Financial help is available for your store and your booksellers! For a wide range of financial needs, visit the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc). For pandemic related needs, the American Booksellers Association (ABA) is compiling Federal, local, and, other non-governmental financial resources here.
GABAL Travel & Lodging Reimbursements
We are delighted to be able to offer GABAL (give a bookseller a lift) Reimbursements to our bookstore members to help mitigate the costs of attending MPIBA events. Bookstores attending SpringCon 2023, and qualifying for assistance, can request reimbursement to cover a portion of their hotel and transportation expenses (mileage, bus fare, plane fare, parking, etc.). Attendees will receive a link to a Reimbursement Request form after SpringCon 2023. Reimbursements may be requested through April 30, 2023.
To qualify for a GABAL Reimbursement your store must be an MPIBA member bookstore in good standing that is located more than 50 miles from the event location.
Hotel & Transportation Reimbursement:
To qualify, your store must be an MPIBA member bookstore in good standing that is located more than 50 miles from the event location (San Antonio, TX).
Reimbursement amounts:
- $75 for bookstores with one person attending
- $100 for bookstores with two people attending
- $125 for bookstores with three or more people attending
Parking Reimbursement:
To qualify your store must be an MPIBA member bookstore in good standing.
Reimbursement amount:
- Up to $20 per day per store
MPIBA New Store/New Owner Scholarships
Bookstores that have opened or changed owners since October 15, 2022 are eligible to apply for one of four, $250 New Store/Owner Scholarships supported by donations from our industry partners and bookstore members.
- The scholarships are $250 each to help with room, board, and travel expenses.
- The applicant’s bookstore must be an MPIBA member in good standing.
- Applicants bookstore must have opened to the public (or changed owners) since October 15, 2022
- 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.
- Bookstores will be reimbursed for expenses upon receipt of documentation.
Blue Willow – Vener Barnes Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship offered to a fall trade show and conference first-time attendee is funded by Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, Texas, in honor of her father and bookselling inspiration, Vener Barnes.
- The scholarship is for $500 to help with room, board, and travel expenses.
- The 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.
- One recipient will be drawn randomly from all qualified applicants.
- Bookstores will be reimbursed for expenses upon receipt of documentation.
Binc Bookseller Education Scholarships
With thanks to our friends at Binc (Book Industry Charitable Foundation), we are delighted to offer two scholarship opportunities to frontline booksellers (staff whose primary job is floor sales and service, not marketing, receiving, buying, etc.). The scholarships are up to $250 each to encourage bookseller attendance at education and networking events.
- The scholarships are $250 each to help with room, board, and travel expenses.
- The applicant’s bookstore must be an MPIBA member in good standing.
- The applicant must be a regular part-time or full-time employee of the bookstore.
- Please only apply if you are able to travel to the event, and have permission from your store owner or manager to attend FallCon.
- Bookstores will be reimbursed for expenses upon receipt of documentation.
The Book Industry Charitable Foundation is an essential resource in times of crisis. They can help find relief for bookstores and booksellers. Many resources and opportunities for assistance can be found here.