On Saturday, May 4, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. BookExpo America (BEA) attendees can learn the latest on how community-based retailers are working to more effectively advocate on important political issues in their cities and towns.

This special one-hour panel (Room 1E12) on "Main Street/Alliances/Political Advocacy" will feature Utah Senator Orrin G. Hatch (author of the upcoming book Square Peg from Basic Books) and two booksellers with extensive experience in civic affairs -- current ABA President Neal Coonerty of Book Shop Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, California, and former ABA President Richard Howorth of Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi.

Coonerty served as mayor of Santa Cruz from 1992 to 1993, and Howorth is currently serving as mayor of Oxford. The panel will be moderated by ABA COO Oren Teicher and is open to all badged BEA attendees.

Booksellers are an integral and respected part of their community. The "Main Street/Alliances/Political Advocacy" panel will discuss ways to become more involved in political advocacy and in forming alliances and coalitions with like-minded retailers, and will provide updates on current public policy issues involving the bookselling community. Topics to be covered include equitable Internet sales tax collection, effective use of zoning ordinances, and an update on the effects of the recently passed USA Patriot Act on bookstores.