Rebecca Zeidel, Program Director
rebecca@abffe.com

Elizabeth Schreck, Membership Director
elizabeth@abffe.com

ABFFE
275 7th Avenue
Suite 1504
New York, NY 10001
Phone: (212) 587-4025
Fax: (212) 587-2436
 

ABFFE continued to educate the book community and the public about the importance of reestablishing the safeguards for reader privacy that were eliminated by the USA PATRIOT Act.

In response to the Campaign for Reader Privacy, a grassroots effort undertaken by the American Booksellers Association, the American Library Association, the Association of American Publishers and PEN American Center, Congress approved several new measures to amend Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act, which authorizes the FBI to search bookstore and library records whenever they are “relevant” to a terrorism investigation. The new safeguards include requiring approval of only the highest-ranking FBI officials to conduct a search, and obligatory annual reporting from the Justice Department of the number of bookstore and library searches conducted each year.

However, despite these amendments, the FBI retains the right to search the records of people who are not suspected of any criminal behavior. In September, ABFFE joined the sponsors of the Campaign for Reader Privacy in organizing a Banned Books Week program in Washington, DC, that stressed the continuing threat posed by the PATRIOT Act, the danger of government efforts to expose the confidential sources that have leaked information to the press about National Security Agency spying, and other abuses.

ABFFE co-sponsored nearly 40 bookstore programs to educate the public about First Amendment issues, joining with a media group, the MLRC Institute, to arrange for some of the nation’s leading reporters to speak at bookstores. The McCormick Tribune Foundation, which supported the programs through a grant to the MLRC Institute, has agreed to help finance a second year of reporter events in bookstores during 2007.

ABFFE challenged school censorship twice during 2006. It filed an amicus brief in an ACLU case challenging the Miami school board’s decision to ban a children’s book that it believes paints too favorable a picture of Cuba. In addition, ABFFE joined the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) in opposing an effort to remove the novel So Far from the Bamboo Grove (HarperCollins) from sixth-grade classes in the Dover-Sherborn school district in Massachusetts. Partly in a response to a letter from ABFFE, NCAC, and other free expression groups, the school board reversed the decision of a committee that had recommended removing the book.

ABFFE continues to defend the right of booksellers to sell First Amendment-protected material online and has acted as a plaintiff in seven cases challenging state laws banning the display of sexual material that is “harmful to minors” on Web sites. Five of these laws have been declared unconstitutional. ABFFE is also supporting the fight by the video game industry against state laws restricting the sale of “violent” games to minors. Courts have consistently ruled that such laws violate the First Amendment.

ABFFE opposed an effort by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand its power to regulate “indecency” on radio and television. It joined a coalition of 20 free expression groups, community broadcasters, filmmakers, performers and authors to file a brief arguing that new standards adopted by the FCC are overly vague and unconstitutional.

ABFFE is a sponsor of Banned Books Week, the only national celebration of the freedom to read, which marked its 25th anniversary during 2006. ABFFE continued to expand the online resource manual it created last year to make it easier for booksellers to participate. Resources are available here.

ABFFE released a model statement to help booksellers proclaim their support for free speech and reader privacy. The statement entitled “To Our Customers” explains why booksellers believe it is important to carry a wide diversity of books, including works that some people may find offensive. It also promises customers that the bookstore will protect the privacy of their book purchases. “To Our Customers” is available in two versions here.

ABFFE was recognized by long-distance telephone company Working Assets as an organization that is making an important contribution to protecting civil liberties. ABFFE was included on a list of 50 non-profit organizations working for social change that will receive a contribution from Working Assets during 2007.             

ABFFE is prepared to assist you and your staff whenever you confront a First Amendment emergency, whether it is the result of a customer complaint or a police demand.  We operate a First Amendment hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  If you ever need an experienced First Amendment lawyer, we can help you find one.

ABFFE is the bookseller’s voice in all free speech controversies involving books and other written material.  We alerted booksellers to the dangers posed by the USA Patriot Act and helped them communicate their concerns to Congress.  We are also active on the local level. ABFFE opposes efforts to ban books in public schools and libraries and files amicus briefs in cases challenging school censorship.

ABFFE helps booksellers communicate the importance of free speech to their customers, building support for First Amendment rights that will be critically important when censorship controversies arise.  ABFFE is a sponsor of Banned Books Week, the only national celebration of the freedom to read.

ABFFE helps booksellers book speakers on important First Amendment issues.  More than 40 bookstores around the country have hosted prominent reporters who have discussed the importance of passing legislation to protect the confidentiality of news sources.

ABFFE also acts as the bookseller’s voice on important First Amendment issues that do not directly affect bookstores but involve defending the free speech rights of all Americans.  It recently filed an amicus brief in a Supreme Court case that could significantly restrict the free speech rights of students.
 

A ready-to-frame statement, “To Our Customers,” that booksellers can display in their stores, declaring their commitment to protect the First Amendment and privacy rights of their customers.

A FREADOM membership decal for a bookstore’s front window as well as a FREADOM pin.

The ABFFE handbook, Censorship and First Amendment Rights: A Primer, and our latest pamphlet, Protecting Customer Privacy in Bookstores.

ABFFE UPDATE, our monthly e-mail newsletter.