How to Join
ABAA Membership Procedures:The ABAA encourages applicants who are antiquarian or rare booksellers of good character, reputation, and credit rating who have been in business for four (4) continuous years and whose principal place of business is in the United States.
An applicant must have sponsorship of three current members of ABAA who will write letters in support of the applicant, and three persons to serve as references who may be members of the ABAA or ILAB or other professions affiliated with the rare book trade (such as a special collections librarian). A biographical letter, a credit report, samples of catalogs or stock listings with full bibliographic descriptions are also necessary.
Sponsors must have been ABAA members in good standing for three (3) years. One must visit the premises personally within 60 days prior to the application (Primary Sponsor).
The application must be received at least 90 days prior to a Board of Governors meeting (usually held in February, April, July, and November). The applicant's name is circulated to the membership for comment, and there is usually an interview by one current local member. The list of applicants is also published on the Members only section of the ABAA web site and email listserv for public comment at the discretion of the membership committee. A 2/3 vote of the Board of Governors is required for ABAA membership.
Applications should be submitted by U.S. Mail. There is a $100 non-refundable application fee. When accepted, there is an entrance fee of $300 and the dues are $625 per calendar year, as well as a regional chapter's dues where applicable.
All members of ABAA are listed on the ABAA web site and in the printed Directory as a benefit of their membership and are eligible to post catalogs and submit applications for book fairs. Read more about the benefits of membership here.
If you are interested, please contact Susan Benne, Executive Director, for a membership application. She can be reached by telephone at (212) 944-8291, by fax at (212) 944-8293, by email at hq@abaa.org or by mail, at:
Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America, Inc.
20 West 44th Street, Ste. 507
New York, NY 10036-6604
USA