Binc Names Carla Gray Memorial Scholarship Winner

The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation and the Friends of Carla Gray Committee have named bookseller Riley Gliseendorf as the fifth winner of the Carla Gray Memorial Scholarship for Emerging Bookseller-Activists.

Gliseendorf from Stonecrest Book and Toy in Osage Beach, Missouri will receive a yearlong scholarship for professional development. This includes travel and hotel expenses for the Winter Institute 2024 and the 2024 regional fall tradeshow, as well as a $1,000 stipend to pay for a community outreach project.

“I am unbelievably honored to be the chosen recipient of the Carla Gray Memorial Scholarship for Emerging Bookseller – Activists,” Gliseendorf said. “Bookselling has not only cemented my passion for the arts, literature, writing and activism, it continues to inspire me within my communities, local, state, and that of humanhood. The resources provided by Binc will allow Stonecrest Book and Toy and I to persist in the progression of our rural community by ensuring that children have access to inclusive literature with diverse characters that reflect them.”

The scholarship is a networking tool to help booksellers with less than five years of experience make connections and establish relationships with other booksellers, publishers, and authors. The outreach aspect also focuses on finding new readers and developing access to books that can enrich readers’ lives. Gliseendorf applied for the grant to start a fund that will provide banned books, especially about the LGBTQ+ and POC communities, for school aged children who do not have access in schools.   

“Bookstores are the heart of a thriving community, and supporting emerging booksellers and encouraging their engagement in their community is critical to the future of bookselling and the larger book industry,” Binc Executive Director Pam French said. “Thank you to all the applicants in what was the scholarship’s largest and most competitive pool, and congratulations Riley, we look forward to learning more about your outreach project and seeing its impact.”