44th ILAB Congress & ILAB Presidents' Meeting - Oxford 2022

Oxford welcomes the booksellers of the world!

"There are few greater temptations on earth than to stay permanently at Oxford in meditation, and to read all the books in the Bodleian” (Hilaire Belloc)

The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association (UK) is inviting colleagues to the beautiful city of Oxford with its rich history in printing and publishing, its libraries and bookshops, private estates and book collections, academic culture and warm hospitality.

The congress is now fully booked.

However, if you wish to add your name to the waiting list, you may contact the organisers via email. Please note that the ILAB Symposium on 14th September 2022 is a separate booking, registrations have not opened yet. More information will be released shortly.

What is an ILAB Congress?

Since 1948, the League and its member associations have organized congresses; collegiate gatherings of booksellers in places of cultural and bibliophilic interest. Congresses take place every two years at a different location worldwide and are a wonderful opportunity for ILAB affiliated booksellers to socialise and learn about the literary and cultural heritage of the hosting nation.
The 2022 ILAB Congress will be hosted by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association (ABA, UK) in Oxford, followed by Firsts London, the ABA annual rare book fair, the coming weekend.

Accommodation

Accommodation will be in central Oxford adjacent to Oxford Castle only minutes away from museums, colleges and restaurants at Malmaison Hotel. The building itself dates back to 1071 and for centuries functioned as the Oxford Prison until in 2006 it was converted into a luxury hotel with part of the original building being refurbished by Oxford Castle. A unique and fun place to stay - no escaping for booksellers!

Costs

From £2,000 (approx. $2,700/€2400) per person, £2750 (approx. $3700/€3250) per couple.
Price includes hotel, all activities and meals.

Programme

A 6-day programme awaits booksellers, visiting some of the most famous sights of Oxford, learning about its private and university collections, its printing and book history.

Friday, 9 September: Festivities commence on Friday evening with a welcome dinner in the Exercise Hall at Malmaison Hotel.

Saturday, 10 September: Bespoke tours of the collections at the Ashmolean Museum, Natural History Museum, and Museum of the History of Science, followed by dinner in Balliol College Hall.

Sunday, 11 September: Sunday will be spent in the Bodleian Library, home to over 20 million books, maps, and manuscripts, and one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, followed by dinner in the 13th century “Divinity School”.

Monday, 12 September: Monday sees visits to the libraries of All Souls, Christ Church, Merton and University College, and an evening punting on the river Cherwell.

Tuesday, 13 September: Congress will head out of town on Tuesday to visit the country house libraries at Waddesdon and Wormsley, before a farewell dinner and ceilidh at The Perch Inn, adjacent to Alice in Wonderland’s “Treacle Well”.

Wednesday, 14 September: The congress is also a place for debate and will be supported by a one day ILAB Symposium and the ILAB Breslauer Prize Ceremony at Oxford's Weston Library, recently reopened after extensive renovations and home of the Bodleian Library's Special Collections. (Please note, an extra booking is required for the ILAB Symposium. Please contact the ILAB Secretariat via email)

Join us in Oxford in September, the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers are looking forward to welcome their colleagues!