Binc announced that Sarah Bruns Putman of Bookish: An Indie Shop for Folks Who Read, Fort Smith, Ark., has won the Indies with Impact Prize, supported by Penguin Random House; and Mackenzie Van Engelenhoven of the King's English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, Utah, has been awarded the Carla Gray Memorial Scholarship for Emerging Bookseller-Activists, presented in conjunction with the Friends of Carla Gray Committee.
Putman said the store's vision of its role in the community is to foster the love of reading, with a particular emphasis on reaching students between third and ninth grade. The project will focus on building classroom libraries "so students can see themselves reflected in those bookshelves."
"I am so proud to be among the recipients of the Indies with Impact Award this year," she added. "I spent 15 years in public education and was passionate about introducing great books to the students in my classroom. When I opened the bookshop in 2018, it felt as if my classroom walls just expanded. I know first-hand how difficult it is to curate a classroom library on a teacher salary, that is why I am thrilled to be able to offer scholarships to teachers in my area so they can curate their own classroom libraries--libraries that are diverse, reflective, and relevant. I am grateful to Binc for providing me and Bookish the support to jumpstart our community outreach in Arkansas. I truly believe that the right book in the right hands can change our communities and our world."
Jaci Updike, president of sales, PRH U.S., commented: "Independent bookstores are essential to local communities, and we are proud to provide support for booksellers who are making such a positive difference in people's lives. A heartfelt thank you to our longtime partners at Binc for making this program possible, and for everything they do for the bookselling community across the country."
Carla Gray Memorial Scholarship winner Van Engelenhoven explained that talking with readers in the King's English Bookshop and seeing their thoughts and ideas shaped by diverse books is inspiring. Her project is a store bookmobile to expand the store's reach into the community and bring free books to children in outlying areas that have no access to books or can't afford them. As a long term goal she wants to gradually expand and reach the "Native American reservations in the next five years."
Van Engelenhov added that she is "so honored to be receiving the Carla Gray Memorial Scholarship, and so grateful to Binc for the opportunity to increase my own education and then return and share it with the store. Over the last two years, The King's English Bookshop has undergone huge changes--both pandemic-related and not--so the financial support and opportunity for education comes at the perfect time, as we forge our new identity and find new ways to connect with and support the needs of our customers, particularly the Indigenous communities on nearby reservations."
Binc executive director Pam French commented, "Bookstores are the heart of a thriving community. The programs that will be launched thanks to these collaborations with Penguin Random House and the Friends of Carla Gray will have a lasting impact on the booksellers, bookstore, readers, and community. We look forward to the two visionary projects launching and seeing their lasting results."
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| Kit Steinaway | |
After 14 years in what she called "the best job of my life," Kit Steinaway, Binc's programs manager, is retiring at the end of the year. She stated, "Coming to work each day and being able to help in some small way as book and comic people bravely meet incredible challenges in their lives has been a true honor. Over these years, I have had the privilege of meeting and working with amazing and dedicated professionals in every facet of the industry. The one thing we all have in common is the firm belief in the importance of the beauty, knowledge, and vibrancy that bookstores and comic shops bring to their communities. For this, and for all of you, I am eternally grateful."
Pam French called Steinaway "the voice, the helping hand, and the soul of the Foundation.... She has well earned her retirement, but her humor, insight and willingness to jump in and figure it out will be missed every day."
Binc noted that during her tenure, Steinaway has attended more than 66 industry trade shows and conferences, visited more than 200 bookstores, sent hundreds of packets to introduce Binc to stores and led 38 program committee meetings. And "during Kit's tenure 4,878 natural disasters occurred... many of which she helped folks through."