Massachusetts Freedom to Read Bill Passes Senate with Positive Amendments
S 2696, “An Act Regarding Free Expression,” passed the Massachusetts Senate last Thursday by a wide margin, with the adoption of all three amendments supported by American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) and Mass Freedom to Read. These amendments add protections for authors, ensure works are considered as a whole with regard to their merit, and limit book challenges to school stakeholders. Thank you to all the ABA member stores who advocated in support of this bill and these amendments!
The fight is not over. The bill now heads to the House, where it will need your continued support to ensure passage in the strongest possible form.
Tennessee: Turn Out for Libraries
As reported in last week’s BTW, libraries in Tennessee are facing significant uncertainty as a result of a letter from the Tennessee Secretary of State mandating statewide reviews.
We've been asked to share these two calls to action with Tennessee booksellers:
- From the Rutherford County Library Alliance: “Given everything that’s going on here in Rutherford County, we are trying to push back with a planned presence at the library board meeting on Monday, December 1, at 5:00 pm at Council Chamber, Murfreesboro City Hall. We are asking everyone to wear purple and/or bring signs.”
- From ABA member Lindsay Schultz, owner of The Spine in Rutherford County: “I am truly in the fight of my life against the escalating wave of book banning happening here in Rutherford County, and I am asking my fellow Tennessee booksellers for help organizing against it. If you want to join forces in this fight, please reach out to me at [email protected].” (You can also CC [email protected]!)
White House Removes Tariffs on Coffee and Tea
If your bookstore includes a cafe or offers food, please be aware that the White House announced the removal of tariffs on a range of food and drink items, including fruit juices, coffee, and tea, in the hopes that it will bring prices down. Other products that will have tariffs removed include beef, nuts, spices, and cocoa along with a list of fresh fruits, such as oranges, avocados and tomatoes, as reported by Yahoo Finance.