CABS-Minnesota Antiquarian Book Seminar and ILAB call for 2026 scholarship applications

The scholarship will cover the full CABS-Minnesota tuition fee and on-campus accommodation, which includes breakfasts and lunches Monday through Friday for the week of the seminar. It further includes a reimbursement of 75% of travel costs, capped at US$1500.

The annual CABS-Minnesota Antiquarian Book Seminar provides an important opportunity for booksellers, at an early point in their career, to learn from experienced booksellers who generously share their expertise and experience and a comprehensive survey of the rare book market. The seminar consists of several days of lectures, workshops and communication with guest speakers, carefully selected from the bookselling and library community by the CABS-Minnesota board.

Over its long history, the seminar has proven to be an invaluable educational platform from which over 3000 booksellers have enormously benefited from. Enrolment is limited to 50 students per year.

Who can apply and how?

Applicants must be in the first 5 years of a full-time bookselling career and reside outside the USA. Applicants shall submit a letter of motivation (no more than two pages) explaining how they would benefit from attending the seminar.

Key dates

Applications must be received by the ILAB Secretariat no later than 24 April 2026
The successful candidate will be selected by the ILAB committee and informed after 8 May 2026.
The 2025 seminar will take place from 26 - 31 July 2026.

CABS-Minnesota and ILAB are jointly offering this scholarship, a unique and exciting opportunity for antiquarian booksellers in the early stages of their career and residing outside of the USA, to develop the international side of their business. The insights and knowledge offered by some of the best minds in the American antiquarian bookselling and library community is the core of the CABS-Minnesota experience. ILAB is indebted to CABS-Minnesota for this opportunity.

Contact

Maria Lin, CABS-Minnesota Scholarship Coordinator: maria@rulon.com
Angelika Elstner, ILAB Secretariat: secretariat@ilab.org

ABOUT CABS-MINNESOTA & Antiquarian Book School Foundation (ABSF)

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.

More information: www.bookseminars.com

Read a report from the 2024 scholarship recipient >> HERE