Advocacy

The U.S. Department of Labor has decided not to challenge a November injunction blocking an overtime rule that would have doubled a worker’s exempt status.

Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline is calling for a hearing on Amazon’s proposed $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods.

The new Carla Gray Memorial Scholarship for Emerging Bookseller-Activists, to be managed by the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, will honor the late Carla Gray of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

American Booksellers for Free Expression Director Chris Finan is leaving the American Booksellers Association to become the National Coalition Against Censorship’s new executive director.

Bookstores across the country are celebrating LGBT Pride Month this June with a variety of creative events covering both the literary and the political aspects of queer culture.

This year’s Banned Books Week, September 24–30, will celebrate the importance of the freedom to read for all Americans with the theme “Our Right to Read.”

During an ABA education session at BookExpo, three bookseller panelists discussed the ways they have dealt with difficult decisions regarding controversial books or authors.

On May 24, the chair of the House of Representative’s Financial Services Committee announced that backers of the Financial CHOICE Act would drop a provision that would have repealed a cap on debit card swipe fees.

IPG adds 23 publishers; PGW to distribute Canongate; PEN launches Make Space campaign; Reading the West Book Award, Folio Prize, and Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winners announced; O. Henry Prize Stories announced

ABFE Director Chris Finan looks back at some of the many cases in which Michael Bamberger, general counsel of Media Coalition and the first recipient of the Joyce Meskis Free Speech Award, has defended the free speech rights of booksellers.

David Grogan, ABA’s director of public policy and advocacy, will be at the show to discuss any advocacy issues of concern with booksellers.

ABA has joined a campaign to urge Congress to continue federal support of America’s 120,000 public libraries. The campaign will be led by a new organization, the Corporate Committee for Library Investment.

ABA’s inaugural Joyce Meskis Free Speech Award will be presented to Michael A. Bamberger, the general counsel of Media Coalition, on May 31 during the Celebration of Bookselling at BookExpo.

The importance of defending freedom of speech will be discussed during BookExpo programs presented by American Booksellers for Free Expression and PEN America.

Booksellers attending BookExpo are invited to schedule a time to talk at the show with David Grogan, ABA’s director of public policy and advocacy, about any issues of concern.