This is both amusing and troubling. BFB is one of many opportunities for people who want to put books in the hands of at-risk teens, and no one is being required to participate. I find the invocation of drunk driving as a criticism of this fund-raising idea to be especially offensive. Certainly, everyone has an opinion as was clearly indicated by the ALA Council responses-that's the amusing part. My guess is that YALSA will do what works. Fund raising appeals are notoriously "self-selecting" and that is why YALSA has developed lots of them. This may be a generational thing. The hang-up seems to be the word "booze." The troubling part is when critics seem to be saying- okay you can have a "social" or a "pre or post dinner gathering" but don't mention the alcohol especially using a slang term. Isn't this the kind of duplicity that we want to encourage teens not to practice. And , shouldn't we be saying that: yes, you can grow up to consume alcohol/booze responsibly and maybe even have it as a part of an event to do some good in the process.

"I find the invocation of drunk driving as a criticism of this fund-raising idea to be especially offensive." I completely agree generally, but I understand the objections and none in and of themselves is offensive. Only in America can you have the president of the largest lending library, the New York Public Library with the famous lions, drive his public library-owned 2009 Audi A4 while drunk, get in an accident, plead guilty to a DUI/DWI misdemeanor, then have the library keep him as president, even saying he's terrific. If Anthony Marx, part of the 0.19%, gets to keep his library job in such a situation, then YALSA can certain have a "Booze For Books." My only suggestion is to call it "Books For Booze" to put the emphasis where it belongs.

I think it's awesome. And I will be hosting one.

I found the criticism and name-dropping in the comments and article to be narrow minded and judgemental. The story of always knowing someone who died by a drunk driver is very sad but can land on deaf ears because it is continually told when the words booze and teens are in the same event/idea. I find the idea of the BFB to bust the sterotype of the stiff and introverted librarian. BFB sounds fun and refreshing and I hope to be able to do something like this for our County Library System. I think the BFB team have their thumb on the pulse and know how to raise money.

Clemenceau said, in French of course, that war is too serious a thing to be left to the generals. Perhaps culture and responsibility are too serious to be left to librarians. ALA and members as stewards of the public trust? Booze for Books? Sorry, General Ripper, no to both.

Will the libraries then turn around and purchase YA titles that are cautionary tales about alcohol usage from the BFB funds? "Booze" is a low class word as well, imho. I think it's a nice, rebellious idea, which is probably what appeals to some YALSA members, in an effort to appear young, hip, and rebellious. But in the end it's sophomoric and hypocritical.

I really think that this is an inappropriate way to earn money for youth for any reason, let alone for books. I totally agree with the thought of how we can teach our students to stay off drugs and stay away from alcohol while we are using alcohol to raise money on their behalf. Books and reading are very important, and should be promoted and encouraged, but it should not be associated with something we are trying to discourge in our young people.

I am not opposed to adults hosting mixers (with alcohol) to gather funds for needy children--such things happen all the time. However, I do raise an eyebrow at the cavalier way "booze" is emphasized. We librarians are already "rebels with a cause," who cares that many don't realize what revolutionaries we are? We don't need to throw emphasis on a controversial term to be controversial--we are by nature because we defence intellectual freedom with edgy YA books every day. What I wonder is, with so many creative minds on the YALSA team, and so many opportunities to raise money for worthy causes like this one, why not find a fundraiser that will less blatantly raise the hackles of some portions of the community? Perhaps a fundraiser that teens can promote in their communities as well might be helpful? Why use booze at all? Is it really necessary?

The Friends of the Norfolk(VA)Public Library have been celebrating the start of their annual book sale with a Books and Brew in the stacks for many years. Its a fun event and attracts a large crowd to eat, drink and buy books! Its become a big social event and one we look forward to every year.

People need to stop grouping drunk drivers and alcoholics with the many people who go out and have a drink or two and get a ride home. Also, there has always been fundraisers where they serve alcohol to raise money for a cause, whether it is cancer, stopping hunger, etc. Does it really matter that the word booze is in there? And who the heck is telling kids to never drink ever? I thought the main idea was to wait until you were 21 and to drink responsibly and in moderation.