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Advocacy
Defending free expression. Working to create a level playing field for all booksellers. Helping the voices of small business owners to be heard in Washington. Advocacy issues such as these are central to the mission of the American Booksellers Association.
ABA firmly believes it is the responsibility of state leaders to uniformly and fairly enforce sales tax laws by requiring all retailers—whether they operate online, in bricks-and-mortar stores, or a combination of both—to fulfill their obligation to collect sales tax.
The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression is the bookseller's voice in the fight against censorship. Founded by ABA in 1990, ABFFE’s mission is to promote and protect the free exchange of ideas.
- Bookselling This Week: Stay abreast of breaking news about Free Expression issues.
- "The Freadom List": Titles for children and adults that have been most frequently challenged or banned.
- Reader Privacy: ABA is an active participant in the Campaign for Reader Privacy (CRP), which is working to restore the safeguards for reader privacy that were eliminated by the USA Patriot Act.
Government & Small Business
ABA is fostering meaningful dialogue between our members and representatives in Washington, demonstrating to publishers the value of the independent market, and ensuring that independent booksellers have a say in the development of technological standards. - Publishers' Obligations to Book Retailers Under Federal Antitrust Discrimination Law: The fundamentals of the Robinson-Patman Act as it pertains to booksellers.
From studies that demonstrate the economic impact of independent retailers, to the powerful message of the IndieBound movement and networking with like-minded organizations, ABA is working to strengthen awareness about the crucial role independent retailers play in local economies and communities.
The Bookseller Relief Fund was established by ABA in September 2005 to help meet the humanitarian needs of booksellers affected by disasters.