2025

Registration & Schedule

Early Bird Registration: June 1 - July 15, 2025

Regular Registration: July 15 - September 8, 2025

Limited to 150 people - waitlist will be available

The Standards of excellence Seminar is open to all regardless of membership status. Members should login with their username and password to access members-only discounts. Registration opens June 1, 2025. Registration closes September 8, 2025. Registration is limited to 150 people—a wait list will be created if registration exceeds that number. All questions regarding registration should be directed to Lawrence Houston, Treasurer. All fees listed on the registration form are in US dollars. There is a cancellation fee of 10% of the registration fee up to 30 days before the Seminar. No refunds are given after the registration deadline. Cancellation fees do not apply to scholarship applicants who do not receive an award and are unable to attend without financial assistance. Registrations may not be shared or transferred.

Registration Rates

*Student rates apply to currently enrolled students, as well as to individuals who graduated in 2025. ID* or proof of enrollment or graduation may be requested.

Evening Events:

Welcome Reception:

When: Thursday Oct 9 , 8:00pm - 9:30pm

Where Old Capital Museum, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

The welcome reception will be held at Old Capital Museum - lorem ipsum dolor etet....exhibition features approximately 31 works by members of the Guild of Book Workers a book artists organization that promotes interest in and awareness of the tradition of the book and paper arts by maintaining high standards of workmanship, hosting educational opportunities, and sponsoring exhibits.

Mix and Mentor

Scholarships

The Guild of Book Workers offers scholarships to attend the Standards of Excellence in Hand Bookbinding The scholarship consists of one year of Guild Membership, a waiver of seminar registration fees, lodging costs for four nights at the conference hotel, and the cost of the Saturday evening banquet dinner. The lodging costs covered do not include hotel parking, phone calls, movie rentals, or any other room services. Tour costs are not covered by the scholarship. The GBW Treasurer will reserve a room for each recipient at the conference hotel. Recipients are responsible for making their own travel plans. Scholarship recipients will be asked to volunteer a small amount of their time during the seminar to assist the event organizers, presenters, or other GBW volunteers.

Applications for Scholarship opens May 10th 2025

The Scholarship Committee requests a short statement and two letters of reference. The statement should describe: 

• What you hope to get out of the seminar
• How attending might impact your work
• How you plan to share what you have learned with others

The letters of reference could come from an instructor, supervisor, or client and need not be lengthy. The application process opens May 10th, and all applications are due by July 1st, 2025.  

Please direct questions to Todd Pattison at vicepresident@guildofbookworkers.org.

Presentations & Tours

❮ ❯	COLLEEN CURRY Title 9:00am - Noon on October 11th 2025 in Wayne AB Coleen’s design ideas stem from both the text and illustrations of the books she binds. Her inspiration is derived from a collection of experiences, observations from daily life, found objects and the natural world. I avidly explore other crafts in an attempt  to render visually rich and technically evocative bindings. Coleen Curry is a contemporary design binder. Coleen’s aim is to craft technically evocative bindings that provide a visual, sensual, and tactile experience. She bound her first book in 2004 with Tini Muira; the experience was a game changer. In 2009, Coleen received her Diploma in Fine Binding from the American Academy of Bookbinding (AAB). Notably she has studied with Monique Lallier, Eleanore Ramsey, and Hélène Jolis. Coleen teaches at AAB and has led workshops in the US and Australia since 2014. She is past President of the Hand Bookbinders of California and currently the Vice Chair for the San Francisco Center for the Book. She exhibits internationally, has won several awards, and her work is held in both private and public collections including the San Francisco Public Library, Boston Athenæum, and Bancroft Library.
❮ ❯	ISLAM ALY Making Artist’s Books 1pm - 3pm on October 11th 2025 in Wayne AB As a book artist, I am drawn to the unique and versatile nature of the book form. Whether old or new, the book has always captured my imagination and challenged me to explore its physical properties and content in new and innovative ways. Through my work, I use book art to reflect on our contemporary time and explore the intersections between past and present. Books have a rich legacy in approaching social justice issues and giving voice to marginalized groups, and I strive to create books that promote empathy and belonging. Islam is a book artist and lecturer of Design at Helwan University's College of Art Education. His artistic journey began with a Bachelor's degree in Art Education, followed by a Master's from the same university. He was determined to continue his academic journey, and he pursued a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning with a concentration in Art Education, which he earned at the University of Iowa. Islam delved deeper into his passion for book arts at the University of Iowa and earned an MFA in Book Arts. His education and artistic training have shaped his unique approach to creating artist books, which combine historical bookbinding techniques with digital technologies. Islam's work is created at the junction between culture, technology, and aesthetics.
❮ ❯	MARY UTUPPURU Box Making 9:00am - Noon on October 11th 2025 in Wayne AB How can the laser cutter become another tool in the bookbinder’s tool box? Through the transformation of one image into numerous laser cutting and engraving techniques, Sarah will demonstrate how to integrate the laser cutter into hand binding to aid in editioning, develop more complex designs, and reveal techniques only the laser can perform. We’ll cover a variety of processes and materials, from photo and line art woodblocks, to laser engraved bookcloth, laser cut leather onlay, engraved paper enclosures, letterpress blocks, inlay for book covers, and acrylic embossing plates. With each process you’ll learn key characteristics to take into consideration when designing elements for the laser cutter. Mary Uthuppuru creates artist books, bindings, boxes, and prints inspired by science, literature, and travel. After receiving a BA in Art History and a master’s in library science with a specialization in rare books she closely studied the history of the book accompanied by training through workshops across the country.  Mary began working as a Conservation Technician at the Lilly Library in 2007 and gained an in-depth study of book structures and their repair under the direction of the head of Conservation. As of 2010, she began her career as a full-time book artist and bookbinder under the name Spring Leaf Press at her home studio in Bloomington, Indiana. Mary took on the role of the owner of Colophon Book Arts Supply in 2017 and brings her experience as an artist to the role of shopkeeper. Mary continues to exhibit work nationally and internationally and teaches workshops throughout the country.
❮ ❯	KATHERINE BEATY Preservation 1pm - 3pm on October 11th 2025 in Wayne AB Mending and lining damaged paper with an Asian tissue precoated with adhesive has becom increasingly common—especially in library conservation labs—since information on this technique began to appear in print around 1990. Its usefulness lies in its potential to be time-saving at the bench for remarkably subtle repairs to damaged paper, parchment, and textiles. Over the last two decades, the conservators, technicians, and interns of Harvard Libraries’ Weissman Preservation Center have been putting this technique into practice while continually refining the recipes, preparation, and use of precoated repair tissues. In this session, Christopher will present an illustrated overview of the technique and discuss its use in the varied conservation projects from Harvard’s libraries. He will also demonstrate the preparation of precoated tissue so that attendees can make some themselves and build a library of tissues, ever-ready for future projects. Christopher will also demonstrate and discuss using precoated tissues in the repair of first-edition dust jackets. Katherine Beaty is a book conservator for special collection at the Weissman Preservation Center, with a special interest in parchment, non-western bindings, and investigating historical book structures. Before coming to Harvard in 2008, Katherine trained at the Folger Shakespeare Library, Library of Congress, New York Academy of Medicine, Harry Ransom Center, and worked at Duke University Library. Katherine earned her M.A. in book and paper conservation from the Buffalo State College's, Patricia H. and Richard E. Garman Art Conservation department and is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 - Area Tours

Pre-registration required

Vendors

The Standards of Excellence Seminar invites all vendors selling materials, tools, and supplies related to the book arts to register for the 2025 Vendor Room. The Vendor Room is open to seminar attendees, and to the general public. Names of vendors and donors will be listed on the Guild of Book Workers website beginning in September of 2025.

Vendor Registration

Registration will be accepted until September 30, 2025, or until capacity is reached.

Please note that tables are limited, and assigned on a first-come, first- served basis. Cancellations prior to September 8 will be refunded, less a 10% cancellation fee. No refunds will be made after September 8, 2025. 
For questions about payments contact Larry Houston, GBW Treasurer (treasurer@guildofbookworkers.org Other questions regarding the Seminar should be directed to Jennifer Pellecchia, Standards Chair (standards@guildofbookworkers.org)

Fees

• Table Rental (2’’ x 6’ draped table, includes set-up & strike fee, one table, up to three seminar badges) $200:
• Additional table(s) $100 each (limited to 4 additional tables)
• Banquet Tickets __ person(s) x $60 per person

VENDOR REGISTRATION
 

Vendor Schedule

Sponsorships

The Guild of Book Workers offers sponsorship opportunities in an effort to keep registration affordable. Members, vendors, and organizations can increase  visibility and show support by taking part in supporting this year’s seminar in Iowa City, or create a unique sponsorship grouping to bundle and donate. We also welcome anonymous donors. Thank you for your consideration! 

SPONSOR NOW

OPENING RECEPTION

$2000 (2 available)

Help to cover the costs of food and programming during the October 9th Welcome Reception at the Old Capitol Museum.

• Your name & logo on the auditorium screen before presentations and during breaks
• Acknowledgement or ad in the conference packet
• Verbal thank you during presenter introductions, opening reception and banquet

MIX AND MENTOR MEETUP SPONSORSHIP

$750 (2 available) 

These funds will allow us to schedule an informal meetup for attendees and scholarship recipients to network and socialize.

• Your name or company name & logo shown on the auditorium screen before presentations and during breaks
• Acknowledgement or ad in the conference packet
• Verbal thank you during presenter introductions, opening reception and banquet

COFFEE & SNACK BREAK SPONSOR 

$500 (8 available)

Helps to offset the costs of food and coffee during presenter breaks.

• Your name or company name & logo shown on the auditorium screen before presentations and during breaks 
• Verbal thank you during presenter introductions, opening reception and banquet
• A full-page acknowledgement and ad in the conference packet 

VIDEO SPONSOR

$300 (4 available)

Offsets costs of video production and hosting.

• Your name or company name & logo shown on the auditorium screen before presentations and during breaks 
• Your name or company name & logo included in presentation recording credits
• Verbal thank you during presenter introductions, opening reception and banquet
• Promotional code for a free purchase of that video on our online streaming service
• Name or business name in program packet, GBW Newsletter, and on GBW website

FLORAL CENTERPIECE  

$250 (1 available)

• Your name or company name and logo on the auditorium screen before presentations and during breaks  
• Verbal thank you at the opening reception and banquet
• Name or business name in program packet, GBW Newsletter, and on GBW website

PROGRAM PACKET SPONSOR 

$100 (unlimited)

• Verbal thank you at the opening reception and banquet
• Name or business name in program packet, GBW Newsletter, and on GBW website

Deadline for submission of payment and artwork is September 30, 2025. Payment may be submitted while registering online for Standards, or via the Guild’s donation page.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Pellecchia at standards@guildofbookworkers.org