DALLAS (September 15, 2006)—Half Price Books, one of the nation's largest new and used bookstore chains and a dedicated supporter of national literacy projects and environmental issues, has launched a Web site designed to celebrate American First Amendment rights, as well as draw attention to existing censorship issues.

The new site, located at http://www.deletecensorship.org/ officially launches September 15, in conjunction with Banned Books Awareness Week, which runs September 23 through September 30, and was created to celebrate literature of all kinds and to continue to ensure that ideas remain accessible to all who want them.

The content-rich Web site features information about why certain books were banned, rulings on First Amendment cases, links to freedom of speech sites and organizations, and more information related to the issue of free speech.

"Half Price Books wanted to give the public a way to learn more about how censorship issues impact their lives," said Kathy Doyle Thomas, executive vice president of Half Price Books. "Many people are completely surprised to see that their favorite classic is on the list of banned titles. These are books they read in school, or that they've bought their children as gifts. It's truly an awakening."

Half Price Books has long been a supporter of free speech and has always encouraged patrons to read all sorts of literature including books that have been banned. The foundation for the bookstore's commitment to free speech was modeled by Pat Anderson and Ken Gjemre, who founded the company nearly 35 years ago.

About Half Price Books
Half Price Books is one of the nation's largest new and used bookstore chains with 85 retail locations in 14 states. Stores are open seven days a week and buy and sell new and used books, magazines, comics, records, CDs, DVDs and collectible items. Through the years the company has recycled more than 16 million books, saving more than 650,000 trees. Half Price Books has been dedicated to literacy efforts for more than 30 years, supporting hundreds of projects including The Bedtime Story Book Contest, Reach Out and Read, and the annual Half Pint Library Book Drive. In addition, Half Price Books is a founding contributor to Laura Bush's National Book Festival. For more information about Half Price Books, please visit www.halfpricebooks.com.