FAQs
Can a group decide to read or display a piece of literature that is not OA-approved?
No. A group’s autonomy is limited when it comes to matters that affect OA as a whole. Displaying outside literature dilutes OA’s message and can also create confusion for members.
If you choose to share something from a non-OA book, please paraphrase the content rather than read from it directly at a meeting.
Can we type up pages from AA literature to be used in our OA meetings?
AA’s Intellectual Property Administrator response:
“We have no objection to your O.A. meeting reprinting brief excerpts from the Big Book for use in its meetings. Of course, we would ask that this material not be adapted, that is, this material should be ‘read (or reprinted) directly from the actual Big Book.’”
“We would prefer that A.A. material is not photocopied or retyped, particularly large segments of A.A. material.”
Do you have a list of available literature?
Absolutely. Please go to our literature catalog.
How do I submit an idea for a new piece of literature?
Contact your local service body and have them decide if they support your idea and are willing to submit it to the World Service Business Conference (WSBC) Conference Literature Committee. If they are willing, submit the suggestion form and your idea will be considered at the next WSBC.
Is it okay to change the words when reading the Big Book in an OA meeting?
The issue of whether to change words in AA’s literature is a matter of respecting AA’s expressed request and OA’s historical relationship with AA. View Reading Literature Aloud at Meetings.
Is it okay to reference AA literature on OA websites?
AA’s Intellectual Property Administrator response:
“We would ask that you reference page numbers INSTEAD of reprinting A.A. material on your website.”
Is there a list of OA-approved literature?
Please view the OA-Approved Literature List.
What AA literature is approved by OA for use at meetings?
For a list of OA-approved AA literature, please see the OA-Approved Literature List.
What is the difference between Board-approved literature and Conference-approved literature?
Conference-approved literature has received the Conference Seal of Approval by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting delegates at the World Service Business Conference. All original publications for use by the OA Fellowship as a whole must be Conference-approved.
Board-approved literature are publications that have been approved by the Board of Trustees, and may be either one or both of the following:
- Literature that has originated from a Board or Conference Committee and is not intended for the Fellowship as a whole.
- Literature that has been compiled from existing Conference-approved literature or Lifeline magazine.
In either case, the items are OA-approved literature as defined by the World Service Business Conference Policy 2010a and may be displayed and/or sold at OA meetings.