The New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA), Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA), New England Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA), and the Friends of George Keating committee are pleased to announce applications for the inaugural George Markey Keating Memorial Scholarship will open April 6. The scholarship provides $250 to a bookseller from each of three regional associations, NAIBA, SIBA and NEIBA, for the purpose of professional development. The application period will close April 19 and grants will be awarded in June.
The Friends of George Keating is a group of his friends, customers and former colleagues that came together last year after his death in June to create this new scholarship in his honor. Known for his advocacy for and encouragement of booksellers, the Keating scholarship has the goal of helping booksellers enhance their professional development and advance in roles with their bookstores or within the publishing industry. The scholarship is tied to the regions where Keating worked and was a well-known, beloved colleague.
“George Keating was the consummate bookman – an avid reader, an advocate to his authors, his colleagues, and to booksellers. He was a friend to many, a role model, and a dedicated husband, father and grandfather. It is no wonder that upon his untimely passing, so many stepped up to launch a scholarship in his name. We are all better for having known George, and proud that his name will carry on what he exemplified – furthering the careers and enriching the lives of others who are passionate about the written word,” said Roger Williams, literary agent and Keating’s long-time friend.
Keating started his career in bookselling and then served for many years as a sales rep and sales director for Simon & Schuster and Naval Institute Press. Over the course of his career, Keating worked with authors including David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Bob Woodward, to name only a few of the best-known writers featured in the obituary written by Williams.
“We are so grateful to The Friends of George Keating for creating this scholarship in his honor. What an inspiring legacy, supporting booksellers in the regions where George worked, so that they can pursue educational opportunities and advance their skills and careers.”
—Linda-Marie Barrett, Executive Director, Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance
“Our thanks to the Friends of George Keating and the many donors who made this scholarship possible. It is a wonderful tribute to George to keep his spirit alive by helping to advance the careers of booksellers.”
—Pamela French, Binc’s Executive Director.
Binc is distributing the funds for the Keating scholarships, but the applications are being managed by NAIBA, SIBA and NEIBA.
Booksellers whose stores are members of one of those three regional associations can apply for the scholarship at https://forms.gle/CRzLiZfmh3RyZ9nh8.
Donations to the scholarship fund can be made athttps://secure.donationpay.org/bincfoundation/keating.php