SEBA Now SIBA

by Bob Summer, PW Daily -- Publishers Weekly, 1/30/2006

The changing of the Southeast Booksellers Association's name to Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance that was announced at SEBA's fall trade show is now official following the adoption of a new logo and extensive makeover of the Web site, now knowns as sibaweb.org. The change comes in the wake of the Mid-South Independent Booksellers Association's closing.SIBA now represents nearly 300 member stores extending from Louisiana and Arkansas to Virginia.

The transition to an alliance, a more contemporary logo design, and the Web site's "new look," said executive director Wanda Jewell, "are designed to show SIBA as an active organization whose members are a vital part of their communities."The site, she notes, reflects "our commitment to being a marketing tool for our stores," and features store locators, a regularly updated regional bestseller list, a link to Booksignings.net, more news, and greater emphasis on the SIBA Book Awards as well as Public Radio Partnership’s Spoken Word program sponsored by SIBA.