Sign Onto Letter Opposing Mastercard/Visa Settlement
The American Booksellers Association encourages your store to join the Merchants Payments Coalition’s (MPC) sign-on letter objecting to the proposed settlement in MDL-1720. This letter urges the District Court Judge to deny final approval. ABA believes the court should reject the settlement because it would grant Visa, Mastercard, and major card-issuing banks sweeping immunity from anticompetitive card fees and practices while offering merchants only temporary, inadequate relief. Sign the letter today.
Arkansas Update
Last week, in the case opposing Arkansas Act 372, the Eighth Circuit court granted the motion to extend the deadline for filing for a rehearing to August 27. Act 372 establishes the criminal offense of "furnishing a harmful item to a minor," defining harmful materials to include books, films, and live performances depicting sexual conduct or nudity and classifying the knowing provision of these items as a Class A misdemeanor. For three-plus years, ABA, along with its coalition partners, have been fighting in the courts to defend both the First Amendment and independent bookstores by having AR Act 372 overturned. The injunction will remain in place at least until seven days after the August 27 filing date. If the court grants a rehearing, the injunction will remain in place until the court rules.
ABA is currently seeking legal guidance on Act 372 to provide booksellers with information on what they need to understand about the law and what they will need to start doing if and when it does go into effect.
Reminder: Tell Your Lawmakers to Oppose Censorship Bills
At present, there are three national censorship bills that are now active in Congress, targeting federal education funding in ways that would impact schools’ book purchases and have ripple effects across the book industry. Collectively, these bills would restrict books discussing race and gender in vague terms that would ban an uncountable number of books. Your US Representatives and Senators need to hear from you. Urge them to oppose HR 7661/S 4925, HR 8705, and HR 2616. To email your lawmakers, go to bookweb.org/advocacy.
Don’t Wait! Get Your “I Read Dangerously Tattoos” in Time For Banned Books Week
Time is running out to make sure you have ‘I Read Dangerously’ wholesale tattoos to resell at your store for Banned Books Week and beyond! These temporary waterless tattoos are perfect for the cash wrap or your Banned Books Week display! When you sell the tattoos, you’re doing your part to support the right to read: All net profits from the tattoos go to support the American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) in our mission to protect the freedom to read. And now that ABFE is a 501(c)(3), your financial support for ABFE might be tax-deductible!
Here’s the ordering information:
Wholesale cost per tattoo: $1.25 donation to ABFE (minimum order of 25 or multiples of 25)
Retail Value: $2.99
Dimensions: 3” x 3”
Email your order to [email protected]. | 
