Free Expression

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression is urging booksellers, artists, and other supporters of the free speech rights of kids to help promote its latest auction of children’s book art.

Judge dismisses Google e-book scanning case; PEN report shows authors self-censoring due to surveillance; World Book Night donates to Operation Gratitude; Survey shows early holiday shopping among Americans; SCBWI creates The Spark Award; Gaiman’s Neverwhere returned to classrooms; Frommer’s returns due to Wiley by December 15; Ingram Publisher Services to distribute for Indiana University Press

 On Wednesday, the Campaign for Reader Privacy urged Congress to pass the USA Freedom Act to restore privacy protections that were eliminated by the Patriot Act. CRP is a joint initiative of ABA, ALA, AAP, and PEN American Center.

Artists and illustrators have until this Friday, November 15, to submit original children’s book art for the ABFFE holiday auction, which launches on eBay on November 26.

ABFFE will launch its holiday auction of original children’s book art on November 26.  The week-long eBay auction will feature works from leading artists and illustrators working in book publishing today.

Following criticism of author Stephen Jimenez’s The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard (Steerforth Press), several bookstores hosted the author at events that led to a civil dialogue on a controversial issue.

The Kids’ Right to Read Project is urging district officials in Alamogordo, New Mexico, to reconsider the removal of Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere from high school English classrooms and lessons. 

ABFFE is defending bookstores that have scheduled appearances by Stephen Jimenez, author of The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard (Steerforth Press). The book has been criticized for questioning aspects of a case that has come to symbolize hate crimes against gay men and women.

Conversations about censorship and First Amendment rights filled indie bookstores across the country during last week’s celebration of the 31st annual Banned Books Week.

Bill to limit Amazon’s advantage moves forward in France; Reading Group Choices’ 2014 guide out now; National survey details reading habits; NRF predicts modest growth during holidays; Consumers use smartphones, tablets to shop; California Bookstore Day website live; NCAC in New York Times Sunday Dialogue; Thurber Prize goes to Dan Zevin; Penguin Random House merges audio; HarperCollins joins Scribd’s e-book subscription service; Chronicle Books goes green; BISG announces new mission statement, industry award winners, F+W Media partnership

ABFFE and Pen American Center host Paradise Banned; Writers receive MacArthur fellowships; PayPal offers small business loans; Georgetown’s Harborwalk Books destroyed by fire; Anti-tax groups support Amazon’s appeal to Supreme Court 

Banned Books Week (September 22 – 28) will again feature readers demonstrating their support for free speech in a Virtual Read-Out of banned and challenged books. This year, the Read-Out will serve as the backdrop for the announcement of Banned Books Week Heroes.

National Book Foundation to honor E.L. Doctorow, Maya Angelou; Judy Blume to receive NAIBA’s Legacy and Carla Cohen Free Speech awards; Hugo Award winners announced; Amazon begins collecting sales tax in Georgia and Virginia

Though “Banned Books Week in a Box” promotional kits are all gone, booksellers can still take advantage of Ingram’s additional discount on a list of 200 banned or challenged books. ABFFE is also offering a promotional kit, including bookmarks, buttons, bumper stickers, and more, for $25 plus free shipping.

ABFFE and Ingram have provided ordering instructions for Banned Books Week in a Box, a promotion that makes it as simple as possible for stores to participate in Banned Books Week, this September 22 – 28.