It’s time to renew your store’s ABA membership! 

All ABA memberships run from February 1 through January 31. Member stores can opt to pay dues on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis, but all members need to complete the renewal process to update their store’s data. Stores who have recently become members will also need to renew their membership.

During the membership renewal process, you can choose to participate in the ABA Children’s Group ($50). You can also choose to add a donation to support the crucial advocacy work of American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE), which helps fund lawsuits against book ban legislation and organizes against book censorship.

Due to the bylaws update that ABA membership voted to pass last year, the following changes will take effect with the 2025 membership renewal:

• Used Bookstore members now have full membership benefits, including voting rights and eligibility to serve on the ABA Board. 
• Museum shops, Friends of Library Stores, Community Centers, book subscription services, stand-alone book event businesses, and other similar business structures are now considered Adjacent Members rather than Bookstore Members.

Stores that will be affected by these changes received an email from [email protected] on Friday, January 3. 

Membership benefits can be reviewed on BookWeb.

Questions about dues renewal? Reach out to your ABA Member Relations Manager or [email protected].

• Thursday, January 9 at 3:00 pm ET: Bookseller Lightning Talks
• Monday, January 13 at 8:00 pm ET: LGBTQIA2S+ Community Affinity Group
• Wednesday, January 15: Find Waldo Local Sign Up Opens
• Tuesday, January 21 at 3:00 pm ET: ABA Staff Office Hours
• Friday, January 24 at 3:00 pm ET: Virtual Institute Orientation
• Monday, January 27 at 3:00 pm ET: New Member Series: Intro to ABA Benefits
• Tuesday, January 28 at 3:00 pm ET: ShopTalk: ABA Children’s Group
• Thursday, January 30 at 5:00 pm ET: Board Office Hours

Victory in Arkansas!
On December 23, 2024, the US District Court for the Western District of Arkansas declared Arkansas Act 372 unconstitutional and permanently enjoined its enforcement. The law would have subjected librarians and bookstore owners to criminal prosecution for carrying and displaying materials that could be deemed harmful to minors. It also mandated a library book challenge procedure in public libraries whereby individuals may challenge books based on vaguely defined “appropriateness.” The defendants have an opportunity to appeal the ruling.

Along with the other plaintiffs, ABA CEO Allison Hill issued the following joint statement:

“Together with librarians, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers everywhere, we applaud the Court’s carefully crafted decision upholding the constitutional right to read.”

Read more about the decision here.

2025 Legislative Sessions
State legislative sessions started opening this week as pre-filed bills continue to roll in. We’re currently tracking free expression-related bills for 2025 state legislative sessions in the following states: pro-freedom to read bills in Arkansas, Missouri, and New Mexico, with some others we expect to be filed in other states; and anti-freedom to read bills in, Alabama, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Texas, South Carolina, and Virginia.

This Week in Book Challenges
Check out This Week in Book Challenges for updates from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia for December 11, 2024–January 7, 2025.

You can reach out [email protected] at any time for free expression help or to report book challenges in your community. For other advocacy questions or concerns, please email [email protected].