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BookExpo and the American Booksellers Association have unveiled the first bestsellers grant program, which gives grants of $1,000 to booksellers to cover their travel expenses to BookExpo, which this year is being held May 29-31 at the Javits Center in New York City. The grants, part of a larger effort to reach new audiences and provide support to independent booksellers, are for either new booksellers or booksellers who haven't attended BookExpo in five years and are ABA members. A first round of grants was given in January and another round will be made soon. Altogether some 200 grants will be given.
ABA CEO Oren Teicher commented: "This new initiative from BookExpo of outreach and support to bookstores that have not had a chance to recently attend the event--and experience the new programming--is a clear demonstration of their commitment to the independent bookstore channel. This participation of new bookstores and others can only make BookExpo an even stronger event."
BookExpo event director Jennifer Martin added: "We are always looking for ways to broaden BookExpo's audience and bring in new attendees, so we are excited to work with the ABA this year to offer grants to up-and-coming booksellers who have not been able to attend BookExpo in the past. We look forward to discussing their experiences after the show and using those learnings to improve and grow BookExpo in years to come."
In addition to the bestsellers grant program, new features for BookExpo include a co-location with New York Rights Fair; ABA Editors' Speed Dating; a stage dedicated to independent publishers; and UnBound, the sidelines "show within a show" designed to help booksellers expand non-book offerings.