Now Accepting Applications

(Hot off the press from the Key West Literary Seminar)

2025 Teacher & Librarian Scholarship recipients

Living in Key West is about more than than the nightlife scene. We also enjoy a strong literary presence, past and present, and are proud to share with you this offering below from the Key West Literary Seminar! We wish you luck if you choose to apply! From all of us at PreferredPropertiesKeyWest.

We are delighted to be opening applications for our 2026 Teacher & Librarian Scholarships.

Up to twenty outstanding teachers and librarians from around the country will be invited to join us for the Key West Literary Seminar, January 8–11, 2026.

We seek a diverse group of individuals who are positively impacting readers in their communities, and we hope that participation in our literary community will inspire fresh engagement with literature in schools and libraries.

Full scholarships cover the entire $825 registration fee and offset the cost of lodging (upon request, we will also provide a letter to your employer encouraging financial support for your travel expenses).

Winners of this award will be invited to stay in Key West for three nights, attend a Welcome Meet & Greet under the stars and a private library archive tour to view Hemingway’s papers. Award recipients will enjoy the full roster of Seminar programming, including the Opening Keynote Reception, and will have the opportunity to network with attendees and authors.

This year’s Seminar theme is “Pay Attention!/ The Novel”

– confirmed presenters include Rachel Kushner, the author of Telex from Cuba, The Flamethrowers, and most recently, Creation Lake, which was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize;

Claire Messud, the New York Times bestselling author of The Emperor’s Children;

Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Russo;

Gary Shteyngart, the author of Super Sad True Love Story, Absurdistan, and Our Country Friends;

and longtime New Yorker book critic, James Wood, among others.

The deadline to apply for the Teacher & Librarian Scholarship is July 15, 2025. Apply HERE

Award recipients have said …

“[The] scholarship was an incredible, truly amazing experience. From the moment I arrived, I felt immersed in a vibrant community of writers, readers, and thinkers who share a deep passion for literature. The opportunity to engage with acclaimed authors, attend thought-provoking panels, and connect with fellow librarians from around the country was both inspiring and energizing.”

~ Brie Mintz, 2025 scholarship recipient

“[Attending was] not only a chance to expand my knowledge, it allowed me to expand my network, too. It was the stories, struggles, and solutions we shared that made the Seminar meaningful. It was the moments of face-to-face reflection that mattered the most for all of us.”

~ Ashley Rose, 2023 scholarship recipient

Learn More About Our Scholarships⟶

APPLY NOW and GOOD LUCK to YOU!