ABFFE Rolls Out Banned Books Week Campaign

July 12, 2006

On July 13, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) launched a campaign to encourage booksellers around the country to participate in Banned Books Week, which will be held from September 23 - 30. "Banned Books Week is the only national celebration of the freedom to read, and its success depends on the efforts of bookstores and libraries," Caitlin Delohery, ABFFE program manager, said.

For the event, ABFFE is offering an updated version of the electronic handbook, which it issued last year, detailing different ways that bookstores can participate in the weeklong event. ABFFE's Banned Books Week Handbook also lists a variety of resources that booksellers can use to plan their events, including banned book lists, up-to-date news about recent book bans and challenges, printable fliers and more.

"The new handbook generates fresh ideas on how to raise awareness about the importance of protecting free speech," Delohery noted.

ABFFE is hoping booksellers will use Banned Books Week to help raise funds to support its fight for First Amendment rights, and it has designed an attractive donation box for Banned Books Week that will make this easy. The compact boxes take up very little counter space and provide another way for booksellers to demonstrate their commitment to free speech. (To order the free donation boxes from ABFFE, e-mail info@abffe.com.)

ABFFE is offering a Banned Books Week discount on its FREADOM T-shirts, buttons, and stickers. Booksellers can also take advantage of a special 50 percent discount on ABFFE membership by joining before the end of Banned Books Week, on September 30. A membership form and the Banned Books Week order form are available on the ABFFE website.

ABFFE is also sponsoring "Protecting Privacy, Challenging Secrecy, and Standing Up for the First Amendment," an event honoring the Connecticut librarians who protected their patrons' right to privacy by fighting an FBI subpoena of customer records. The event will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, September 28. ABFFE is encouraging its Washington area members to attend.

Launched in 1982, Banned Books Week is sponsored by ABFFE, the American Library Association, the Association of American Publishers, and the National Association of College Stores. Banned Books Week is also endorsed by the Center for the Book of the Library of Congress.

Topics: News - Bookselling, Free Expression,