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| About ATB — Bookstores & Publishers...Together BOOKSELLERS: Academic theological booksellers are a unique group. Our needs aren’t quite served by the ABA, the CBA, or the NACS, and our nearest true colleagues are often several hundred miles away. The Association of Theological Booksellers was formed by theological booksellers to specifically meet the unique needs of theological booksellers. The ATB offers opportunities to network with other true colleagues. At its annual meetings, booksellers can participate in open forums with other bookstore and publisher representatives. The annual meeting also offers a chance for bookstore buyers to hear short presentations from publishers highlighting the best they have to offer in theological books. ATB members also have the unique opportunity to listen to prominent figures in the theological bookselling community and discuss issues related specifically to the creation, selling, and future of theological books. Past speakers include: David Noel Freedman, Phyllis Tickle, Richard Horsley, Katie Cannon, Martin Marty, Marva J. Dawn, Walter Brueggemann, Roberta Bondi, N.T. Wright, Ellen T. Charry, Mark Lewis Taylor, and Miroslav Volf. ATB member stores also have the additional advantage of participating twice a year in the “Theological Best Books” catalog, a professionally designed and printed offering of over 150 titles from about 30 publishers, highlighting the newest and the best in theological books. “Theological Best Books” is one of the most comprehensive multi-publisher retail catalogs of academic religious books. ATB member stores decide who the winners are in the annual Theologos Awards. These awards represent the unique, professional evaluations of people who sell academic religious books. There are five categories: Best General Interest Book, Best Academic Book, Best Children’s Book, Book of the Year, and Publisher of the Year. The awards are presented at the Theologos Awards Dinner during the ATB annual meeting. PUBLISHERS: Publishers know the ways to access the trade market and the ways to access the “Christian” market, but do you know the best way to access the academic theological market? — through the ATB! By becoming a member of the ATB, the only organization created specifically for academic theological booksellers and publishers, you gain valuable entry into the seminary market. By participation in the twice annual “Theological Best Books” catalog, you get your titles directly into the hands of professors and pastors throughout North America (and, in many cases, throughout the world!) The annual meeting of the ATB, held in conjunction with the November meeting of the American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature, gives you a rare opportunity to meet with many seminary bookstore managers and buyers. Featured events include an informal “open forum” evening of free flowing discussion between bookstores and publishers finding out what works and what doesn’t, what sells and what doesn’t, how better to reach and serve your market. Of special interest is an opportunity for you to address the assembled buyers for a brief sales presentation: an opportunity for you to highlight hot frontlist or recommend a backlist title or two you don’t want forgotten. (This event is limited — ATB member publishers only, and first come, first re-served!) The ATB creates an opportunity for you and your colleagues, by working together with other publishers and with seminary booksellers, to have an even greater impact on the present and the future of theological bookselling. Booksellers and publishers can work together through the ATB to: • get the best theological books to seminary faculty, students, and alumni/ae communities, • enhance the professionalism and the quality of theological bookselling, • create a forum in which real issues about the future of theological publishing are discussed, • improve communication on the ATB website, • ensure the ongoing quality of the theological book world. Join us today! |