This is the seventeenth' volume of the Book and Paper Group Annual, a non juried anthology of papers pertaining to the conservation and preservation of works of art on paper, books, library and archival materials. This issue includes four papers delivered at the 1998 Book and Paper Group Specialty Sessions, four papers from the Library Collections Conservation Discussion Group Session, and two papers based on presentations at the Poster Session, AIC 26th Annual Meeting in Arlington, Virginia. We thank the BPG Program Chair Eleanore Stewart and Assistant Program Chair Nancy Heugh and LCCDG co-chairs Randy Silverman and Maria Grandinette for their contributions to excellent sessions. One paper was delivered at the 1997 BPG Sessions, AIC 25th Annual Meeting, June 14, 1997 San Diego, California. In the continuing tradition of accepting contributions from the membership at large, four papers are independent submissions. One additional submission (Linda K. Ogden) has been included at the suggestion of Olivia Primanis, who refers to the Ogden paper in her current article. The Ogden paper was delivered at the 6th AIC Annual Meeting prior to the formation of the Book and Paper Group and existed only in photocopies. It has been an important source in the literature and practice of book conservation for many years and has been included in its original format, primarily because of the close association between the text and the original illustrations. As in the past, the success of this issue rests primarily with the authors who have willingly contributed their papers for publication.
With this issue I complete my tenure as Compiler and Managing Editor of the Book and Paper Group Annual. I have had a wonderful association with the Book and Paper Group, the American Institute for Conservation, and all of my colleagues in the profession over the years. The Annual has been my special obra and I thank all those who have helped me during the past twelve years—Brigham Young University student assistants, colleagues in the Conservation Department and throughout the Harold B. Lee Library, the Harold B. Lee Library administration, my friends and associates at the Brigham Young University Print and Mail Services, the members of the BPG Publications Committee, past members of the BPG Board, and all of the authors with whom I have had the good fortune to collaborate. Finally I would like to acknowledge the continual patience and support of my family.
Robert Espinosa