The Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA) is an international trade association of independent used and rare

booksellers Bookselling is the commercial trading of books which is the retail and distribution end of the publishing process. People who engage in bookselling are called booksellers, bookdealers, bookpeople, bookmen, or bookwomen. The founding of librari ...

who sell online. IOBA is dedicated to ethical business practices that promote customer confidence. The organization offers members scholarships for continuing education, a mentorship program, resources for booksellers, and a virtual community for discussions on all aspects of the bookselling profession. With a diverse international membership of over 350 booksellers, IOBA members created and follow standards for ethical and safe bookselling online. Members must provide clear and accurate descriptions and prompt shipping with fair return policies.

History

IOBA was founded in 1999 by a group of independent booksellers to address the opportunities and challenges of the emerging online book selling market. Its purpose is to promote

internet The Internet (or internet) is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a '' network of networks'' that consists of private, p ...

bookselling Bookselling is the commercial trading of books which is the retail and distribution end of the publishing process. People who engage in bookselling are called booksellers, bookdealers, bookpeople, bookmen, or bookwomen. The founding of librar ...

and foster the interests of internet booksellers. On August 22, 2002, IOBA was incorporated in the state of

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent ...

as a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

Membership

IOBA has over 300 members internationally. Its members sell books through venues including

brick and mortar Brick and mortar (also bricks and mortar or B&M) refers to a physical presence of an organization or business in a building or other structure. The term ''brick-and-mortar business'' is often used to refer to a company that possesses or leases r ...

stores, their own

website A website (also written as a web site) is a collection of web pages and related content that is identified by a common domain name and published on at least one web server. Examples of notable websites are Google, Facebook, Amazon, and W ...

s, book fairs, and online bookselling services, but all members have some or all of their stock available online. To join, an applicant must have online bookselling experience, a minimum number of books listed, a business license as required by their place of residence, and book descriptions and condition statements presented in terms recognized by the bookselling profession. In addition, the applicant must abide by IOBA's Code of Ethics, which spells out professional standards and return policies. Applicants who do not meet membership requirements may be eligible for the IOBA Mentorship Program, which matches a professional member with the applicant for one-on-one assistance in developing the applicant's business to meet IOBA standards.

Governance

IOBA operates under a set of bylaws and is governed by a board of directors elected by the membership. The Board of Directors consists of a four-person executive committee and six At-Large Representatives. The executive committee is composed of the officers, who are each elected for a one-year term:

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Vice-President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on ...

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a ...

and

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. The six At-Large Representatives each serve a three-year term with staggered election dates so that two are elected each year. Standing committees further the work of IOBA: Membership, Bylaws, Finance, Internet Operations, and Public Relations. The Chairs of these committees are appointed by the President, and are

ex-officio An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by right ...

, non-voting board members.

Mission

See which states: The Independent Online Booksellers Association is dedicated to promoting independent online bookselling by: * Maintaining and enforcing high professional standards among our international membership, backed up by a strong Code of Ethics. * Furthering bookseller professional development through the establishment of a Mentorship Program, the granting of scholarships, the publication of our online journal the IOBA Standard, and other formal and informal support systems and educational initiatives. * Promoting trust between customers and booksellers by providing a safe online environment for the sale and purchase of books. * Fostering consumer awareness of online book buying. * Interacting with businesses, organizations, and governmental entities that have an impact on online bookselling. * Providing programs and services that will help member booksellers to strengthen their businesses.

Professional standards

The IOBA provides resources to booksellers and the general public that promote professionalism and transparency in book descriptions and the selling process. These include a Code of Ethics to which members are required to adhere, guidelines for book condition descriptions, definitions of book-related terms and abbreviations, and an annotated list of reference works useful to booksellers and book buyers.

Professional development

IOBA supports professional education for booksellers, and offers annual scholarships. The 2010 contest offered two full-tuition scholarships with a stipend for travel expenses. One of these scholarships was reserved for the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar (CABS). The other scholarship could be used at CABS, the Rare Book School (RBS), the California Rare Book School (CalRBS) or the London Rare Book School. IOBA publishes an online magazine called ''The Standard'', with articles pertinent to the bookselling trade and to collectors. It is primarily written by the membership to share their experiences and expertise, but it is available to the general public.

Customer Trust

IOBA reassures customers with a Book Buyer's Bill of Rights that guarantees accurate descriptions, reasonable shipping costs, and a satisfaction guaranteed return policy.

Related organizations

IOBA monitors organizations that affect online bookselling and sends alerts to its own members, or writes letters on behalf of the IOBA membership. For example, in December 2009, IOBA issued a warning advisory to members about changing description standards on Half.com that could jeopardize a sellers Half.com and eBay accounts. In early 2010, IOBA sent an official letter to authorities in the United Kingdom (including the UK's OFT), France, Germany and the European Union, protesting at Amazon "Price Parity Policy" labeling it "dangerously anti‐competitive".

References

* Overmier, Judith A. and Taylor, Rhonda Harris "Managing the Mystery Collection: From Creation to Consumption". Routledge, 2006. * Tedford, Marie and Goudey, Pat "The Official Price Guide to Collecting Books, 6th Edition". House of Collectibles, 2008. * Mould, Michael E. "Online Bookselling: A Practical Guide with Detailed Explanations and Insightful Tips". Lulu, 2006. * Windwalker, Stephen "Buying Books Online: Finding Bargains and Saving Money at Booksense Stores, Amazon's Marketplace, and Other Online Sites". Harvard Perspectives Press, 2002.

External links

Independent Online Booksellers AssociationColorado Antiquarian Book SeminarRare Book School
{{Books Bookselling trade associations Business organizations based in the United States Organizations established in 1999