ABA Offers Emerging Leaders Scholarship

The American Booksellers Association has announced the creation of an Emerging Leaders Scholarship, covering the cost of registration and a five-night hotel stay at this year's BookExpo America in Washington, D.C. Booksellers at ABA member stores who have been in the business for less than two years and who are committed to furthering the success of independent bookselling are encouraged to apply.

ABA's first Emerging Leaders Scholarship was awarded to Sylla McClellan of Third Street Books in McMinnville, Oregon, to attend the Winter Institute in Long Beach, California, this past January.

ABA will be facilitating a meeting of the Emerging Leaders -- a group of booksellers and industry professionals working together to identify the next generation of industry leaders -- at BEA. The meeting will be held at the Hotel ABA, The Doubletree Crystal City, on Wednesday, May 17, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Allison Hill of Vroman's in Pasadena, California, one of the group's founders, explained that Emerging Leaders grew out of an ongoing conversation among several booksellers that took place at industry events. "We were looking to see who was in the new group of booksellers moving up behind us, and we couldn't see who they were. We thought we needed to create an opportunity for the next generation to find each other."

The group's other founders are Julia Cowlishaw of Shaman Drum Bookshop in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Cindy Dach of Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Arizona; and Neil Strandberg of Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver.

Hill described Emerging Leaders as "more of a movement, not a membership. We're just trying to start a dialogue and raise awareness around issues related to the future of the industry, and create ways to support the emerging leaders who will be directing that future." Emerging Leaders is open to "anyone who sees themselves in the book industry 20 years from now," Hill said.

The first meeting in Long Beach drew over 50 booksellers. The conversation covered the ups and downs of bookselling, ideas for future financial seminars, bookstores of the future, mentoring and peer networking, and other issues, said Hill.

Hill told BTW that the attendees were "really the kind of group we were looking to identify. They were an amazing group of booksellers who were motivated and smart. People got to meet each other and we talked about suggestions for programs they'd like to see at future ABA and regional events. It was a good indication that people were hungry for something like this. It's the beginning of something."

Regarding future plans for Emerging Leaders, Hill explained, "Specific goals may emerge as we create opportunities for people to meet, and see what people would like to see happen, but for now, our goal is really to create opportunities for the next generation of booksellers and industry professionals to network and engage in conversation."

Applicants for the Emerging Leaders Scholarship must work at an ABA member bookstore. Interested booksellers should forward their contact information, including name, e-mail address, phone number, and store information, to ABA BookSense.com Director Len Vlahos at [email protected] by Friday, April 14. The winner will be chosen by the founding members of the Emerging Leaders.

To find out more about Emerging Leaders, or to be added to the mailing list, e-mail [email protected]. --Karen Schechner