The Book Arts Lab serves as a hub for book arts outreach and the creation of artists’ books on campus. The space also functions as the library’s conservation lab, where in-house repairs are completed on books and paper-based objects from the general collection and Unique Collections.

The vision for the Book Arts Lab is to:

• Support active learning experiences in bookbinding, letterpress printing, and papermaking on campus
• Serve as a working model of historical and contemporary book arts practices and an experiential space for learning the history and craft of book arts
• Inspire learning and creativity for the entire campus and students of all disciplines by providing a space where the Wesleyan community can experiment and create projects rooted in the materiality of the book
• Serve as the conservation lab to Wesleyan’s libraries, committed to preserving our collections and actively engaging with preservation-related outreach

The Book Arts Lab offers class collaborations, open book arts workshops, and advising on independent student, faculty, and staff projects. We welcome all members of the Wesleyan community to utilize the lab to learn about book arts.

Book arts often defies precise definition. In short, the term ‘book arts’ refers to all of the crafts that go into the making of a book – bookbinding, letterpress printing, and papermaking being the three most common, but can also include printmaking (lithography, screenprinting, intaglio, and relief), digital book design and printing, stenciling, paper engineering, hand lettering and calligraphy, photography, painting and drawing, and sculptural or altered bookwork.

Artists’ books are works of art that take the form of a book or are inspired by the form of the book. They use the book as a medium to convey meaning or reference the book form in their artistic delivery. You may also see these works referred to as bookworks, book objects, and artists books (no apostrophe).

See examples of Artists' Books in Special Collections

Project Time Requirements (Class Sessions)

Some book arts projects can be completed in one 80-minute class visit, while others may require multiple class visits to the lab. Below are some general guidelines for project time requirements:

One 80-minute class can complete one of the following:

• Up to three pamphlet book structures that do not require adhesive
• A non-adhesive accordion book structure
• A Japanese-style stab bound book
• An introduction to the Book Arts Lab, including information about book conservation at Wesleyan, examples of binding models, and demonstrations of studio equipment, and an overview of how the lab can be used for individual projects
• A demonstration of letterpress printing with our BookBeetle press, including printing a bookmark, post card, broadside, or French fold
• Zine making using a single page fold book format

Two 80-minute classes can complete one of the following:

• A sewn binding with hardcover such as a link stitch binding:
  • Session 1: students will make their covers
  • Session 2: students will sew their text blocks and attach covers
• Carving and printing small linoleum blocks on our BookBeetle press with pre-planned imagery
  • Session 1: each student will carve their own block using pre-planned imagery
  • Session 2: each student will print their own block
• Create an artists’ book using a pamphlet or accordion book structure
  • Session 1: each student will cut, fold, draw, and create individual book components
  • Session 2: each student will combine individual elements and assemble final books

Three or more 80-minute class sessions:

• Each student or small group of students will design and create their own book: children's book, artists’ book, comic book, or other multi-page book with drawings and/or text; books will be hand-drawn or printed digitally and bound by hand in the studio

These are just a few of the possible collaborative projects that can be completed in the Book Arts Lab. Each visit will be customized for class learning outcomes.

Book Arts Lab Equipment

Board shear with a 31” blade

Kutrimmer 1058

Various nipping presses and standing presses, able to accommodate books up to 16x22”

Sewing frames

Lying presses

Boxmaking jigs

Punching cradles

BookBeetle printing press, able to accommodate short runs of small prints with a less than 8x11” paper size

Independent Projects

The lab is open for individual student, faculty, and staff projects. Student projects being worked on as a class assignment or thesis project will receive priority. If you need one-on-one instruction from the Book Arts Librarian, please request an appointment below. Please be aware that the scope and time requirements for book arts projects can vary greatly. While a simple folded zine may only take a few days to produce, a multi-signature editioned book will take a minimum of two weeks to produce. When booking appointments, please keep in mind project due dates and schedule your initial appointment at least three weeks before your project is due.

*We require students who wish to work on individual projects outside of a class session to complete orientation sessions prior to using most of the equipment listed above. Check the Book Arts Lab calendar for upcoming equipment orientations.*

To request a class session please email Krista Narciso, Preservation & Book Arts Librarian, at knarciso@wesleyan.edu.

To sign up for an orientation session, open workshop, or open lab hours, please use the calendar below.