The NAIBA Joe Drabyak Spirit Award
To nominate your favorite handseller, click here. Submission deadline is mid-February of each year.
Oscar Almonte-Espinal,
Handseller of the Year
Handselling is the heart of bookselling. NAIBA highlights the talent and passion of a deserving bookseller each year. This year we honor Oscar Almonte-Espinal of Uncle Bobbie’s in Philadelphia.
“Oscar’s passion about literature, literacy, and supporting writers doing new and exciting work means that every person coming to Uncle Bobbie’s can get knowledgeable recommendations, personable and sincere assistance, and the latest debrief on the hottest releases,” says Eden Artigues, Oscar’s co-worker. “In my time working at Uncle Bobbie’s, I have never known someone to be so well read and able to offer considerations and critiques that never miss! Oscar’s love for books is a part of the atmosphere at Uncle Bobbie’s, and customers look forward to engaging with him whether irl or on his bookstagram.”
Born in the Dominican Republic and now a Philly resident, Oscar is a passionate reader. He is the bookstagrammer behind Literary Henny, a corner of the internet where he shares his love for literature. Oscar’s favorite group of books to read and champion is translated literature, especially translated books from Latin America.
“This is a huge honor! When I heard the news, my jaw dropped to the floor,” says Oscar. “Books are the center of my life. There is some real and true power in books. I knew I wanted to work with books the minute I found that power. It is an immense privilege putting books in the hands of others. Especially now, in this moment, where book banning has become a dark cloud hovering above us. Throughout my years working as a bookseller, I’ve learned that bookselling is how we resist those who are trying to keep books and understanding out of the hands of readers. I’ve never been so proud to identify as a bookseller. I cannot wait to continue resisting, sharing, recommending and working with books. I’m incredibly grateful for this recognition from my peers.”
Evisa Gallman, another co-worker at Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books, shared her thoughts on Oscar. “Oscar never fails to make a personal connection with our readers when considering book recommendations that suit their needs, interests and desires. He practices an empathic readership that more often than not results in repeat business for our store and committed care for our community.”
NAIBA is proud to present the 2024 Joe Drabyak Handseller of the Year Award to Oscar Almonte-Espinal at the NAIBA Annual Meeting, Sunday, August 11 at 9am at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA.
Previous winners of the NAIBA Joe Drabyak Spirit Award are:
2023 Nicole Brinkley, Oblong Books, Rhinebeck, NY
2021: Anna Weber, White Whale Bookstore, Pittsburgh, PA
2020 & 2022: Award was on hiaitus because of Covid.
2019: Jarrod Annis, Greenlight Bookstores, Brooklyn, NY
2018: Allissa duBois, Otto Bookstore, Williamsport, PA
Jean Aiello, University Store (Univ of Pittsburgh) (Lifetime Achievement Award)
2017: Alex Brubaker of Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, PA
2016: Kathy Rodgers of Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, DE
2015: Sean Curran of Doylestown Bookshop in Doylestown, PA
2014: Michael Fortney of Chester County Book Company in West Chester, PA
2013: Alicia Michielli of Talking Leaves... Books in Buffalo, NY
2012: Rob Dougherty of Clinton Book Shop in Clinton, NJ
2011: Ellen Mager of Booktenders Secret Garden Children's Bookstore in Doylestown, PA
About Joe Drabyak
In honor of NAIBA President and friend, the late Joe Drabyak, NAIBA has created the Joe Drabyak Spirit Award to recognize booksellers who put their passion for books into practice with marketing and promotions.
Joe Drabyak was renowned in the industry for his creative promotional efforts. He could build excitement around any title with unusual events (have you heard about Joe's Nuts?), clever pairings, and handselling talent.
For Joe, a good book was a wonder to treasure. His wife, Reggie Painter, remembers: "He would often say to me while I was reading a good book, "Isn't it wonderful to have a good book to read?" Not only did Joe revel in the having a good book to read but got such a thrill out of putting it in the hands of someone else to enjoy as much as he did. He would sit at his lunch table at the store reading up to the very last second of his break. He could advise a customer on which new authors were not to be missed. He relished the advanced reader copies from publisher reps and most of all those precious manuscripts that authors would send him for his opinion. After reading one such manuscript, Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden, Joe told Mark that it would be nominated for a National Book Award. When it was nominated, Mark invited Joe to attend the National Book Awards Dinner at Atlantic Grove's table with Mark's wife, mother, Buzz Bizzinger, and Morgan Entreken," Reggie said. "It was the only time I would ever see him in a tux."
Joe captured the essence of a book with his witty quotes, which often appeared in a book's promotional campaigns. His skill creating non-author store events captured the unwary customer with enough intrigue to sell the book. He had a loyal following and even those who didn't know him would always pick up a Joe's pick, because they could confidently rely on Joe's solid recommendation alone.
There is a Joe inside many booksellers, and we want that spirit to stay alive and flourish. Nominate the bookseller in your life who shares their passion for books with customers in creative, fun, and unusual ways. Tell us a little bit about them and how they enhance the handselling experience. The winner will be recognized by their NAIBA colleagues at the annual conference, and receive a complimentary packet of all the Fall Conference event tickets, along with a $500 travel stipend.