The SEBA to SIBA Shuffle

by Bob Summer, PW Daily -- Publishers Weekly, 9/20/2005

The Southeast Booksellers Association is changing its name to the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance. The decision was made by the board just before last weekend's trade show. The transition from SEBA to SIBA will be completed after a new logo is developed by the end of the year.

The change is primarily in response to the closing of the Mid-South Independent Booksellers Association last year, said SEBA president Sally Brewster (Park Road Books, Charlotte, NC). "We've always drawn stores Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas, although they were also Mid-South members. So this seemed like a good time to change our name to better reflect who we are and in general update our image."

On the trade show floor, most exhibitors termed the bookseller traffic slow, while booksellers often reported not finding any major books, except for Widow of the South, to spark sales during the holidays.— Bob Summer