Pressure Sensitive Tapes: Manufacture, Deterioration, and Evolving Approaches to Treatment

Go to the Call for Papers tab for more information about submitting a talk. The deadline for submissions is October 1, 2026.

This two-day symposium will take place on October 4-5, 2027 at the Indiana State Library, followed by an optional workshop and tours on October 6. The symposium will be recorded and post-prints will be produced to extend the reach of the content more broadly following the event.

The goal of the program is to refresh participants’ understanding of the practical issues surrounding pressure sensitive tapes as well as gain knowledge of some of the evolving research and treatment approaches. Speakers will present on topics such as historic and modern manufacture of pressure sensitive tapes; characteristic deterioration pathways of different tape formulations; traditional and cutting-edge approaches to pressure sensitive tape removal and stain reduction; ethical considerations when treating objects made of or having pressure sensitive tape; health and safety concerns when working with tape removal/reduction; tips and tricks for approaching tape removal with limited lab spaces; tape treatment on non-book and paper materials; as well as other topics related to the general topic.

Registration for the symposium will open in December. Applications to participate in the workshop and for travel funding will also open at that time.

This program is organized by AIC's Book and Paper Group. 

Funding for this program comes from a grant from the National Endowment for Humanities and the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) Endowment for Professional Development, which was created by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and is supported by donations from members of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and its friends. Workshops are made possible with the assistance of many AIC members, but no AIC membership dues were used to create or present this course.

FAIC relies on your contributions to support these and its many other programs. Learn more about donating to the foundation.

We are seeking speakers to present on topics such as historic and modern manufacture of pressure sensitive tapes; characteristic deterioration pathways of different tape formulations; traditional and cutting-edge approaches to pressure sensitive tape removal and stain reduction; ethical considerations when treating objects made of or having pressure sensitive tape; health and safety concerns when working with tape removal/reduction; tips and tricks for approaching tape removal with limited lab spaces; tape treatment on non-book and paper materials; as well as other topics related to the general topic.

We welcome paper proposals across disciplines and encourage a broad range of topics. Practitioners and scholars at any stage of their career are welcome. Proposals should include a 500-word abstract and a 150-word biography. Presentations will be approximately 35 minutes in length, plus Q&A, and will be delivered in person, in English. Speakers must approve to having their presentation recorded for later distribution as well as commit to submitting a post print of their talk in the months following the event.

The deadline for submissions is October 1, 2026. Notifications of proposal status will be sent via email by the first week of November. Accepted speakers will receive complimentary symposium registration (registration to workshops and tours not included) and a $375 speaker stipend. A travel stipend (up to $1,000) can requested if needed.

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