform in January? BookNet Canada has the details for us again this month. Some highlights: - Overall year-to-date (YTD) sales are up 3% over 2025
- Titles by Canadian contributors are up 17% over YTD
- Books by Canadian contributors made up 19% of sales so far this year
- Canadian fiction YTD sales are up 54% compared to January 2025
The report also highlights top-selling January releases by Canadian writers. The top three titles on the list include Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin, Top Pick for the Winter 2026 edition of The Booksellers’ List, along with TBL Selections Sharing the Light by Monique Gray Smith and The Winter Witch by Jennifer Chevalier. Members can read the full report in the Member Portal.
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Upcoming TechForum Sessions
CIBA Bookseller Members may be interested in joining one or both of these upcoming TechForum sessions:
The Ripple Effect of Romance: How to Leverage Trending Subjects
Thursday, February 26
11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET, 3pm AT, 3:30pm Newfoundland
BookNet Canada is bringing together a group of industry professionals—including Cole Davidson from The Spaniel’s Tale—who will share their insights into the ripple effects of romance’s meteoric rise. Together, they’ll go over the opportunities this boom brings, the surprising ways they’re leveraging the trend, and the role of metadata in helping readers, booksellers, and librarians. Trendspotting: Book Subjects on the Move in the Canadian Market
Tuesday, March 24
11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET, 3pm AT, 3:30pm Newfoundland
This webinar explores emerging trends in the types of books Canadians are buying. BookNet Canada’s SalesData & LibraryData team, Lily Dwyer and Kalpna Patel, dig into the data to show you which subjects are on the move. |
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We always take note when Canadian independent bookstores are featured in the media. Here are some highlights from the past few months: Was your bookstore featured in the media? Let us know!
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