Board Candidates

Thank you for your interest in joining the board of the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association. We are a collegial and positive group of individuals committed to upholding the values important to independent bookselling. Please read the following overview and complete the questionnaire to express your interest in joining our board.

We typically present 2-3 candidates to our board internally for every available spot, allowing our board to determine the best fit from multiple diverse angles, such as store location and style, candidate's strengths and position in the industry, sex/gender and cultural representation, and so on. Every candidate we hear from offers valuable contributions, so if you are not selected during any given round, your application will be saved for the next opportunity. 

Complete the questionnaire

Overview

Read an overview of MIBA's board of directors and our nomination process.

  • Our board of directors is a volunteer position. Board members are reimbursed for board-related expenses: travel and lodging for all of our meetings, which includes our annual spring and fall events. (Arrangements can be made for the association to pay board members’ expenses up front.)
  • We currently hold 3 to 4 in-person meetings annually, plus 2-4 virtual meetings as needed. Virtual meetings are 1-hour long. In-person meetings are typically 1-day or 2-day events. Board members should be able to travel as follows for a period of 2-5 days at at time. Travel times are as follows.
    • Spring: April or May, all-day meeting held in-person in conjunction with our spring event
    • Fall: October, in-person at Heartland Fall Forum
    • January: Planning meeting at the site of that year's trade show
  • Our board members are eligible to serve 2 three-year terms
  • Board members can serve in the following officer appointments for up to 2 two-year terms: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary
  • Standing committees are as follows: Executive Committee, Nominating Committee, Finance Committee, Education Committee, Heartland Steering Committee

  • We expect board members to be able to fulfill their duties on the board while serving on 1 or 2 committees as appropriate

Eligibility criteria

  • Board candidates must have enough recent experience as an owner or employee of a member bookstore in order to contribute substantively to furthering our mission. All bookstore positions and staff levels are welcome to serve
  • Board candidates exhibit qualities of leadership and creativity, have a strong reputation for integrity and character, are willing to carry out various assignments, and are dedicated to the association’s mission and objectives
  • All candidates must operate within our portion of the Midwest MIBA represents--Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula