Are you participating in ALA’s Midwinter Meeting in Boston?  Looking for something upbeat, upscale, and affordable?  Then visit booth 1960 in the exhibit area to check out the designs of Carolyn Forsman — the New York-based jeweler who donates proceeds from her ALA booth to the Freedom to Read Foundation.

Carolyn, the 2009 Museum Store Association Service Award winner, always has a terrific assortment of affordable gifts (top retail price of $50) that will make you smile.  Are you “perfect”, “quirky”, a “blogger”, or a “drama queen”?  If so, then she has the rubber band bracelet for you.  Only $1!!  She also will be featuring her standard assortment of flashing “spike” rings (perfect for fireworks), glowing necklaces, newspaper headline pins, original “I Read Banned Books” bracelets (now featuring Huck Finn), and brand new Banned Books Pins!  Carolyn’s jewelry is currently in MOMA San Francisco, MOMA Tokyo, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Guggenheim Berlin, and various other museums and book/gift/library shops worldwide.

The Freedom to Read Foundation has been the First Amendment legal defense arm of the American Library Association since 1969.  Carolyn, a former librarian and ALA Councilor, has raised over $100,000 through the years for FTRF, and was named to the Foundation’s Roll of Honor in 2001.  We encourage you to visit her at booth 1960, browse for some summer gifts, and support the critical First Amendment work of the Freedom to Read Foundation.