Volume 5, Number 5
Nov 1981

Seminar on Excellence in Bookbinding Planned

There will indeed be a seminar on standards of excellence in hand bookbinding, as announced tentatively last June at the Guild of Book Workers annual meeting. The GBW Standards Committee, of which Don Etherington is Chairman, will hold the day-long seminar on Friday, April 16th, at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC.

Speakers will be Thomas C. Albro II, of the Library of Congress Restoration Office, on conservation binding; Hedi Kyle, Conservator of the Book Preservation Center at the New York Botanical Garden, on artists' books; Heinke Pensky-Adam, Head of Midwest Book and Paper Conservation at Monastery Hill Bindery, on designer bindings; Gray Parrot (Edward Gray Parrot, II; pronounced pá'ro), independent bookbinder, on limited edition binding; and Bill Anthony, of Kner and Anthony in Chicago, on restoration binding. Each will talk about and illustrate standards in his/her own field, and each talk will be followed by a question and answer period.

There will be opportunities for general discussion on the evening before the seminar; at lunchtime on the day of the seminar; during a post-presentation discussion hour; and during a wine reception in the Great Hall of the Folger afterwards. Some people may want to come early or stay on over the weekend to visit and sightsee before returning home.

The fee for the seminar is $20. Checks should be made out to the GBW Standards Seminar and sent to "GBW Standards Seminar, c/o Conservation Department, Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St., SE, Washington, DC 20003." Nonmembers may attend, but members of the Guild of Book Workers will have first consideration at registration and in making housing arrangements.

A block of rooms has been reserved for April 15 and 16 at the Rosslyn Westpark Hotel, 1900 N. Fort Myer Dr., Arlington, VA 22209 (703-527-4814). Singles are $55, doubles $62; 3 or 4 people may also share any room, at rates lower (per person) but, as yet undetermined. Reservation forms will be sent out with the registration information, but reservations can also be made directly at any time by sending a letter or (preferably) by calling the hotel. The reservation clerk will need to know I) the mane of the group, the Guild of Book Workers, 2) dates of stay, 3) number of people in the party, and 4) whether arriving before or after 4:00 (if after 4:00, the reservation will have to be guaranteed-- the clerk cam provide instructions on this).

The Rosslyn Westpark has free parking and is close to a Metro subway station. It is in Arlington, across the river from downtown Washington.

Local arrangements are being made by Karen Garlick, of the Folger Library; her work phone is (202) 544-4600 and her home phone is (202) 234-9346. Reservations should be made soon because April 16 is cherry blossom time, and the city will be full of tourists. Any members who, for whatever reason, need alternative lodging nay call Karen, who will try to put them in touch with local members willing to offer accommodations for a night or two. She may also be able to arrange parties of 3 or 4 members for hotel rooms.

Members who would like to help with arrangements should contact Donald Etherington, Assistant Director/Chief Conservation Officer, Humanities Research Center, University of Texas, Box 7219, Austin TX 78712 (tel. 512- 471-1833). He can be reached at (512) 327-5655 in the evenings.

Members of the Standards Committee are: Donald Etherington, Doris Freitag, Gary Frost, Jerilyn Davis, Polly Lada-Mocarski, and Heinke Pensky-Adam.