Financial Assistance for Booksellers

We know budgets are tight and stores and booksellers aren’t always able to take advantage of the educational and networking opportunities available in our industry. And sometimes booksellers just need some help with personal or store-related emergencies. Financial help is available! See below for all the opportunities, and apply now!

Give a Bookseller a Lift Travel Grants

Each Give a Bookseller a Lift (GABAL) Travel Grant will include two nights at the Renaissance Denver Stapleton, $100 towards transportation expenses (mileage, bus fare, plane fare, etc.), and one ticket to an author breakfast or lunch.

To qualify for a GABAL Travel Grant you must currently work for an MPIBA member bookstore in good standing that is located more than 50 miles from the event location. Please only apply if you are able to travel to the event, and if applicable, have permission from your store owner or manager to attend FallCon. Deadline to apply is Friday, September 6. Travel Grant winners will be drawn randomly from all qualified applicants and will be contacted the week of September 9. Recipients will not be eligible to receive another Travel Grant for five years.

Congratulations to our 2018 GABAL Grant Recipients:

Amy Henkenius, Amy’s Bookcase, Farmington, NM
Aaron Cance, The Printed Garden, Sandy, UT
Callie Metler, Noteworthy, Stamford, TX
Brenna Gomez, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM
Kelly Clark, Townie Books, Crested Butte, CO
Bobbe Arnett, Mostly Books, Tucson, AZ
Jeanne Costello, Maria’s Bookshop, Durango, CO

We want to thank our good friends at Binc for funding one GABAL travel grant each year.

Blue Willow – Vener Barnes Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship to attend the fall trade show and conference is offered by Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, Texas, in honor of her father and bookselling inspiration, Vener Barnes.

The $500 grant is open to any owner or bookseller from an MPIBA member store in good standing, who has never attended the MPIBA fall trade show and conference. Please only apply if you are able to travel to the event, and if applicable, have permission from your store owner or manager to attend FallCon. The grant winner will be drawn randomly from all qualified applicants and will be announced on September 2, 2019.

Congratulations to our 2018 Grant Recipient:

Janet Thompson, Lark & Owl Booksellers, Georgetown, TX

Think Binc any time you’re in need! Find many resources and opportunities for assistance here.

$500 Macmillan Diversity Scholarship (Fall trade show travel assistance):

Congratulations to the 2018 Diversity Scholarship Recipient:

Cristina Rodriquez, Deep Vellum Books, Dallas, TX

Higher Education & Professional Development Scholarships:

Emergency Financial Assistance: