Antiquarian Book School Foundation

What it reported doing in 2025

The sole purpose of the antiquarian book school foundation (absf) is to educate librarians, collectors, and aspiring book sellers in best practices for handling and selling books. We provide an annual week-long seminar where leading specialists share their knowledge, skills and professional experiences with rare book and special collection librarians from university libraries, public libraries, historical societies and ""friend"" groups of such institutions as well as aspiring booksellers and collectors in a comprehensive survey of the rare book market, both antiquarian and modern. (continued on schedule o)basic procedures and problems are discussed both formally and informally through a series of lectures, discussions, demonstrations and practical hands-on workshops with emphasis on cataloging, pricing, restoration and maintenance, and the tools and materials of book production as well as bookselling in the electronic age.the antiquarian book school foundation (absf) is an independent, nonprofit, and tax-exempt educational institution focused on promoting, maintaining, and expanding the standards of the antiquarian book trade. Cabs-Minnesota, which is administered by the absf, is an annual week-long intensive seminar for booksellers, prospective booksellers, and others with an interest in the antiquarian and second-hand book market.the absf continues the activities of the former book seminars, a for-profit partnership which over the past 48 years has educated more than 3,000 students from the united states and abroad. 55 students attended the 2025 cabs-mn seminar at st. Olaf college. Cabs-Minnesota is committed to diversity in the antiquarian and rare book trade. We believe that a diverse and inclusive trade will benefit both the trade and the cultural heritage community at large by expanding perspectives and by encouraging new collaborations. We recognize that many talented professionals in cultural heritage professions do not see themselves reflected in the trade. As one step toward centering non-dominant perspectives, cabs-Minnesota has established the diverse voices fellowship to build a cohort of fellows who have a strong interest in learning more about the antiquarian book trade and have found themselves isolated in or distanced from the trade by reason of race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and/or income.the fellowship offers a program of professional and career development designed around fellows' interests including participation in the annual week long seminar and an additional field study. The initial group of five fellows finished the course in 2022. Four fellows completed the program in 2025.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 78.6%; rating input score 79
• Program expense ratio: 89.2%; rating input score 89
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 90.9%; rating input score 91; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 94.8%; rating input score 95; 57th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 3 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 16.6%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 8.34; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 12.8%; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 12.1% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -26.3% per year; rating input score 0; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.2% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings