Joyce Meskis Excellence in Bookselling Scholarships
The Joyce Meskis Excellence in Bookselling Scholarship Program, founded in July 2023 by Joyce Meskis’s family with an initial funding donation from the Meskis estate, create opportunities for booksellers to gain expertise and seek long term careers in the book industry.
Joyce Meskis had a profound impact on the bookselling industry. Her leadership as the owner of the Tattered Cover Book Store established one of the most iconic independent bookstores. In the late 1970s she helped establish the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association and served as the first president of the board of directors. In 2007, when she was named Director of the University of Denver’s Publishing Institute, she was quoted as saying, “In my youth, I set a course to become a teacher but happily got sidetracked into the book industry. Now I can blend these two passions.” Throughout her long career Joyce Meskis inspired and mentored countless people in the bookselling and publishing industries. She was also a passionate defender of free speech and the First Amendment.
The program offers scholarships to staff from MPIBA member bookstores to attend the FallCon Trade Show & Conference and the SpringCon Conference. These events provide valuable bookselling education, professional development, and networking opportunities. Scholarships are applied for, and awarded to, individuals, and are non-transferable.
SCHOLARSHIPS INCLUDE:
- Airfare or other travel related expense reimbursement (mileage, car service, bus fare, etc.).
- MPIBA will purchase a flight or reimburse expenses with proof of expense.
- Mileage reimbursement cannot exceed cost of flight.
- Hotel room for three nights at the conference hotel.
- Tickets to all conference events (meals included).
- $50 per conference day additional spending stipend.
QUALIFYING CRITERIA:
- Applicants must own or work for an MPIBA member bookstore in good standing, with dues current.
- Scholarships are not open to staff at bookstores enjoying “first year free dues” membership.
- If applicable, applicants must have store owner/manager approval to apply, and must be able to attend the show.
- Only one staff member from a store can receive this scholarship per year.
- This scholarship cannot be combined with any other scholarships for the store, during the same fiscal year.