Industry Voices

20 Aug

What the Polls Say About Free Speech in the United States

In his monthly opinion column, ABFE Director Chris Finan looks at troubling results from recent polls on Americans’ understanding of their First Amendment rights as well as their feelings towards censorship.

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06 Aug

ABA President Betsy Burton’s First Bimonthly Letter to Members

Newly elected ABA President Betsy Burton shares news on the Board of Directors’ most recent meeting, including changes to the association’s Ends Policies. 

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29 Jul

The Authors Guild’s Mary Rasenberger on Why Amazon Deserves Antitrust Scrutiny

Mary Rasenberger, executive director of the Authors Guild, discusses the organization’s support for the Authors United appeal to the Department of Justice to investigate Amazon’s “abuse of its dominance in the world of books.”

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22 Jul

311 Reasons to Celebrate Banned Books Week

Though the reported number of book challenges has fallen, statistics do not give a full picture, says ABFE Director Chris Finan. “The reality is that censorship is still a problem in this country, and most of the victims are kids. Sometimes books are literally taken out of their hands.”

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01 Jul

Friends and Colleagues Remember Avin Mark Domnitz

Former ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz died on Saturday, June 27. Since then, friends and colleagues have been offering their thoughts on a man who was a passionate advocate for independent booksellers, a good friend, and a loving husband and father.

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25 Jun

Let Snowden Come Home: An Opinion Column

ABFE Director Chris Finan expresses his personal belief that the Espionage Act charges against Edward Snowden should be dropped, allowing him to be tried for stealing government documents or another lesser crime.

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11 Jun

A Letter From ABA’s CEO

In his bimonthly letter to members, ABA CEO Oren Teicher reflects on a successful BEA and on important issues still facing the independent bookselling community. 

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10 Jun

A Small Business Perspective on Minimum Wage

Last week, Left Bank Books co-owner Jarek Steele wrote a blog post highlighting the challenges small business owners face regarding minimum wage.

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21 May

Op-Ed: Minimum Wage Issue Needs Realistic Policy Solutions & Association Input

Hazel Roos, a prospective bookseller and provisional ABA member, is the owner of Paint Away, a pottery painting and glass fusing studio in Redmond, Washington. This op-ed on the minimum wage is adapted from an e-mail she recently sent to ABA.

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09 Apr

Free Speech: A Great Book About Torture

Chris Finan, director of the American Booksellers for Free Expression, shares his own thoughts and opinions on the book Guantanamo Diary and the important debate it can stir about whether torture is ever justified.

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05 Mar

A Letter From ABA’s President

ABA President Steve Bercu sees another great year ahead for indie bookstores and encourages members to take advantage of upcoming education events.

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05 Mar

Free Speech: Fear Is Still the Enemy

In the first installment of a new monthly column on free speech issues, ABFE Director Chris Finan expresses his opinions about the toll on our freedoms in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and voices his hope that moving forward we will not be governed by panic.

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05 Feb

A Letter From ABA CEO Oren Teicher

In his bimonthly letter to members, ABA CEO Oren Teicher reflects on the far different world booksellers are facing since 2006, when the first Winter Institute was held in Long Beach, California.

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26 Jan

72 Hours in Asheville: A Suggested Itinerary for Winter Institute 10

Here’s a plan for getting the most out of Winter Institute 10, from the Sunday Indie Retail Crawl and Opening Reception to the final packed day of education and the Small and University Press Authors Closing Reception.

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15 Jan

I Am Charlie: ABFE Director Chris Finan on the Challenges of Confronting Threats to Free Speech

In the wake of the horrifying massacre of the staff of Charlie Hebdo, ABFE Director Chris Finan looks at the courage it takes to stand up for free speech and the challenges facing booksellers.

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About ABA

The American Booksellers Association, a national not-for-profit trade organization, works with booksellers and industry partners to ensure the success and profitability of independently owned book retailers, and to assist in expanding the community of the book.

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