The Joyce Meskis Excellence in Bookselling Scholarship Program, founded in July 2023 by Joyce Meskis’s family with an initial funding donation from the Meskis estate, will create opportunities for booksellers to gain expertise and seek long term careers in the book industry.

Joyce Meskis had a profound impact on the bookselling industry. Her leadership as the owner of the Tattered Cover Book Store established one of the most iconic independent bookstores in the country. In the late 1970s she helped establish the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association and served as the first president of the board of directors. In 2007, when she was named Director of the University of Denver’s Publishing Institute, she was quoted as saying, “In my youth, I set a course to become a teacher but happily got sidetracked into the book industry. Now I can blend these two passions.” Throughout her long career Joyce Meskis inspired and mentored countless people in the bookselling and publishing industries. She was also a passionate defender of free speech and the First Amendment.

The program offers scholarships to MPIBA member bookstores to attend the FallCon Trade Show & Conference and the SpringCon Conference. These events provide valuable bookselling education, professional development, and networking opportunities.

Scholarship funds may be used in the future for additional or different MPIBA events, and to provide scholarships for additional educational opportunities for bookstore members as they arise.

SCHOLARSHIPS INCLUDE:

• Airfare or other travel related expense reimbursement (mileage, car service, bus fare, etc.).
• MPIBA will purchase a flight or reimburse expenses with proof of expense.
• Mileage reimbursement cannot exceed cost of flight.
• Hotel room for three nights at the conference hotel.
• Tickets to all FallCon events (meals included).
• $50 per day ($150) additional spending stipend.