ABFFE Urges Support for 30th Banned Books Week

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression [1](ABFFE) has issued a final call for support of the 30^th anniversary of Banned Books Week, September 30 - October 6.  ABFFE’s major Banned Books Week projects are an Internet read-out from challenged titles on YouTube and an online auction of original children’s art that will be conducted on eBay from September 26 through October 9.

“For 30 years, Banned Books Week has delivered the bad news that censorship is still a problem in America,” ABFFE President Chris Finan said. “The good news is that booksellers, librarians, publishers and authors are fighting for the freedom to read.” 

ABFFE is still accepting donations of art for the auction.  Artists can learn more about the auction here [2].  The donation form is also online [3].  The deadline for receiving donations is Sept. 19.      

Booksellers contributed more than 90 of the 800 videos produced for last year’s read-out.  The first bookseller video [4] for 2012 has just been posted.  It was produced by Bookmans, an independent store with six locations in Arizona.  To encourage stores to join the read-out, ABFFE has released a promotional video [5], written instructions [6], a how-to video [7], and a sign that bookstores can download [8] and use to promote their read-outs.

ABFFE is holding a sale [9] on buttons, bookmarks and other promotional material that can be used during Banned Books Week.  Orders placed in the next two weeks can be delivered in time for Banned Books Week.

Questions can be sent to ABFFE at info@abffe.org [10]