Indie booksellers attending ABA's Winter Institute in Pittsburgh, Pa, this week continue to share social media posts chronicling their experiences. Among the highlights:
The Little Book, Des Moines, Iowa: "Standing in wild lines at the Romance After-party at #Wi2026 and feeling extra grateful for a room full of almost entirely women and queer folks who show up for a genre that is so often overlooked and infantilized. Feeling grateful for my friend Sarah and her work at @shelflovedsm, for making a space for folks who love to read about love, unapologetically, in our little Midwest city. Booksellers are cool people, if I do say so myself--Bee."
Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, N.C.: "Winter Institute is a yearly bookselling industry event organized by the American Bookseller's Association @americanbooksellers. This year, we sent our Events & Marketing Manager, Outside Sales Coordinator, and Inventory Manager to Pittsburgh to check it out! Day 1 featured a tour of 5 amazing local bookstores."
City Lights, San Francisco, Calif.: "City Lights Publishers is attending the independent booksellers' association meeting, known as 'Winter Institute,' this week in Pittsburgh, sharing our recent and forthcoming books with our fellow indie booksellers and publishers."
Aaron's Books, Lititz, Pa.: "If you've been missing Sam and Todd this week, they're only a few hours away! They've been spending some time in Pittsburgh at the American Booksellers Association Winter Institute. What do you do at a bookseller conference? You learn about ways to serve your community, pick up some fabulous upcoming books, and get to hear from the one and only LeVar Burton himself! Basically, Sam and Todd are living the dream."
Downtown Books, Manteo, N.C.: "What are the odds we'd run into @duckscottage at Winter Institute! #abawinterinstitute Happy Birthday BINC!"
Serendipity Books, Chelsea, Mich.: "This week Booksellers Shannon, Lucy and Owner Michelle are in Pittsburgh for the annual @americanbooksellers Winter Institute! They're attending panels and informational workshops, touring indie bookstores around Pittsburgh, hearing incredible speakers (LeVar Burton!), meeting fellow indie booksellers from around the country, and generally having a blast! Can't wait to hear and share more about what fabulous bookish ideas they gather while there! (This also means that Bookseller Kaci is holding down the fort at the bookstore this week, so everyone be nice to her)"
The Rogue Bookshop, Beloit, Wis.: "Jamie is in Pittsburgh this week for Winter Institute, gathering with hundreds of passionate booksellers, discovering incredible upcoming titles, and coming home full of inspiration for the shop. Between sessions, there's been time to explore the city a bit too--and yes, this really is Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. It's been especially meaningful to hear from voices like @levar.burton and be reminded just how powerful stories and community can be."
The Last Chapter Bookshop, Chicago, Ill.: "Did someone say besties? It's your 2 favorite Midwestern Princesses here reporting live from ABA Winter Institute in Pittsburgh, PA. We are having so much fun meeting other bookstore owners, connecting with publishing communities, and just being with people in the book world who share the same love that we do for this industry. XO!"
Dungeon's Gate, Ankeny, Iowa: "Scenes from Day One at ABA Winter Institute (juuusstt a couple days after the fact). We loved checking out some of Pittsburgh's fabulous indie bookstores! Amazing Books & Records, Riverstone Books, White Whale Books & Coffee, Spark Books. Bonus: the French goodies we found on the way! Gaby et Jules Patisseries et Macarons."