Book Arts Collection

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The Book Arts Collection is a growing collection of books and journals, both modern and historical, that encompass all aspects of the book as a physical structure. Book design, bookbinding, book history, illustration, papermaking and decoration, typography, calligraphy, fine press printing, and offset printing are some of the topics covered in the collection. There is a collection of contemporary artist's books, as well as printed books from the 15th-20th centuries representing the works of important European and American masters printers and binders. Also in the collection are realia, a strong collection of illuminated manuscript facsimiles, and thousands of 'zines of all shapes and persuasions. The Book Arts Collection supports instruction and research for the Book Arts Program in the Residential College for Arts and Humanities, and related endeavors across campus and community.

Online Resources

• Save America's Treasures Online Exhibit - This exhibit was created as part of the Save America’s Treasures grant awarded to Michigan State University Libraries in 2005. The goal of the exhibit is to educate the public about the fragility of our nation’s cultural heritage and how libraries and library conservators are saving the books from our past. The exhibit illustrates some of the conservation treatments performed on the Teaching Young American’s collection and how the library administered

Did You Know ...

• Eight Slices of Pie, by the book artist Emily Martin, is housed in a 9" inch round covered pie tin with each section of the book made up of folded paper in the shape of a slice of pie.
• In 2007 Special Collections hosted the Guild of Book Workers 100th Anniversary Exhibition featuring over 60 bindings all created by Guild members.