Fellowship

2026-2027 Diverse Voices Fellowship

The Antiquarian Book School Foundation's Diverse Voices Fellowship (DVF) is a fully funded, hands-on specialized bookseller training program for early and mid-career booksellers from diverse identities. The fellowship empowers booksellers with essential skills to build professional relationships, learn business practices, and participate in programs designed to bring Fellows into conversation with the wider rare, used, and antiquarian book trade.

The 2026-2027 fellowship will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Antiquarian Book Seminar (CABS-Minnesota), the bookselling seminar that began in 1977 and remains the oldest and largest professional development program for antiquarian booksellers and members of the rare book trade. In addition, Fellows will travel to New York City in May 2027, for a hands-on Field School, where they'll meet bookstore owners, visit archives, and create lasting professional connections. Diverse Voices Fellows will be fully funded to attend the Seminar and the Field School, while receiving mentorship and resources to build and sustain their bookselling careers.

Fellow Alums describe the impact of the DVF program:

"Field school exceeded my expectations and every day was thoughtfully organized and well-planned and I left every stop feeling inspired to continue learning about bookselling"

~Diverse Voices Fellow describing the impact of the Atlanta Field School

“The field school was a New York energy infused exposure and engagement to high level practitioners in the trade of rare books who were willing and able to lend their time and talent in a compassionate way that impacted me greatly"

~Diverse Voices Fellow describing the impact of the NYC Field School

Learn more about our current and previous Diverse Voices Fellows here. 

Read about the Diverse Voices Fellowship at MN Public Radio:

Old Books, New Perspectives: Program Aims to Diversify Rare Books Field

Fellowship Eligibility 

Read our eligibility requirements for interested applicants. 

IDENTITIES

Applicants will identify as a diverse individual, representing one or more of the identities underrepresented in the current used, rare, and antiquarian trade:

-Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latine, Pacific Islander, Multi-ethnic and other racial and ethnic identities  

-LGBTQ+, non-binary, trans, or other gender and sexual identities

-Neurodiverse people; people with disabilities

-Low-income or economically disadvantaged people

-Female and female identifying people 

EXPERIENCE

Preference will be given to early or mid-career booksellers, or people with other experiences who provide clearly articulated professional development goals for entering antiquarian, used, and rare bookselling.  Applicant interests may include trade in books, archives, ephemera, and other materials. Library, archives, and museum professionals, as well as private collectors and members of the book arts community, are eligible to apply. All applicants should demonstrate compelling and clear interest in the practice of selling antiquarian, used and rare books and/or materials.

RESIDENCY

Due to logistical and cost considerations, applicants must be ordinarily resident in the United States (lower 48 states, Alaska, and Hawai'i) and provide a US address for the application.

AGE

Applicants must be 18 years old or older at the time their application is received by ABSF.

SEMINAR ALUMS

Previous applicants to Antiquarian Book Seminar (CABS-MN) scholarships or the Diverse Voices Fellowship are eligible to apply, provided they meet the above requirements. Preference will be given to applicants who have never previously attended the Antiquarian Book Seminar (CABS-MN), but Seminar graduates who meet the above requirements are eligible to apply for the Diverse Voices Fellowship.

Multiple individuals working at the same bookstore or institution may apply. However, only one individual per bookstore or institution may be selected as a Fellow in a given year.

EMPLOYEES

Multiple employees from the same bookstore or institution are eligible to apply. Only one individual per/bookstore or institution will be selected for the 2026-2027 fellowship cohort.

 

How to Apply: 2026-2027 Cohort

Thank you for your interest in the Diverse Voices Fellowship 2026-2027 Cohort. The application link will be available on this page in late August 2026

Please contact ABSF Administrative Director Jeanne Dodds at admin@bookseminars.com with questions regarding the Diverse Voices Fellowship