Join us this season for three discussions looking at the past, present and future of the book, featuring local writers, scholars, and conservators.

Up first is Before the Metaphor: The Book as Human Object.
The Center welcomes Jane Siegel, Rare Book Librarian at Columbia University, next Wednesday evening, February 10th at 6:30pm for a curator's tour of how we have created and interacted with the written work-from cuneiform up to, but not including, the e-book.

Jane Rodgers Siegel is the Rare Book Librarian at the Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Columbia University, where she looks after rare books, art, and ephemera, and specializes in the book as a physical object. 2010 is her Silver Jubilee year.

On Wednesday, March 3, 6:30 pm we're proud to present A Force Beyond Function: The Conservation, Technology, and Significance of the Codex: a panel discussion centered on the physical form of the book as an expression of technology. Moderated by Jeff Peachey, famed local book conservator, we're looking forward to a spirited discussion, with guests Sarah Lowengard, Maria Fredericks and John Townsend.

Jeffrey S. Peachey is the owner of a New York City-based studio for the conservation of books, and the inventor of conservation tools and machines. He is a Professional Associate in the American Institute for Conservation and has served as Chair of Conservators In Private Practice. For more than 20 years, he has specialized in the conservation of books and paper artifacts for institutions and individuals. A consultant to major libraries and university collections in the New York City region and nationally, he has been the recipient of numerous grants to support his work. A well-known teacher, Peachey also provides conservation-focused guidance to students in art, archives, and bookbinding programs.

Sarah Lowengard is a historian of technology and science who specializes in the chemistry and physics of early modern Europe. Her research calls on studies of art, material culture and materials science as well as the more typical concerns of social life, economies and intellectualism. She is an Associate Professor at The Cooper Union.

Maria L. Fredericks is the Drue Heinz Book Conservator at the Morgan Library & Museum. Previous she was the Head of Conservation at Columbia University Libraries, where she managed the systemwide book conservation program for more than twenty libraries.Ms. Fredericks has taught and lectured extensively on book conservation.
John Townsend owns and operates Anonymous Bookbinder, a small hand-bookbinding and conservation workshop in upstate New York. Most recently active in information technology, digital information access and related fields, he is also a librarian with a broad background and extensive experience in conservation and preservation, and he has been a bookbinder for over thirty years.

Finally, we're looking ahead towards The Future of Reading: Dan Visel will join us for a discussion of what digital publishing can take from the traditions of print publications, on Wednesday, March 24th at 6:30pm.

Dan Visel works with The Institute for the Future of the Book a small think-and-do tank investigating the evolution of intellectual discourse as it shifts from printed pages to networked screens. In his spare time, he designs Circumference, a journal of poetry in facing-page translation.

Suggested donation for all our public programs is $10/$5 for members, and you can see our complete schedule here: http://www.centerforbookarts.org/events/