Free Expression

Candlewick to publish interactive tie-ins to J.K. Rowling movie Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them; IPG acquires INscribe Digital; Simon &Schuster to distribute Hazelden Publishing; WNBA announces new executive officers; SCIBA Book Award finalists announced; PEN America urges presidential candidates to provide open environment for journalists

Bookstores in seven cities will hold events on the same night during this year’s celebration of Banned Books Week (September 25–October 1) to highlight challenges to books written by authors of diverse backgrounds.

Booksellers have joined publishers, authors, and librarians in urging a federal appeals court to invalidate an Idaho law that would suppress undercover investigations of animal abuse and other illegal conduct at public or private agricultural facilities.

Citing concerns about free speech, Rhode Island Gov. Gina M. Raimondo has vetoed a bill that would have made booksellers, newspapers, and other media criminally liable for the distribution of nude images without the affirmative consent of the people pictured.

ABA, AAP, and ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom have praised a Hong Kong bookseller for revealing details of his illegal imprisonment by Chinese authorities and for refusing to identify customers in China who purchased books critical of Chinese officials.

A speaking appearance by author Kate Messner was cancelled by a Vermont elementary school on June 6 because school officials feared that discussion of her new book, which includes a character who is a heroin addict, might anger parents.

Here’s a preview of the artwork to be raffled off at the ABC Children’s Institute, including pieces from illustrators Ryan T. Higgins, LeUyen Pham, and Michael Slack.

ABFE Director Chris Finan looks back at the life of Rhett Jackson, a much-honored Southern gentleman who confounded people's expectations and always stood up for civil rights and First Amendment issues.

ABFE has joined the Association of American Publishers and other groups in filing a friend of the court brief in a lawsuit that could have a potentially crippling effect on the public debate of important subjects.

Two New Orleans bookstores have won an important battle in their challenge to a Louisiana law that would require them to verify the age of visitors to their store websites.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, bookstore owner David Sandberg met protestors at an April 19 author appearance with sympathy and respect and a statement that explained why it was important for the event to go on as planned.

This article, part of an occasional series on the history of free speech by ABFE Director Chris Finan, looks at efforts to ban H.L. Mencken's magazine, American Mercury, in 1920s Boston, which marked the start of a critical battle for free speech in books.

The American Library Association’s 2016 State of America’s Libraries report, which details American library trends of the past year, reveals the 2015 Top Ten List of Most Challenged Books.

ABA has joined with the Association of American Publishers, the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom, the Children’s Book Council, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance to urge authors, illustrators, and publishers not to boycott North Carolina bookstores.

Independent We Stand kicks off “America’s Main Streets” contest; Mississippi authors release statement opposing H.B.1523; Lineup announced for Audio Publishers Association Tea at BEA; Pulitzer centennial video available for posting; Sourcebooks acquires first project in partnership with Wattpad; Chris Jackson to relaunch One World imprint; Memorial service planned for Glenn Ellis, longtime PRH sales team member; Paz & Associates introduces spring workshop participants