Fellowship
Diverse Voices Fellowship
2026-2027 Application is Live
We are aware of a problem with the application form and the information session registration and are working on the fix for these issues. Thank you for your patience!
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.
Applications are accepted August 31 2026 - October 8 2026.
Please see eligibility requirements below.
Find complete details and submit your application at the Apply for Fellowship button. We recommend saving your responses to a document, then pasting that text into the form until the error noted above is resolved. Alternatively, please use this link to submit your application. Thank you!
Diverse Voices Fellowship Info Session
Attend the Diverse Voices Fellowship 2026-2027 Information Session as an opportunity to learn more and ask questions about the fellowship and fellowship application process.
Do you have questions regarding the Diverse Voices Fellowship (DVF) application process or the fellowship experience?
Wednesday, September 23rd at 3:00 pm PT/4:00 pm MT/5:00 pm CT/6:00 pm ET join us for an information session for prospective applications. Antiquarian Book School Foundation Administrative Director Jeanne Dodds will be on hand to host the session. You will receive an overview of DVF activities and timeline and have the opportunity to ask questions about fellowship activities and the fellowship application process.
Please note: we are aware of an issue with the information session registration, which we are currently working to resolve. Please use this link to register if the button below does not work. Thank you!
Testimonials and DVF Program Impact
"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
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.
Questions
Please contact ABSF Administrative Director Jeanne Dodds at admin@bookseminars.com with questions regarding the Diverse Voices Fellowship
THANKS
The Diverse Voices Fellowship is generously sponsored by Beverly Rogers, donors to the Better Dead Than Read Matty D'Anglo memorial fund, ABAA Southeast Chapter, and Tom Folio.