The American Booksellers Association has implemented a temporary policy of screening books sent to members after two incidents in which the works of controversial right-wing authors were promoted through the association's communications channels.

In a recent letter to ABA members, CEO Allison Hill outlined the policy changes and apologized for both incidents. She said the changes came after an investigation and audit of the incidents, and that the group heard from more than 100 members as it formulated a response.

The first incident involved the inclusion of the cover for book "Blackout" by Candace Owens on a list of ABA bestsellers. Owens is a Black conservative activist with a history of controversial statements. The problem was ABA used the wrong book cover—the listing was actually for another book with the same title that features several short stories about social justice.

Hill said the mistake was made by an ABA staffer substituting for the person who regularly puts together the list, but there was no malice behind it.

"It was a terrible mistake with terrible racist implications. However, based on our investigation and the demonstrated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitment of these individuals, we have no reason to believe the action was malicious in intention," she said.

The staffers have agreed to DEI training and the association has implemented new procedures to lower the likelihood of a similar mistake happening in the future, Hill said.

The second incident involved the inclusion of "Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters" by Abigail Shrier in a promotional box sent to ABA members. In the book, Shrier argues that widespread acceptance of transgender individuals harms young women. Conservative commentators have praised the work but LGBTQ advocates and many medical professionals argue its conclusions are not based on science.

Hill said book publishers pay ABA to include their upcoming titles in promotional boxes. The association previously didn't screen entries because members didn't want to have ABA decide what books they have access to, "preferring to review books themselves to determine what they read, buy, sell, and promote."

ABA's board of directors will review policies regarding promotional boxes during its meeting later this month, she said. In the meantime, submissions to the upcoming September box will be screened by staff to see if they violate the United Nation's criteria for hate speech, thus violating the association's commitment to equity and inclusion.

"ABA has done significant DEI work these past 18 months. Yet we also caused significant harm with these recent incidents," Hill said. "That these two things can coexist is difficult to understand, but it demonstrates how layered DEI work is and how vigilant we have to be."

MORE CEO UPDATE

• Specialty Food Association cancels in-person event amid COVID-19 surge
• Museum, library groups seek to boost vaccine confidence
• Romance writers group rescinds award following controversy
• Two associations cancel Florida events amid COVID surge
• New York City to require proof of vaccination for indoor dining, events