Advocacy Update: April 2, 2025

Quarterly Updates

Updates for October 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025 are now available for American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) and for all other advocacy.
 

USPS Rolling Out Service Changes

The United States Postal Service (USPS) recently announced it is implementing changes to its service standards in effort to save money.

These changes — beginning this week and July 1 — could impact indie bookstores in several ways, including delayed special order shipments, delayed media mail and priority mail shipments for customers, delayed checks to publishers (missed due dates), and more. 

Please contact advocacy@bookweb.org if your deliveries and shipments are being significantly impacted by these changes.
 

Legislative Calls to Action

In North Dakota, a bill has passed that will lead to an increase in book bans and a chilling of library curation. Right to Read North Dakota has put out a call to action requesting the governor veto the bill. It could go for a signature any day, so act fast to make sure they hear from you in time!

In Rhode Island, the senate version of the “Freedom to Read Act” has a hearing Thursday, April 3. You can submit written testimony by emailing it to HouseStateGovernmentandElections@rilegislature.gov. You are invited to reach out to abfe@bookweb.org for guidance on your testimony or for information about how to testify in person.
 

Thank you!

Thank you to Come from the Heart, longtime ABFE donor! Any item can be ordered from their 2025 catalogue with 10% of proceeds donated to ABFE.