About BSA Events

Calls for Proposals

The BSA Events Committee, Working Group for International Collaboration and Development, and the BSA Liaisons Group engage with members and the broader public to organize these events, in part through calls for proposals.

The Event Committee issues tri-annual calls that are similar to open calls for conference proposals; from time to time, the Committee may call for proposals around a specific theme. We request a general overview of the content of sessions and presenters as well as information about the budget, promotion, and general organization of the event. This allows us to compensate presenters and organizers with honoraria for their intellectual and organizational labor and to cover other necessary costs.

In all BSA events, the material text – that is, handwritten, printed, or other textual artifacts, broadly conceived – as historical evidence, and/or the theory and practice of descriptive, historical, and/or critical bibliography, should be a central concern to participants and organizers.

For more information about Calls for Proposals, please see the Propose an Event page on our website.

International Events – How & Why

The BSA is actively seeking to foster community building for bibliographers on the North and South American continents in particular, and around the world. The Events Committee welcomes proposals for virtual events from non-US residents in response to our tri-annual calls for proposals.

Organizing in-person events outside of the US can be complicated for various reasons, including but not limited to visa and tax considerations, vendor management and payment, and other logistical issues. If you have questions about organizing an international event, you can contact BSA Executive Director Erin McGuirl by email. In general, virtual events are the easiest way to assemble speakers and audiences from around the globe.

See the propose an event page for pricing information for closed captioning and interpretation services.

The Annual Meeting & New Scholars Program

The Society also hosts an Annual Meeting each year which features a brief business meeting followed by a keynote lecture. The New Scholars Program, featuring brief talks by three emerging bibliographers, precedes the Annual Meeting each year. Typically this event is held during Bibliography Week at the end of January in New York City, however in 2021 the Annual Meeting and New Scholar Program will both be held online. A complete list of speakers at past Annual Meetings and New Scholars programs is available on our website, here.

Attend an Event

Most BSA events are offered for free and are open to the public with registration required. Please see the Upcoming Events page on our website for a full listing and links to register.

We regularly announce upcoming events in our electronic newsletter. Don’t receive it yet? Subscribe here.

Code of Conduct

Creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive community of bibliographical researchers that encourages participation by all those interested in bibliographical studies is a fundamental value of the BSA.  We expect members to treat others with respect and trust and to conduct research with integrity – for example, citing sources and recognizing the contributions of others.

As a learned society, the BSA expects appropriate professional conduct of its members and participants when they convene at Annual Meetings and events sponsored or co-sponsored throughout the year and as they exchange scholarly research in BSA publications.

This code aims to establish standards of behavior that protect all participants from abuse of any kind.  Participants, who include, but are not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, BSA staff, service providers, and others are required to abide by this BSA Events Code of Conduct. Please review the Code of Conduct before registering for and attending any of our events.