BISG Board of Directors Call for Nominations – Deadline December 18

The Book Industry Study Group (BISG) has opened a call

for nominations to its governing Board of Directors.

Nominations are currently being accepted for eight two-year terms across five of BISG's six industry segments, beginning July 1, 2027.

Consistent with the Board's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, candidates who offer perspectives from underrepresented groups, including but not limited to BIPOC individuals, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ individuals, are encouraged to apply.

Candidates who bring a diversity of thought and perspectives developed in other industries are also invited to submit a nomination.

BISG's Board of Directors oversees the organization's strategic direction and governance. Drawn from companies and organizations that are part of BISG, Board members represent one of six industry segments: publishers, manufacturers, wholesalers/distributors, retailers, libraries, and industry partners.

Members of the Board serve two-year terms that may be renewed once, beginning July 1 and ending June 30 two years later. Directors are expected to represent the interests of their respective industry segments and to review and agree to a formal statement of Board member expectations as part of the nomination process.

Board Service & Time Commitment

Board members are expected to attend four regularly scheduled meetings each year:

• January: Full-day, in-person meeting (location varies)
• April: 2–3-hour, in-person meeting (New York City)
• July: 2–3-hour virtual meeting
• October: 2–3-hour virtual meeting

Board members may also be asked to participate in Board subcommittees and are encouraged to join a BISG committee or working group of their choice, most of which meet monthly for approximately one hour.  Directors are also encouraged to attend BISG's annual event in New York City (on hiatus in 2027).

Open Board Seats for 2027–2029

Two-year terms beginning July 1, 2027, include the following seats in five of BISG's six industry segments:

• Publishers: Two seats
• Industry partners: Three seats
• Manufacturers: One seat
• Wholesalers/distributors: One seat
• Retailers: One seat

Current Board members whose terms expire June 30, 2027, and who are eligible for reelection are encouraged to apply for another term. All open seats are also available to other qualified candidates.

Nomination Process

Any employee of a BISG member organization in good standing is eligible to apply. (Please note that student memberships do not qualify for Board service.) Self-nominations are encouraged and are the most common way BISG receives applications. If nominated by a third party, BISG will confirm interest before proceeding.

Nominations are reviewed by a Nominating Committee consisting of current members of the Board. After considering all applications, the committee will recommend a slate of candidates for consideration by BISG's voting members at the 2027 (virtual) Annual Meeting. The proposed slate is expected to be announced in March 2027.

All candidates must complete the online nomination survey by December 18, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Continuing Board Representation

Terms for several members of the current Board continue through June 2028. Those organizations include:

• Beacon Press
• BookOps / New York Public Library
• Books-A-Million
• Hachette Book Group
• OCLC
• Simon & Schuster
• Versa Press
• Woodland Group

Individuals who work for any of these organizations are asked to refrain from applying for a Board role this year. Your organization's current Board member can help identify other ways to become more involved with BISG.

The nomination deadline is December 18, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION OR NOMINATION

Questions about eligibility, Board service, the nominating process, or BISG in general can be directed to info@bisg.org.