News from the BPG Chair

2017 AIC Annual Meeting

Many of us recently had the chance to attend the annual meeting in Chicago; the presentations and fellowship were excellent. Many thanks to our speakers who took the time to create insightful and timely presentations for their colleagues! I would like to especially recognize Program Chair Victoria Binder and Assistant Program Chair Deb Cuoco for crafting an outstanding program of book and paper talks this year, including a joint session with Research and Technical Studies (RATS), as well as for organizing the wonderful reception at the Newberry Library. Heartfelt thanks as well go to our generous sponsors for the BPG/RATS reception: Hollinger Metal Edge, TandD, and San-Jian Art & Conservation.

The BPG sessions were arranged in three blocks, one of which was a joint session with RATS, resulting in a total of 18 talks. In addition, this year included discussion group sessions for Art on Paper (APDG) and Library Collections Conservation (LCCDG).

The APDG, led by Rachel Freeman, Cyntia Karnes, and Harriet Stratis, featured a vibrant set of presentations on the theme of “Multiple Perspectives on the Treatment of Multiples: Innovative Thinking on the Conservation of Prints.” The Library Collections Conservation Discussion Group session, chaired by Sonya Barron, Anahit Campbell, and Angela Andres, engaged attendees on the theme of “Unexpectedly Expert: Diversifying Your Skills to Cover All the Bases.”

The BPG wiki group, led by Denise Stockman and Katherine Kelly, also held a productive session. Contact bookandpapergroup [dot] wiki [at] gmail [dot] com to join the wiki movement.

BPG sessions also included a meeting of the BPG wiki group and many excellent poster presentations by BPG members.

For more information on various presentations, check out www.conservators-converse.org, where AIC member-bloggers have posted reviews of sessions at the 2017 annual meeting. Thanks to all who took the time to present their work. Posters will be featured on the AIC website.

BPG Leadership

I would like to recognize the dedication and hard work of our outgoing BPG Executive Board members: Secretary/Treasurer Mary Oey, and Program Chair Victoria Binder. Your contributions to the BPG have been significant, and you will be missed! Now that the 2017 meeting has concluded, Deb Cuoco assumes the post of Program Chair, assisted by Jennifer Hunt Johnson as Assistant Program Chair. In addition, Sarah Norris joins us as incoming Secretary/Treasurer. Welcome also to incoming Archives Discussion Group (ACDG) Co-Chair Stephanie Gowler, who joins returning Co-Chair Dawn Mankowski. The 2017 Nominating Committee consists of Chair Emerita Michelle Facini, Chela Metzger, and Karen Zukor. They may be contacting you soon with ideas for participating in the work of BPG—or feel free to nominate yourself!

Publications Committee

Many thanks to Sarah Reidell for expertly leading the BPG Publications Committee over her term of service, also while serving as the AIC Publications Chair. Henry Hebert will be taking over as the new BPG Publications Chair. Hearty thanks also to Eliza Gilligan for her three years as the Editor/Compiler of the BPG Annual. As she leaves the role, the job will be split in the future, with an editor serving two years and an assistant editor who becomes editor after those two years. Gwenanne Edwards will be the new BPG Annual Editor/Compiler (2017-2019), assisted by Justin Johnson as Assistant Editor. Thanks to Bruce Bumbarger and Henry Hebert for their work in the website redesign, to Amy Williams for digitizing back issues of the Annual, to Katherine Kelly and Denise Stockman for organizing the BPG wiki, to Erika Lindensmith for moderating the BPG listserv, and to Publications Committee Chair Emerita Olivia Primanis, who ends many years of service on the Publications Committee.

Education and Programs Committee

Many thanks to Jodie Utter for serving her term of Chair of this committee over the last three years! Cher Schneider is the incoming Chair and is already thinking about educational programs and activities for our membership. If you have ideas, please contact her.

AIC 2018 Annual Meeting

Please consider submitting a proposal for the 2018 Houston meeting, on the theme of “Material Matters 2018.” Submissions are due by September 15, 2017, but feel free to submit earlier. BPG is a volunteer-run group. We couldn’t do it without your support. Please consider ways you can help. Many thanks!