A national survey conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance in partnership with ABA and other organizations has found that independent businesses experienced strong sales growth over the holidays and appear to be benefitting from increased public interest in supporting locally owned stores, banks, restaurants, and other enterprises.

On Wednesday, ABA CEO Oren Teicher told Digital Book World attendees that “not only are indie booksellers surviving in extraordinarily turbulent times, but many ... are thriving, even recording record sales numbers for the fourth quarter of last year.”

The February Indie Next List’s 12 “Now in Paperback” titles are featured with bookseller quotes on a downloadable flier and shelf-talkers.

A Virginia state senator has introduced legislation aimed at closing the state’s sales tax loophole. Meanwhile, Amazon.com is seeking a sales tax exemption in Florida that would be similar to the ones granted by Tennessee and South Carolina in 2011.

Booksellers at Wi7 were divided into 22 working groups, each formulating plans for the future of a case study bookstore. The results of their work were synthesized by ABA staff and presented by Dan Sheehan, vice president of sales and general manager of the Ingram Content Group.

Publishers Weekly is seeking nominations for its 20th annual PW Bookstore and Sales Rep of the Year awards, to be presented in June at BookExpo America. The deadline for nominations is February 20.

Bookstore owners among most powerful people in D.C.; A new location for Newtonville Books; Idlewild expands to Brooklyn

Based on sales at independent bookstores nationwide for the eight-week period ending January 22, 2012.