Most people know there is no standard path to becoming a bookseller. Some people, like this writer, are born into it; others work at a shop or library or buy too many books, or sell for a while on the internet before deciding that this is really the job for them.
While there are lots of ways to put your foot in the door, the mercantile side of what most wanna-be dealers discover is – unlike real estate, computer science or even filmmaking – there is really very little formal (or even informal) instruction on how to get there, especially if you aspire to the higher end of the trade.
Yes, there is CABS : the annual weeklong intensive book school,(now Minnesota based) is a good place to start.
But did you know that the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) offers a free year-long mentor/mentee program that pairs would-be booksellers (mentees) with experienced ABAA members who serve as mentors, whether in-person or virtually?
Though application for the next group won’t open until the Spring, if this is something you’d like to pursue it’s not too early to start thinking about it. Here’s the announcement that went out earlier for 2025. It outlines the program and its requirements. It’s likely that criteria will be similar next year when applications open in 2026.
Even though it’s billed as an “early career” pairing that evolved from the organization’s gender equity program for women, in reality you don’t have to be a woman or a young person, or even early in your career to apply or to be accepted. In practice it has proved a valuable resource to those who are looking for a structured point of entry, whether or not they decide to apply for ABAA membership.
“The program consistently draws a diverse group of mentees at different stages of their professional journey,” said Alex Aikin, co-owner of Bolerium Books in San Francisco, who is this year’s ABAA President. “Some are preparing to apply for (ABAA) membership within two years of completing the program, others are focused on building connections in the trade for future opportunities, and some are exploring a transition into the antiquarian book world from other careers.”
Heather O’Donnell of Honey & Wax Booksellers of Brooklyn (soon to relocate to Philadelphia) recapped the history of the mentorship program in an email:
“The ABAA Gender Equity Initiative was founded in 2016 as the ABAA Women's Initiative, inspired by a group of London booksellers who organized receptions for women interested in the rare book trade. Early activities included receptions where aspiring women booksellers could meet ABAA members, and events to celebrate longstanding women book dealers.
“It was clear that there was a real demand for more sustained advising in the trade, so in 2020, the ABAA launched its mentorship program for the 2021-2022 year, pairing aspiring and early-career booksellers with seasoned ABAA members. The mentorship program has always been open to all.
“I have served as a mentor twice: the first time, in 2021-2022, to Mary Catherine Kinniburgh of Granary Books, and the second time, in 2024-2025, to library student (and potentially aspiring bookseller) Maggie Erwin.
“For the 2025-2026 year, the ABAA received a record number of 18 mentee applications. It is a continual challenge to recruit enough senior ABAA mentors to meet the demand: (see also CABS-Minnesota's long waiting list each summer). The ABAA Gender Equity Initiative is doing its best to provide practical support for the next generation of booksellers, even if every mentee does not ultimately choose to join the ABAA.”
Almost everyone who spoke with Rare Book Hub emphasized that some of the most useful coaching and interaction between mentor and mentee revolved around practical real life business topics such as accounting, printing, cataloging, marketing, computer and technical knowledge, and similar subjects.
The remarks of O’Donnell and Aikin were echoed by Xin Yi Zhao, the organization’s Associate Director. She reiterated that applicant interest falls into a variety of categories. She listed, “Those who are exploring transitioning into bookselling as a career, those who want to build a connection in the trade, and those who hope to eventually join ABAA.”
Zhao is the point of contact for future applicants. Those interested in receiving information about the 2026 cohort can reach her at xin@abaa.org and ask to be notified when the next cycle begins.
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