Professional Booksellers School, Inc.’s Code of Conduct

The Professional Booksellers School, Inc. (PBS) values the dignity of everyone with whom we interact. Our safety and anti-harassment policies are critical to ensuring that this core value guides how we speak and how we act.  All participants in PBS courses and events are required to adhere to PBS's code of conduct, as described below. This includes booksellers, PBS staff, instructors, speakers/presenters, guests, donors, volunteers, and all affiliated students. 

PBS is committed to a broad vision of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This includes providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), ability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in all of its activities or operations. We do not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or other disrespectful or unlawful behavior based on any of these characteristics. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for our students, staff, volunteers, instructors, donors, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. 

Behaviors that violate this policy include, but are not limited to: 

• Offensive verbal comments related to any protected category above 
• Inappropriate physical contact 
• Unwelcome propositions, attention, words, or conduct of a sexual nature 
• Unwelcome virtual contact inside or outside of PBS settings
• Inappropriate or obscene jokes, remarks, or gestures 
• Intimidation, stalking, or trolling
• Disrespect towards difference of opinion
• Sustained disruption of speakers, conversations, classes, or events
• Unauthorized screenshots, photography, or audio or video recording 

PBS expects all participants in its programs to follow established rules throughout official classes, office hours, virtual platforms, and related social gatherings. 

PBS takes any violation of this policy seriously. Accordingly, participants who violate this policy may, in the judgment and discretion of PBS, be asked to stop; may be expelled from a PBS class or event, without refund if applicable; may be prevented from attending future PBS classes or events; may be banned from virtual platforms; and may have future PBS participation privileges revoked. 

If you are being harassed, observe someone else being harassed, or have concerns about potential violations of this policy, please notify PBS staff immediately. PBS will take all appropriate action in response to protect anyone affected by violations of this policy.

Privacy Statement

For Stores

PBS asks for both public (address, etc) and private (square footage, POS, sales levels) information from stores who are members. We ask for this private information to help us understand and support students. The only public-facing information, in our website directory, is the store’s name, address, contact information, and regional trade association.  PBS uses both private and public information to analyze the effectiveness of our courses and our school, but reports only aggregate data.  All  other store information is protected and available only to PBS staff.

For Individuals

PBS asks for both public (bookstore, job title) and private (home address, demographic, years of experience) information from individuals who are members. The only public-facing information is the student’s name, bookstore, job title, and earned certifications. PBS uses both private and public information to analyze the effectiveness of our courses and our school, but reports only aggregate data. All other information is protected and available only to PBS.

For Homework

We recognize that homework can contain personal or sensitive information. Student homework assignments are uploaded into formats available only to the individual student, PBS staff, and instructors, with the exception of projects delivered live in class. These projects are announced well in advance and student presentations are never recorded. All student homework for PBS is owned by the student, not PBS or the student’s employer, and is confidential and protected. All shared, spoken, shown, submitted, and typed information is protected and confidential and not to be discussed, saved, or shared outside of applicable PBS classes, platforms, or events without express permission.