Every year, our parent national organization, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) holds a publishing university in the late Spring, immediately preceding Book Expo America (BEA). BEA is the largest and most important trade show and conference in the North American publishing industry. It is currently being held at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

Publishing University is a great experience for both new and experienced publishers. In addition to several intense days of educational sessions on many topics of interest to publishers, it's a great opportunity to network with your peers. This networking is at least as valuable in learning your way around the industry as the formal education sessions.

This year, due to massive changes in the publishing industry, BEA has moved into a mid-week slot (May 25-27) from its usual weekend berth, and is being held over three days instead of the traditional four. Therefore, Publishing University will be held Monday and Tuesday, May 24-25, at a nearby venue in New York.

One of the benefits of being a member of an IBPA regional affiliate like MBPA is that you can qualify for a scholarship to attend IBPA Pub U for FREE. Till now, each year IBPA selected one member from each regional affiliate to receive a scholarship to Publishing U, providing free access to Publishing University sessions and events, plus a stipend to partially cover travel costs. This year, for the first time, IBPA has broadened access. Pub U scholarships will now cover full University access for up to two members from each affiliate, with the recipients being responsible for their own travel costs. This will allow more publishers to attend and learn during these tough economic times.

Application requirements:

1. Any member in good standing of the MidAtlantic Book Publishers Association AND the Independent Book Publishers Association, whose dues are current may apply.
   
2. Previous Pub U scholarship recipients are excluded to help ensure that the opportunity is fairly accessible to the most possible members.
   
3. Scholarship recipients are expected to return some value to our organization by sharing what they learn at the University with MBPA's other members in some way. Last year's recipient, Peg Silloway of The Silloway Press, wrote an article for our newsletter and also shared it with IBPA National for an issue of The Independent newsletter. Scholarship recipients may decide how best to fulfill this requirement, and is expected to notify the MBPA board of directors of how s/he plans to do so in the cover letter that accompanies his/her scholarship application.
4. Recipient must be able to demonstrate active involvement in the publishing process.
   

Affiliate groups are encouraged to provide additional financial assistance to recipients to help defray travel expenses. However, MBPA is still to small to be able to do so. Therefore, applicants should be prepared to pay for their travel, room and board expenses during Pub U.

To apply for the scholarship, download the Information Sheet and the Application Form. Fill out the form and return it to the MidAtlantic Book Publishers Association at the address below. IMPORTANT: Do NOT send it directly to IBPA. Our board members must review and rank all applications received, then forward them on to IBPA National, which will make the awards. Failure to follow correct procedure will disqualify your application. Completed applications are due to MBPA no later than March 15, 2010.

You can send the form by email, fax, or snail mail to:

Sheila Ruth
Imaginator Press
6400 Baltimore National Pike, #194
Baltimore, MD 21228
sruth@ImaginatorPress.com
Fax: 888-203-4068