Antiquarian Book School Foundation

TO EDUCATE LIBRARIANS, COLLECTORS, AND ASPIRING BOOK SELLERS IN BEST PRACTICES FOR HANDLING AND SELLING BOOKS.

THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THE ANTIQUARIAN BOOK SCHOOL FOUNDATION IS TO EDUCATE LIBRARIANS,COLLECTORS, AND ASPIRING BOOK SELLERS IN BEST PRACTICES FOR HANDLING AND SELLING BOOKS. WE PROVIDE AN ANNUAL WEEK-LONG SEMINAR WHERE LEADING SPECIALISTS SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES WITH RARE BOOK AND SPECIAL COLLECTION LIBRARIANS FROM UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES, PUBLIC LIBRARIES, HISTORICAL SOCIETIES AND "FRIEND" GROUPS OF SUCH INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS ASPIRING BOOKSELLERS AND COLLECTORS IN A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF THE RARE BOOK MARKET, BOTH ANTIQUARIAN AND MODERN. BASIC PROCEDURES AND PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED BOTH FORMALLY AND INFORMALLY THROUGH A SERIES OF LECTURES, DISCUSSIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS AND PRACTICAL HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS WITH EMPHASIS ON CATALOGING, PRICING, RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE, AND THE TOOLS AND MATERIALS OF BOOK PRODUCTION AS WELL AS BOOKSELLING IN THE ELECTRONIC AGE.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.THE ABSF CONTINUES THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FORMER BOOK SEMINARS, A FOR-PROFIT PARTNERSHIP WHICH OVER THE PAST 46 YEARS HAS EDUCATED MORE THAT 3000 STUDENTS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. 54 STUDENTS ATTENDED THE 2023 CABS-MN SEMINAR AT ST. OLAF COLLEGE. CABS-MINNESOTA IS COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY IN THE ANTIQUARIAN AND RARE BOOK TRADE. WE BELIEVE THAT A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE TRADE WILL BENEFIT BOTH THE TRADE AND THE CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMUNITY AT LARGE BY EXPANDING PERSPECTIVES AND BY ENCOURAGING NEW COLLABORATIONS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT MANY TALENTED PROFESSIONALS IN THE CULTURAL HERITAGE PROFESSIONS DO NOT SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THE TRADE. AS ONE STEP TOWARD CENTERING NON-DOMINANT PERSPECTIVES, CABS-MINNESOTA HAS ESTABLISHED THE DIVERSE VOICES FELLOWSHIP TO BUILD A COHORT OF FIVE FELLOWS WHO HAVE A STRONG INTEREST IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE ANTIQUARIAN BOOK TRADE AND HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES ISOLATED IN OR DISTANCED FROM THE TRADE BY REASON OF RACE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DISABILITIES, AND/OR INCOME.THE FELLOWSHIP OFFERS A PROGRAM OF PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT DESIGNED AROUND FELLOWS' INTERESTS. THE INITIAL GROUP OF FIVE FELLOWS FINISHED THE COURSE IN 2022. FOUR FELLOWS COMPLETED THE PROGRAM IN 2023.