Membership Events Exhibitions Workshops About HBC

RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY

Today is the day! Renew now to retain your good standing, commissions status, and the many other benefits that come with your HBC membership.

Benefits include inclusion in the annual directory, plus invitations and discounts to events, workshops, and tours.

Once you’ve renewed your membership, you are eligible to participate in the Annual Members' Exhibition! HBC54 is open to all binders on all levels, but you must be a member to participate.

Renewing is easy—just click on the button below.

Please email membership@handbookbinders.org if you have questions or concerns.

ATTEND THE NEXT HBC BOARD MEETING

As we look toward the future of HBC, we want to invite our members to see the board in action. Starting with our next meeting, we are opening our monthly sessions to any current members who would like to join us. We meet via Zoom on the third Tuesday of every month from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. The next board meeting will be Tuesday, March 17.

After the board finishes discussing our regular business items, we will open the floor to any members who’d like to share ideas or ask the board questions directly.

If you are interested in attending our next meeting, please email us at board@handbookbinders.org to add your name to the attendance list. We will send attendees the Zoom link 2-3 days before the meeting.

We are looking forward to more ownership and participation from all our members as we move forward together!

UPCOMING HBC BINDERY NIGHTS

• Wednesday, March 25th

• Wednesday, April 15th

As always, Beth Redmond will be available to answer questions and provide assistance. HBC Bindery Nights are open to all HBC members, no registration required, from 5:00pm - 9:00pm in the Bindery at the San Francisco Center for the Book. Hope to see you there!

Nominations are now open for HBC’s Board of Directors! This is your opportunity to shape the future of our organization by nominating enthusiastic members to lead our community. You must be an HBC member in good standing to participate in the nomination and voting process. The positions open for nomination include:

• President - Guide HBC's vision and strategic direction

• Treasurer - Maintain HBC’s financial records

• Workshops Chair - Coordinate hands-on learning opportunities

• Programs Chair - Organize engaging events and programs (in person, online & hybrid)

Please visit the HBC Nominations web page for more information about each position and the nomination process. Nominations are open now through March 25, 2026.

Here’s what some of our board members have to say about volunteering with HBC:

When I first moved to the Bay Area for a bookbinding job, I didn't know many people. I promptly joined HBC and soon after volunteered to be the Membership Coordinator, where I slowly learned every member's first and last name. It was such a wonderful way to meet people that had similar interests and to join a welcoming community of incredibly talented folks who are so generous and encouraging with their skills, resources, and knowledge. I still really enjoy meeting someone new and realizing that I already know their first and last name because of being the Membership Coordinator.

Megan Gibes
Former HBC Membership Chair
HBC Treasurer

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I was involved in the antiquarian book world, but I did not know any bookbinders until I began to take classes and joined HBC in 2000. It was a new world, and once I became a HBC board member, that world opened up. I got to know the whole enterprise of bookbinders, book sellers, librarians, and conservators. I felt connected to history as I engaged in this old craft and then help to carry it forward. I find this very satisfying.

Vanessa Hardy
Former HBC Board Member

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Being on the HBC Board is about building community. Being part of a community encourages and supports members to do their best work.

Organizing the HBC Members’ Annual Exhibition, I have built relationships with people at various venues and learned a lot about HBC members. My favorite week of the year is the week I receive the books for the exhibition. Opening all of those packages and seeing what members have made is better than all the holidays rolled into one.

Beth Redmond
HBC Exhibitions Chair

If you have any questions about board responsibilities, time commitments, or the nomination process, please contact us at nominations@handbookbinders.org.

HBC54 MEMBER’S EXHIBITION

The 54th Annual Member’s Exhibition will be held this year at The American Bookbinders Museum in San Francisco. The exhibition will open on September 12 and run through December.

HBC54 Important Dates:

• May 25 - June 10: Submit intent to enter online

• July 5 – 17: Submit entry forms online

• July 17– 23: Submit books

• Sept 10 - 11: Install exhibit

• Sept 19, Saturday, opening event 5:00pm – 7:00pm

Please send any questions to: exhibitions@handbookbinders.org

HBC55 - The Fragments of Parmenides

2027 will be the 55th anniversary of HBC. We are working on a collaboration with the CODEX Foundation and a special set book to mark the 55th anniversary. The Fragments of Parmenides will be the set book for 2027. This is a major book, unlike anything we have ever done before. There will be copies available with and without a suite of 10 signed engravings, and three scholarship books. See the HBC February Newsletter for details.

Beth Redmond will send out additional information on how to purchase set books soon. If you are not a regular participant binding the HBC Set Book, have questions, or are interested in the scholarship copies, please email exhibitions@handbookbinders.org.

KAREN HANMER’S WORKSHOP HANDOUTS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

In case you missed her newsletter, Karen Hanmer recently made her workshop handouts available for download from her website. With nearly thirty years of bookbinding experience behind her, this is a one-of-a-kind resource.

If you aren’t familiar with Karen’s work, please take the time to view her design bindings and artists’ books at karenhanmer.com.

Thank you, Karen, for your generosity in sharing this valuable material!

Patricia Owen Design Bookbinding: A Retrospective Exhibition

Remember to visit this retrospective exhibition of Patty Owen’s design bindings, which continues through Thursday, June 4 at the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch, Skylight Gallery on the 6th Floor. It is open for viewing every day that the Main Branch is open.

This month, there will also be a gallery walkthrough led by Lang Ingalls on Saturday, March 21 from 2pm - 4pm. If you can’t make it this time, another walkthrough led by Eleanore Ramsey will be held on Sunday, May 17 from 2pm - 4pm.

This exhibition includes over 30 design bindings, and an exhibition catalog of Patty’s bindings will be available.

Thank you to the eight HBC members who contributed their time, talent and heart to this exhibition project: Robin Brandes, Samantha Cairo-Toby, Lang Ingalls, Mark Kirchner, Elaine Nishizu, Eleanore Ramsey, Beth Redmond, Laine Tammer.

More information about the exhibition can be found on the HBC website.

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR 2026 GBW AWARDS

The Guild of Book Workers Awards Committee is seeking written nominations for the 2026 Lifetime Achievement and Laura Young Awards.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes significant contribution to the goals of the Guild and to the book arts field at large. Contributions may include areas such as education, professional practice, research, or mentorship as examples. Nominations from the larger community of diverse voices and experiences is welcome. The award recipient is granted lifetime membership with no obligation to pay dues.

The Laura Young Award is given to an individual in recognition of sustained commitment to the Guild, that is, demonstrable service above and beyond to the Guild. Nominees must be current or former members of GBW.

For more information about the nomination process, please visit the GBW website here. The deadline for receipt of nominations is April 15, 2026.

Upcoming events from around the Bay Area and beyond!

• From the Bench of Beldan Sezen on Thursday, March 5 from 12:30pm - 1:30pm, hosted by the San Francisco Center for the Book. This is a free online event.

• Collections Tour: Intro to the Archive with Angela Riechers on Friday, March 13 from 1:30pm - 3pm at the Letterform Archive, 2325 Third St. Floor 4R, San Francisco, CA. Tickets from $12.51 - $33.85.

• Webinar: Interpreting Artists’ Books with Thad Higa on Saturday, March 28th from 11am - 12pm, hosted by the American Bookbinders Museum. Tickets $15.

If you would like to add events to our website, please fill out the event submission form.