About

Bookbinding lecture given at the Spencer Art Reference Library

Jay Tanner has given several lectures on the art and history of bookbinding. Pictured above is a lecture given in 2019 at the Spencer Art Reference Library located at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

Jay Tanner is a dedicated bookbinder and restorer who adheres to the high professional standards and best practices in preservation and conservation. Since 2012, he has devoted himself to the art and technique of bookbinding, restoration, and conservation. In 2024, Tanner completed a Master of Library Science in Archives Studies at Emporia State University, further adding to his background in the field.

In 2017, Tanner earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Kansas City Art Institute, where he double majored in Art History and Printmaking. This academic pursuit deepened his passion for printmaking, calligraphy, and bookbinding, providing a solid foundation for his career. 

Over the past decade, Tanner has completed several valuable internships with esteemed institutions and experts, such as Karen Hanmer Book Arts, Dartmouth College Library, Heugh-Edmondson Conservation Services, LLC., the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Kansas City Center for the Ink and Paper Arts. These roles allowed him to work alongside leading practitioners, honing his technical skills and broadening his appreciation for the field.

Approaching each project with a blend of artistic sensitivity and meticulous craftsmanship, Tanner provides services in restoring your cherished books, creating custom fine leather bindings, and producing custom preservation boxes. His commitment is to ensure that every book he works on is preserved with the utmost care, preserving its story for future generations.

For inquiries about book conservation, custom fine bindings, preservation housings, or to learn more about the art of bookbinding through workshops and private instruction, please reach out via the contact tab.

Library Chair for the Guild of Book Workers Board of Directors 2018-2023

During his five-year tenure as Library Chair, Jay Tanner cataloged the rare book collection, digitized and uploaded the physical video archive to an online streaming platform, and successfully facilitated the donation of the Guild’s library to the University of Iowa. More information about library and Tanner’s contributions can be found here:

https://guildofbookworkers.org/library

The Guild of Book Workers is a phenomenal organization that enriches the book arts community and offers many opportunities for both established professionals and early-career practitioners alike. For more information, check out the GBW website here:

https://guildofbookworkers.org/