Free Expression

Judge denies motion to dismiss e-book class action suit; Indie bookstore to open in Kent, Ohio; Lambda Literary names Mid-Career Novelist Prize winners; Kids Right to Read Project opposes removal of John Green novel; NEIBA arrives at new home; NAIBA names Helmuth Sales Rep of the Year

The June 6 Children’s Art Auction at BEA will provide added excitement this year when live bidding opens on several rare items.  An online preview of more than 70 mostly silent auction items is now live.

ABFFE is urging booksellers to participate in the 30th annual celebration of Banned Books Week, from September 30 to October 6. This year’s plans include an Internet read-out, a speaker program for bookstores interested in hosting an event about censorship, and more.

Tickets are on sale now for one of the marquee events at BookExpo America — the Children’s Art Auction and Reception, sponsored by the ABC Children’s Group at ABA.

Contributions of all forms of original artwork, from a sketch on paper to finished work in any medium, are wanted for the Annual Children’s Art Auction and Reception at BEA to benefit ABFFE and the Kids’ Right to Read Project.

Award-winning author Walter Dean Myers, who has confronted numerous challenges to his books for young people, will help raise funds to support the free speech rights of kids by serving as the honorary chair of the Annual Children’s Art Auction and Reception at BookExpo America.

On Tuesday, PayPal retracted its threat to close the accounts of online booksellers that sell works including descriptions of rape, incest, and bestiality.

ABFFE has joined the National Coalition Against Censorship  in protesting a threat by the online payment processor PayPal to close the accounts of online booksellers selling erotic works.

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression joined with other members of the Media Coalition in urging the Supreme Court to hold that a federal law making it a crime to lie about having received a military medal violates the First Amendment.

Dozens of national organizations and several ABA member booksellers have joined together to protest the banning of books used for the Mexican American Studies program in the Tucson Unified School District.