Between 19 and 20 April, the European and International Booksellers Federation brought together around 300 booksellers from 34 countries for the fourth edition of the RISE Bookselling Conference, held in the beautiful city of Verona, Italy.
Over two full days, participants connected with peers from across the globe, exchanged knowledge and best practices, and learned from one another in an open, collaborative, and inspiring environment. The programme began with the traditional cultural tour: a guided walk through Verona’s picturesque streets, where attendees discovered the city’s rich heritage alongside its charming bookshops nestled in the heart of the old town. Participants then reconvened at the charming Biblioteca Capitolare, the oldest library in the world still functioning to this day, for the welcome reception.
The conference featured 26 sessions, including panels, presentations, workshops, and keynote speeches, delivered by 71 speakers. Together, they offered a wide range of insights and fresh perspectives, equipping booksellers with ideas and tools to take back to their communities. This year’s topics ranged from reading promotion and sustainability to AI, moving beyond Western narratives, organising profitable and diverse events, and self-censorship in bookshops, among others.
The event also provided a special moment to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Italian Booksellers Association (Associazione Librai Italiani, ALI), a long-standing member of EIBF.
As the fourth RISE Conference came to a close, the team announced the next chapter: the fifth edition will take place in Galway, Ireland on 18-19 April 2027 – see you there!
‘Resilience, Innovation and Sustainability for the Enhancement of Bookselling’, or RISE Bookselling in short, is an EU co-funded programme run by EIBF. Since its launch in early 2022, RISE Bookselling has been working to create a real network of international and European booksellers, bringing them closer together while upscaling their resilience by providing them with key tools and insights they can put into practice in their shop.
Under the RISE Bookselling project, and among other multiple activities, EIBF has organised the RISE Bookselling Conference, the first-ever European and international conference to put booksellers at center-stage, giving them an opportunity to have a dedicated space in which to discuss their craft with like-minded peers.