ABFFE Seeks Support From Bookstore Customers

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) is seeking to persuade bookstore customers to contribute to the cost of defending the freedom to read. ABFFE has created a "FREADOM Isn't Free!" donation box that it hopes booksellers will place on their counters during Banned Books Week, September 23 - 30.

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"Booksellers have always been generous supporters of ABFFE, but we have never solicited consumers before," said ABFFE President Chris Finan. "More than 200,000 bookstore customers signed the reader privacy petition seeking changes in the USA Patriot Act. We're asking them to put their money where their mouth is."

To make the solicitation as easy as possible for booksellers, ABFFE has created an attractive and easy-to-assemble donation box, which does not occupy much counter space. (The box is six inches wide by four inches high by four and a half inches deep. A four-inch header fits into slots on top of the box.)

ABFFE has anticipated customer questions about the purpose of the collection by listing several of its most important activities on the box. These include seeking changes in the Patriot Act; opposing the censorship of books in schools, libraries, and bookstores; and sponsoring Banned Books Week.

To order a donation box, booksellers should send an e-mail to [email protected].