Did you know that as recently as June 2009, residents in West Bend, Wisconsin argued that having Francesca Lia Block's Baby Be-Bop available in the public library should be a hate crime? Can you imagine living in a country where merely owning a book, listening to an album, or watching a movie, is sufficient cause to throw you in jail? This month, Bookmans reinforces a few basic truths: Reading, watching, and listening, is not a crime. Censorship IS a crime. Join Bookmans for Fight Censorship 2009!

Our annual Fight Censorship campaign is back! All month long, we'll be highlighting threats to your First Amendment freedoms with creative visual displays in our stores and in-store and community events. More importantly, we'll be putting the conversation about censorship front and center - discussing what censorship is, what it isn't, and how you can help ensure that you always have the freedom to CHOOSE what you read, watch, and listen to.

Fight Censorship was inspired by the American Library Association's Banned Books Week, which runs from September 26th through October 3rd this year. The ALA is a tireless champion of protecting libraries and library patrons from challenges to reading material, and an invaluable resource in fighting censorship in our communities.

Be sure to check out some of the upcoming Fight Censorship-themed events happening in the stores and in the community this September, and visit your favorite Bookmans for the awesome displays!