It was the physical space, brimming with affordable books and layers of bookselling history that drew him in during his freshman year in college. The compelling energy and stories contained in a local bookshop sparked the relationship between Max Fleisher and the shop he would eventually reimagine and co-found as a cooperative bookstore. At the time University of Virginia (UVA) undergrad and Antiquarian Book Seminar (CABS-MN) graduate Max began his acquaintance with the space, the bookstore operated as Heartwood Bookshop, a well-loved local shop opened in 1975. Max routinely visited to buy books and converse with long-term shop owner, ABAA...

Now in our sixth year of programming, the Diverse Voices Fellowship (DVF) empowers aspiring and practicing booksellers with essential skills to build professional relationships, deepen knowledge of bookselling and enter the rare, used and antiquarian book trade. We're delighted to announce that three Fellows have been awarded fellowships in 2026. Fellows were selected through a competitive review process which responded to stated applicant interests and goals for developing skills related to antiquarian bookselling and cultural heritage. 

This year's Diverse Voices Fellowship Awardees are: 

Doug Guevara, co-founder and owner of W. Whitman books 

Marya McQuirter, PhD, a collector, curator, researcher and...

On an island in the Salish Sea, hanging out with four-legged companions while worming through books, you'll find Jeanne Dodds, ABSF's new Administrative Director. Jeanne's professional background centers interdisciplinary professional and academic practice in arts and sciences, including several decades as an entrepreneur and educator. She's taught in schools, museums and non-profits around the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest, and in international locations.

 Her experience as a researcher in locations such as Rwanda, Malaysia and Costa Rica includes field work searching for nocturnal venomous snakes and the delivery of invited talks, conference papers, and workshops for universities and professional organizations. As...

leaves, a bookstore and rare book room in Brooklyn, NY, was created by Francisco Hernandez in the spirit of building and sustaining community. With a desire to develop stronger book trade connections to youth and young audiences, Hernandez designed leaves with the aim of making books affordable, accessible, and relevant. Hernandez previously ran Alabaster Bookshop as a manager, and is a CABS-Minnesota Diverse Voices Fellowship alumnus. He offers insights into the process of developing and running leaves.

Jeanne Dodds:

What motivated you to create leaves, your second-hand bookstore and rare book room?

Francisco Hernandez:

I think I was pretty unhappy...