Attorney General Acknowledges PATRIOT Problem

In a statement released on April 12, the co-sponsors of the Campaign for Reader Privacy (CRP) -- the American Booksellers Association, the American Library Association, the Association of American Publishers, and PEN American Center -- welcomed Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' stated willingness to address problems with Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act, which authorizes FBI searches of business records, including the records of booksellers, librarians, and publishers.

During testimony before the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on April 5 and 6, Gonzales said the administration -- which had previously opposed changes in Section 215 -- would support amendments that respond to some of the concerns raised by critics.  To read more, click here and here.

Campaign for Reader Privacy Makes Final Push

The final phase of the Campaign for Reader Privacy -- a nationwide grassroots petition drive calling for the amendment of Section 215 to ensure the privacy of bookstore and library records -- has begun. The centerpiece of CRP is a petition drive that is being conducted in bookstores and libraries and on the Web at www.readerprivacy.org. ABA is distributing new CRP materials -- including redesigned petitions and a new bookmark that asks, "Is Someone Reading Over Your Shoulder?" The petition forms and bookmarks, as a well as a letter to booksellers from ABA Chief Operating Officer Oren Teicher, are being mailed in the Red Box to all Book Sense stores. All of the materials are also available by calling ABA at (800) 637-0037, ext. 292, or via download here.

"It's crucial that as many booksellers as possible participate in the Campaign for Reader Privacy," Teicher said. "Now is the time for a final push to show Congress that booksellers -- and our customers -- continue to believe that First Amendment rights are undermined by this law." To read more, click here.

ABFFE Seeks Donations for Silent Auction

ABFFE is urging publishers, booksellers, and others in the book industry to support the fight for free expression by contributing to the ABFFE Silent Auction, which will be held during BookExpo America in New York in June. Every year at BookExpo, ABFFE auctions books, book sidelines and services, tickets for concerts and sporting events, and much more. Publishers donate most items, but many booksellers contribute autographed books, book-related art, and more.  To read our press release, click here.  For contributor guidelines, click here.  For a contribution form, click here.  Please contact Caitlin Delohery, auction manager, for further information, caitlin@abffe.com, (212) 587-4025.

Harry Potter T-Shirt Sale Enters Final Weeks

ABFFE is rapidly running out of its limited edition Harry Potter T-shirts. Since launching a clearance sale in late March, ABFFE has sold over 500 shirts. "If booksellers want to have the shirts for the Harry Potter festivities in July, now is the time to order. We're running low in several sizes and have sold out of the Harry Potter buttons," ABFFE President Chris Finan said. The T-shirts can be ordered in quantities of 12 for $75. (They were originally priced at $20 per shirt.) ABFFE is offering free shipping on all orders. The order form can be downloaded and faxed to (212) 587-2436. Click here for the order form. ABFFE is also accepting telephone orders at (212) 587-4025.