The 2025 ILAB Presidents’ Meeting – A Memorable Gathering of the International Rare Book Trade in Melbourne

Each year, the presidents of ILAB’s member associations and the ILAB Committee gather at the invitation of one of its members. In 2025, international delegates met in Melbourne for several days of productive meetings and conferences, cultural visits, followed by the 2025 Melbourne Rare Book Fair, all set against the vibrant backdrop of Melbourne Rare Book Week.

On 27 July, the ILAB Committee met for a full-day session to plan for the year ahead and review the progress of key ILAB initiatives. The agenda included updates on security, international partnerships, upcoming events, finances and long-term strategic goals. Past President Sally Burdon and President of Honour Kay Craddock took part in the meeting, contributing not only their deep institutional knowledge but also their consistently thoughtful and considered perspectives.

The 2025 ILAB Presidents’ Meeting took place on 28 July at the State Library of Victoria, where national delegates and the ILAB Committee gathered for a full day of strategic discussion, exchange, and planning for the future of the trade. The morning opened with a Presidents’ Forum, a roundtable session featuring reports from national associations and a compelling conversation on strengthening library liaison, led by Scott DeWolfe and guest speaker Emma Walshe.
This was followed by a workshop on provenance requirements chaired by Nicolas Malais and Mario Giupponi, which included a thought-provoking case study presented by Dr. Markus Brandis titled "Expropriated, foreclosed, unsaleable? The odyssey of a Venetian incunable through antiquarian bookshops and book auctions."
The forum concluded with a session on marketing rare book fairs internationally, with insights from Kay Craddock, Director of Melbourne Rare Book Week and ILAB President of Honour.

The afternoon was dedicated to ILAB’s Ordinary General Meeting, The agenda included the President’s Report by Angus O'Neill, a security update, and an overview of ILAB’s international advocacy work, including recent engagement with CINOA, UNESCO and other library bodies such as IFLA, CERL and RBMS.

A key focus of the meeting was the importance of diversity and inclusion within the rare book trade. ILAB is strongly committed to supporting greater diversity across its member associations and the wider trade, and this commitment was reflected in presentations by both the ILAB Diversity Working Group and the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America. The ABAA’s presentation highlighted concrete steps being taken in the United States to encourage a more inclusive professional environment, from outreach and scholarship programmes to mentorship initiatives aimed at supporting underrepresented voices in the trade. These efforts were warmly received and will inform further discussion within ILAB as it continues to advocate for meaningful change on an international level.

Other agenda items included a proposal from ANZAAB, the Australian and New Zealand association of Antiquarian Booksellers, focusing on new educational initiatives for the trade. The meeting concluded with updates on the Breslauer Prize, presentation and approval of the budget, and planning for upcoming ILAB events.

The meeting concluded with Markus Brandis, the president of the German antiquarian booksellers association, Verband Deutscher Antiquare, to the next ILAB Congress which will take place in September 2026 in Berlin.

Beyond the meeting rooms, participants were treated to an outstanding cultural programme on the 29 July that included curator-led visits to the State Library of Victoria, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the Baillieu Library at the University of Melbourne.

On the evening of 29 July, national presidents and ILAB Committee members were warmly welcomed to a special reception hosted by Kay Craddock AM at her iconic bookshop in the heart of Melbourne. Kay, one of Australia’s most respected antiquarian booksellers, served as ILAB’s first female president from 2000 to 2002 and was later named an ILAB President of Honour.

The following day, the 2025 ILAB Symposium, Old Books, New Perspectives: Rare Booksellers & Librarians in Dialogue, was held at the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne. Organised by ILAB with the generous support of ANZAAB, the symposium marked the fourth edition of this international forum, following successful events in New York (2019), Oxford (2022), and Paris (2024). While it was scheduled alongside the ILAB Presidents’ Meeting, the symposium is designed to reach well beyond the circle of national association presidents, bringing together rare booksellers, librarians, collectors, conservators, and scholars to explore shared responsibilities and ethical challenges across the rare book field.

The 2025 edition in Melbourne was a resounding success, drawing over 140 attendees from across the sector. The programme featured three thought-provoking sessions: "Why It Matters: Care and Integrity in Cataloguing", which examined reparative approaches to describing rare materials; "Ethics and Book Repair: What’s the Big Deal?", which explored the tension between conservation principles and commercial priorities; and "Security - A Shared Concern", which addressed theft, digital fraud, and the need for greater cooperation between the trade and libraries.

Speakers from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands contributed to lively and timely discussions that continued well into the cocktail reception, generously sponsored by ANZAAB.

A video recording of the event will be published by ILAB shortly.

The week concluded with the Melbourne Rare Book Fair, held at the University of Melbourne. The fair drew collectors, librarians, and members of the public to browse and acquire a wide range of rare books, maps, prints, and ephemera from leading Australian and international booksellers.

As part of the fair programme, ILAB also hosted a special event on Saturday morning dedicated to the ILAB Mentoring Programme. This session attracted a group of young and aspiring booksellers keen to learn more about building a career in the trade and to engage directly with ILAB’s global network. It was a very positive moment, speaking to the next generation of professionals who will shape the future of our trade.

ILAB extends its heartfelt thanks to Douglas Stewart, Dawn Albinger, and Tim White of ANZAAB for putting together such an exceptional programme. Their thoughtful planning, warm hospitality, and dedication to the trade made this meeting a true highlight in the ILAB calendar. We also thank all speakers, moderators, and participants who contributed to the success of the ILAB Symposium and the Presidents’ Meeting.

Although the past few days have been full and the effects of travel and jet lag are real, we leave Melbourne inspired and energised, and now look ahead to the next ILAB Presidents’ Meeting, which will be held in conjunction with the 2026 ILAB Congress in Berlin. Applications will open soon - join us in Germany's vibrant capital from from 14 to 20 September 2026!

Text and images: Angelika Elstner and Pom Harrington