Apply by July 15 for the Macmillan Booksellers Professional Development Scholarship

The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation and Macmillan have once again teamed up to offer the Macmillan Booksellers Professional Development Scholarship, and applications are due by July 15.

Nine scholarships in total will be awarded to booksellers from underrepresented groups to cover the cost of travel, lodging, and meals (up to $500) to attend a fall show for any of the nine regional independent bookselling associations: NEIBA, SIBA, NAIBA, MPIBA, NCIBA, MIBA, SCIBA, GLIBA, and PNBA.

To be eligible to apply, booksellers must fall into at least one of the following categories: people of color, defined as people of African/African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latin American, Middle Eastern, or Native American/Indigenous descent; people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer; or people with disabilities (includes but is not limited to physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, chronic conditions, and mental illnesses).

In additon, the applicant’s store must be a member of one of the regional independent bookseller organizations, and the applicant must be a regular part-time or full-time employee of the bookstore. The applicant must be currently employed and have 90 days of continuous employment with the bookstore.

Those who apply must answer three brief essay questions, and the winners will be anonymously selected by a panel composed of Binc board members, booksellers, bookstore owners, and a representative from Macmillan.

Booksellers can find out more and apply here. Applications must be completed by July 15, 2019.