Education Survey Winner Announced

This week, ABA announced that Diane Leaverton of Vista Book Gallery in Boise, Idaho, is the winner of the ABA Education Survey random drawing for airfare and hotel accommodations to attend ABA's Second Annual Winter Institute, to be held in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday and Friday, February 1 and 2, 2007. Nearly 200 booksellers responded to the third annual Education Survey, which was designed to identify and prioritize educational programs that will be of the most help to the greatest number of booksellers. All booksellers who participated in the survey were entered in the drawing.

Leaverton, who attended the recent BookExpo America for ABA programming, but had not attended the first Winter Institute, was looking forward to the education and the venue. "It's exciting news," she said. "And Portland is a great location. ABA has developed some really good education programs, and I'm sure there's going to be a great selection at the Winter Institute of both hands-on and day-to-day information. I'm looking forward to getting great ideas from other booksellers, too."

ABA Education Director Len Vlahos reported that bookseller feedback helped to make the education programming so effective. "We are delighted so many booksellers have taken an active interest in helping shape the association's Education Programming," he said.

The Association has spent the past two years reinvigorating its education program. Sessions at BookExpo America, the Winter Institute, regional trade shows, and the spring forums have helped provide professional expertise and advice to literally thousands of ABA member booksellers. All of that programming began with member feedback.

To expand and further develop the education program, ABA's Education Task Force -- a group of bookseller volunteers who will help guide the creation of the 2007 education program -- will review results from the third annual ABA Education Survey. --Karen Schechner