Advocacy

Here is an update on the latest book challenges for the week of July 11, 2024.

Annastasia Williams is the Bookstore Director for The Bookshop at the Bottom in Knoxville, Tennessee. 

The American Booksellers Association (ABA) praised an order issued today by a federal judge that rejected a proposed class-action settlement over Visa and Mastercard credit card “swipe” fees.

“Indies Take The Gold” is an engaging marketing campaign designed to celebrate the spirit of community and excellence of independent bookstores during the Summer Olympics. 

Today, the American Booksellers Association (ABA) and League of Women Voters (LWV) announced a new partnership to educate and empower voters in 2024. The collaboration is part of ABA’s member and community campaign, “Get Out the VOTE,” which aims to equip independent bookstores to engage with voters. 

Maggie Tokuda-Hall is an acclaimed author of children's and YA books such as The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea and The Worst Ronin. She is also a founding member and on the national leadership team of Authors Against Book Bans.

Here is an update on the latest book challenges for the weeks of May 1st and May 8th, 2024.

The American Booksellers Association’s health coverage partner LIG Solutions wants booksellers to stay healthy in 2024. Read on for resources that are meant to help expand your health and wellness awareness and increase your knowledge about new health insurance solutions/legislation.

Tara Lipsyncki (they/them) is a drag performer, owner of Mosaics Community Bookstore and Venue in Provo, Utah, and director of the United Drag Alliance nonprofit. In April 2024, they received a bomb threat to their store in response to their Drag Story Hour programming, the most recent of many threats they’ve received and part of a major uptick in threatening content.

On the eve of Independent Bookstore Day, ABA filed a motion to intervene in the FTC's complaint against Amazon, seeking to bolster their case for monopolistic behavior and ensure independent bookstores are represented in the case. 

ABFE and a coalition of allied organizations have filed an amicus brief in the Eight Circuit Appellate Court in support of two lawsuits challenging Iowa's book ban law on constitutional grounds: PRH et al. v. Robbins and GLBT Youth et al. v. Reynolds.

 Lauren Groff is the author of The Vaster Wilds, Matrix, Florida, and others. She is also the owner of the indie bookstore The Lynx, which will have its grand opening in Gainesville, Florida, on April 28 (but will be open on April 27 for Independent Bookstore Day). Earlier this week, she was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024.

Laney Hawes is a Texas parent and a co-founder of the Texas Freedom to Read Project.

Here is an update on the latest book challenges for the weeks of April 3, 2024 and April 10, 2024.