Free Expression

Authors United to ask Justice Department for Amazon inquiry; Women’s National Book Association selects Great Group Reads; NCAC announces winners of Cameron Post Essay Contest; Penguin Random House in partnership with Universal Pictures

With the recent release of the paperback edition of Stephen Jimenez’s controversial The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard, ABFFE President Chris Finan reflects on the failed efforts to force 23 bookstores to cancel their events for the book last year and announces plans for an ABFFE program at Winter Institute.

Banned Books Week is being celebrated in bookstores throughout the country from September 21 – 27 with special events, displays, videos, and more. 

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and five independent bookstores are among the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed in federal court this week challenging a new Arizona criminal law that bans nude images.

Booksellers are responding enthusiastically to the latest Banned Books Week promotion from Ingram Content Group and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression.

Randy Smith, co-owner, with Ann Baumgartle, of Indiana’s Destinations Booksellers, explains in a letter to the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression why he thinks it is important to fight censorship and what he’s doing about it.

Booksellers who place orders for 30 or more books from an expanded list of banned or challenged titles before October 3 will receive an additional discount from Ingram, as well as a free “Banned Books Week in a Box” display kit.

Starting August 20, booksellers can view a list of more than 450 banned and challenged titles via Ingram’s ipage®. Orders of 30 or more books per store entitle purchasers to a “Banned Books Week in a Box” display kit and additional discounts on initial and subsequent orders.

West Virginia collects $19 million in sales tax from online retailers; NAIBA seeks Independent Bookstore Day logo; Cape Henlopen school board does away with reading list; Macmillan expands public library e-lending pilot program

Sen. Patrick Leahy has introduced legislation that is a much stronger version of the U.S.A. Freedom Act, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in May.

MLRC Institute, the sister organization of the Media Law Resource Center, will be working with ABFFE to provide speakers for bookstores that are interested in hosting a program about censorship during Banned Books Week (September 21 – 27, 2014).

HarperCollins in e-book bundling pilot program; S&S to sell, distribute Regan Arts; MIBA and GLIBA to honor Kate DiCamillo; Book Industry Charitable Foundation reveals survey results; John Green’s Looking for Alaska challenged; 2014 Man Booker longlist announced

In response to the removal of Emily Danforth’s The Miseducation of Cameron Post from a high school reading list, Browseabout Books is giving away copies, which have been donated by community members, book industry partners, and readers of AfterEllen.

Amazon makes play to win over Hachette authors; HarperCollins launches new website; SIBA 2014 Book Award winners selected; Midwest Booksellers Choice Awards announced; Macmillan donates to Kids’ Right to Read Project in memory of Nancy Garden; Gallery Books, Simon & Schuster partner with Omnific Publishing; Zest Books launches “Pulp” imprint for new adults

Two auctions of children’s book art held in conjunction with this year’s BookExpo America have raised more than $56,000 to help the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression defend the free speech rights of kids.