The IBPA member benefit

Slack is a mobile-friendly messaging, collaboration, and community-building App -- and now there's an IBPA Workspace on Slack for current IBPA members!

About IBPA's Workspace on Slack

Public Channels

IBPA's Slack workspace has these current channels for discussion on a wide-range of topics. Anyone can join these:

• #ai-and-publishing
• #amazon
• #audiobooks
• #author-pub-level-up
• #autohr-pub-start-strong
• #bisac-codes
• #book-marketing
• book-releases
• childrens-books
• connections
• distribution-start-strong
• events
• general-discussion (this is where everyone comes into the IBPA Slack workspace)
• hybrid-pub-level-up
• hybrid-pub-start-strong
• ingram-and-ingramspark
• job-listings-in-search-of
• looking-for-blurbs
• podcasts-and-media
• printing-and-pod
• random
• resources
• trade-pub-level-up
• trade-pub-start-strong

Private Channels

IBPA's Slack workspace also has a number of private channels for discussion, each with specific requirements to join the private channel. If you meet the requirements and would like to join the group, please join the IBPA Slack workspace and direct message (DM) Lee Wind with your request.

Affinity Groups

Please note these affinity groups are reserved for IBPA members who identify within these communities, to provide a safe space for open discussions and action.

• affinity-accessibility-disability
• affinity-bipoc-mcc (BIPOC and marginalized communities of color)
• affinity-queer-lgbtqia2plus (LGBTQIA2+)
• affinity-women

Select Groups

Examples of these private groups include:

• Innovators (reserved for publishers honored by IBPA's Innovative Voices Program)
• IBPA's scalable book marketing 6-week workshop (reserved for workshop participants)
• Distribution-level-up (reserved for Independent Publishers who have full-service distribution)

Key Volunteer Groups

Each committee and the IBPA board have private channels where they can communicate:

• IBPA Board of Directors
• Advocacy Committee
• DEI Committee
• Editorial Advisory Committee
• Membership Committee
  

Direct Messaging and More

Slack offers a lot more functionality, including:

• The ability to Direct Message anyone else in the IBPA Slack workspace.
• Slack works equally well on mobile and on desktop, and you can switch on the fly.
• You can share links and upload documents and images.
• Excellent search function - so you don't have to keep track of any hashtags.

Getting the most out of Slack

Slack is pretty intuitive (i.e., things you haven't seen yet are bolded), and consider that the more you put into interacting on Slack, the more you'll get out of it. Two tips for when you visit the IBPA Slack workspace:

• Contribute to a conversation: Answer a question, or share your take on a topic.
• Initiate a conversation: Pose a question, or share a resource or article that you think would be of interest to your fellow Independent Publishers and Author Publishers.

Keep it a Safe Space

Please keep in mind that the Independent Book Publishers Association is committed to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all participants at all IBPA activities, meetings, and networking events -- including on Slack. You can read IBPA's Anti-Harassment Policy here. 

Watch the Orientation Video for IBPA's Slack Workspace

			How to access this IBPA member benefit This IBPA Workspace on Slack benefit is available to All Current IBPA Members. Already a Member? Great! Log into this "members only" page to access the information you need to sign up for this benefit. Please note that if your IBPA membership lapses, you will be removed from the IBPA Slack workspace, as this is a benefit just for current members.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

IBPA's mission is to lead and serve the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. IBPA's vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry.