A.A. co-founder Bill W., who often called the influence of A.A. literature “incalculable,” wrote in the May 1964 issue of the Grapevine, “Suppose, for instance, that during the last twenty-five years A.A. had never published any standard literature… no books, no pamphlets. We need little imagination to see that by now our message would be hopelessly garbled. Our relations with medicine and religion would have become a shambles. To alcoholics generally we would today be a joke and the public would have thought us a riddle. Without its literature, A.A. would certainly have bogged down in a welter of controversy and disunity.”

(The Language of the Heart, p. 348)

The Literature Committee exists primarily to educate the fellowship about Conference-approved literature and related service material, and most importantly, to maintain the integrity of the A.A. message. In its operations, the Area 26 Literature Committee utilizes the suggestions contained in the publication titled A.A. Guidelines on Literature (MG-09).

The committee reviews Conference Approved Literature and makes recommendations for revisions or new literature to the Area Committee. The Committee also maintains a comprehensive literature display, available for use at workshops, conventions, area meetings, and assemblies, and members of the Committee are available to conduct workshops or participate in panels. Annually, the Area 26 Literature committee reviews and discusses the agenda and background material concerning the Conference Committee on Literature, and the views of the Committee are shared with the Area 26 Delegate. Click here to see a description of Conference Approved Literature and service material.

Conference Approved Literature and service material can be found at the A.A.W.S. Online Store.

Purchasing literature through local intergroup offices is a great way to support AA in your local community.