Announcements

Posting on behalf of the Curriculum Coordinator, Michele Wan (contact info. in announcement). I have no further information. 

CABS-Minnesota is now accepting applications for its Diverse Voices Fellowship. CABS-Minnesota is committed to diversity in the antiquarian and rare book trade. We believe that a diverse and inclusive trade will benefit both the trade and the cultural heritage community at large by expanding perspectives and by encouraging new collaborations. We recognize that many talented professionals in the cultural heritage professions do not see themselves reflected in the trade. As one step toward centering non-dominant perspectives, CABS-Minnesota has established the Diverse Voices Fellowship to build a cohort of five fellows who have a strong interest in learning more about the antiquarian book trade and have found themselves isolated in or distanced from the trade by reason of race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and/or income. The fellowship will offer a program of professional and career development designed around fellows' interests.

Fellowship Eligibility

An eligible applicant will: 

• Identify as a person of color, LGBTQ+ person, person with disabilities, person from low-income background, woman, nonbinary person, and/or trans person. Applications from Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx, and other people of color are especially encouraged. 

• Be an early- or mid-career bookseller, librarian, archivist, or museum professional; a private collector; a member of the book arts community; a graduate student in a relevant discipline; or another individual with a strong interest in learning more about and engaging with the antiquarian book trade.

• Be a resident of the United States.

Though preference will be given to individuals who have never previously attended the CABS summer seminar on bookselling, CABS alumni who meet the above requirements are eligible to apply. 

Fellowship Activities

The CABS-Minnesota Diverse Voices Fellowship will include the following activities:

• Fellows will begin the program by meeting one another and discussing their own background and their work with cultural heritage materials (as applicable) as part of a virtual meeting hosted by CABS-Minnesota's Diversity, Equity & Outreach Committee. As part of the conversation, fellows will share their aspirations for engaging with members of the antiquarian book trade. 

• Working closely with the Diverse Voices Fellows, CABS-Minnesota will design a custom, two-day program in New York City for May 2022 that will allow for an in-depth exploration of the trade. The program will be tailored around fellows' interests and may include meeting local booksellers for a behind-the-scenes view of their work, attending a rare book auction, visiting private or institutional collections, and interacting with book artists or private press printers. Travel, housing, and meal costs will be covered by the fellowship. 

• Fellows will attend the CABS seminar on bookselling, scheduled to occur in Minnesota from July 9 to 16, 2022, with the cost of tuition, travel, housing, and meals covered by the fellowship. A sample program from a previous CABS seminar can be found here: https://www.bookseminars.com/schedule.php

• CABS-Minnesota will facilitate opportunities for further networking and community-building among fellows and seminar alumni in virtual spaces, as well as at antiquarian book fairs. 

• If applicable, for fellows who work with collections by or about diverse communities, there may be opportunities to engage in conversations about the practices of forming, promoting, and using such collections, including discussions about emerging ethical practices. 

• Owing to the ever-evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, please note that in-person fellowship events are subject to change.

How to Apply

Submit the following materials by December 10, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST via this link: https://form.jotform.com/212774675630158 Fellowship decisions are expected to be announced in mid-January.

• Application form 

• A personal statement or essay (no longer than two pages, PDF preferred) addressing the following: 1) your experience in the world of antiquarian/rare books, archives, or related materials; 2) why you are interested in the fellowship and what you hope to gain from it; and 3) any professional aspirations you have with respect to bookselling and/or related cultural heritage professions (e.g., special collections librarianship, museum curation, book arts, etc.)

• Resume (PDF preferred)

• Contact information for a reference who is a member of the book trade; a library, archives, or museum professional; or another individual working with cultural heritage materials 

• Acceptance of terms and conditions, including agreeing to submit documentation of COVID-19 vaccination if selected as a fellow and agreeing to wear a mask at indoors fellowship events 

If you have any questions about the fellowship or the application process, please contact Michele Wan at michele@bookseminars.com. We will also hold office hours on Zoom to answer any questions you may have. Register for a session here: https://forms.gle/iB4CoopXgXmnUwEb8

The Antiquarian Book School Foundation (ABSF) is an independent, non-profit, and tax-exempt educational institution focused on promoting, maintaining, and expanding the standards of the antiquarian book trade. CABS-Minnesota, which is administered by the ABSF, is an annual week-long intensive seminar for booksellers, prospective booksellers, and others with an interest in the antiquarian and second-hand book market. For more on our programs and missions, visit our website at www.bookseminars.com.