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Greetings! This month, we're delighted to share our report on Canadian Independent Bookstore Day 2026, upcoming campaigns, grant opportunities, and more. Find a comfy position and scroll down.
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On April 25, CIBA hosted its sixth edition of Canadian Independent Bookstore Day—and it was one for the books! The official campaign report is now available. Visit the Member Blog to read about this year’s success and access past reports to track campaign growth. We are immensely grateful to our sponsors and to the Government of Canada for supporting the campaign. Our unending thanks as well to the booksellers, publishers, industry partners, authors, illustrators, and readers who made this year’s edition of CIBD such a huge success. We can’t wait for next year! |
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CIBA’s TBL Spring 2026 campaign is well underway. We love seeing all the creative ways booksellers are promoting the list in-store and online. It's also gratifying to see your selections pop up on the weekly bestseller lists!
Our reader-facing social channels are driving engagement across the country, and authors and publishers are helping to spread the word. Check out some recent videos from:
There are more great author videos to be posted throughout the season, so keep an eye on @indiebookstoresca!
A few more quick updates:
- TBL Summer 2026: Check your inbox! Yesterday, CIBA members were emailed a confidential preview of the summer list. We look forward to launching this campaign on June 30.
- TBL Fall 2026: Nominations are now open. Let us know which adult books (published between September 1 and November 30) you’d like to see on our next list. Submit your picks via CataList, NetGalley, or our web form. The nomination deadline is Monday, July 6, 2026.
As a reminder, 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.
Thank you for your continued engagement in this new program. Please contact Nicola Dufficy with any questions or comments. |
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CIBA Publisher Picks – Fall Edition
Thursday, May 21: Canadian Indie Publishers (Adult Readers Part 1)
Tuesday, May 26: Canadian Indie Publishers (Adult Readers Part 2)
Thursday, June 11: Multinational Publishers (All Readers)
Thursday, June 25: Canadian Indie Publishers (Children & YA Readers)
3pm PT, 4pm MT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET, 7pm AT, 7:30pm Newfoundland CIBA’s Publisher Picks will bring you to the heart of publisher marketing discussions to discover the fall season’s best bets from publishers. Register now for all upcoming sessions. Thriving Together: How Independent Publishers and Booksellers Are a Perfect Match
Thursday, May 28
12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4pm AT, 4:30pm Newfoundland The interests of independent booksellers and independent publishers align in many ways. In a time where uplifting Canadian storytelling, its authors, and the industry as a whole are top of mind, these two sectors can help each other thrive. Join BookNet Canada and CIBA, in partnership with the Literary Press Group, for an opportunity-focused session where booksellers and publishers will share insights into how they’ve strengthened the connection between sectors, as well as case studies and strategies that have proven successful in terms of sales, increased discoverability, and community engagement. Ask the Bookseller: Creating Holiday Gift Guides That Work
Thursday, June 4
4pm PT, 5pm MT, 6pm CT, 7pm ET, 8pm AT, 8:30pm Newfoundland Join a panel of your peers for a conversation about creating holiday gift guides that connect with customers and boost sales. We’ll talk through the full process and hear how different stores measure impact. Whether you’re putting together your first gift guide or looking to refresh your approach, this session will offer practical tips, real examples, and ideas you can bring back to your store.
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Sponsored: Audiobook Month with Libro.fm
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Audiobook Month is around the corner in June, and Libro.fm is gearing up to celebrate with indies! This year, they're inviting partner bookstores to join in and build community around audiobooks by hosting an audiobook walk, a silent reading party, a crafting event, or something else altogether. Libro.fm will provide your store with 10 audiobook credits for your event, which you may distribute as you please, along with promotional materials to help you spread the word. Complete the form by May 22 to participate—just note “Audiobook Month Meetup” under the event name to receive your credits.
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Event Recording: What Makes a Canadian Classic—and Why Does it Matter?
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Catch up on our most recent event recording, during which Stephanie Sinclair, Publisher of McClelland & Stewart, explores the landscape of Canadian letters, its history, and why it’s more important than ever to protect it. Not a CIBA member? Join now to access a range of benefits, including access to live events, recordings, and other business resources.
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Order Your Scholastic Summer Reading Kits Now
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Scholastic Canada's Summer Reading Adventure is back! From new voices to bestselling series, the lineup is packed with standout reads kids will love.
Booksellers: Sign up now to receive supa-fun adventure maps that help kids track their summer reading progress. Plus, accounts will also receive AMAZING swag as a reward for the kids who complete their journey!
What you need to know:
- Join booksellers across Canada as they encourage young readers to explore new reading opportunities and cool places to shop local.
- The kit is available for an additional 3% discount (returnable accounts) or 30 days of extra dating (non-returnable accounts) until July 31.
- The promo code may be used twice—once upon initial order, and again for a restock once the program is active.
- At least 36 books must be selected for this promo to be activated.
- Orders can be placed via EDI (Bookmanager #738477 or Catalist #368288) or through your sales representative.
- Returnable accounts should use code CIBS6.
- Non-returnable accounts should use code CIBE6.
- Codes must be entered at the time of ordering to qualify for this promotion.
Check out the featured books in the CIBA Summer Reading 2026 catalogues (Catalist/Bookmanager) and speak to your rep for ways to enhance this program in your community. A selection of French titles is also available. |
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RISE Bookselling Opportunities
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A group of 12 CIBA members recently joined booksellers from around the world to attend the fourth RISE Bookselling Conference in Verona, Italy—an inspiring and educational experience. The fifth edition of the conference will take place in Galway, Ireland, from April 18-19, 2027. We'll share registration info once it's available.
As CIBA members, you can apply to take part in many opportunities with the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF). For example, several Canadian booksellers have been selected for the Booksellers Exchange Program. In the coming months, a CIBA member will take part in an exchange in Switzerland, while booksellers from France and the US will travel to CIBA Member Bookstores.
RISE Bookselling also offers grants to help booksellers attend major trade events and international book fairs. Whether you're new to the profession or an experienced bookseller eager to connect with peers, discover new markets, and grow your professional network, this program is designed to support you.
Here’s what is coming up:
- Applications to attend the UK Booksellers Association Conference (September 20-21) are open until June 5.
- Applications to attend the Frankfurt Book Fair (October 7-11) will be open from June 5 to July 2.
Booksellers can click here for information and to apply for support. |
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BookNet Canada: April Sales & Market Insights
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How did Canadian indies perform last month? BookNet Canada has the scoop! Some highlights: - Overall year-to-date (YTD) sales are up 3% over last YTD
- Titles by Canadian contributors are up 9% over last YTD
- Books by Canadian contributors made up 19% of sales so far this year
- Canadian fiction sales are up 17% over last YTD and up 52% over 2025
The report also highlights top-selling February releases by Canadian writers, including A False and Fatal Claim by Iona Whishaw and The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon, which were both selections for the spring edition of The Booksellers’ List. Members can read the full report in the Member Portal.
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We love it when Canadian independent bookstores are featured in the media. Below are some highlights from our CIBD 2026 coverage.
Was your bookstore featured in the media? Let us know! |
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