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INTERNET RESOURCESBook arts on the Web: An introduction to selected resourcesC&RL News, April 2004 Cynthia L. Gregory In today’s Internet-driven world, handmade books might seem like things of the past. For book arts enthusiasts, however, the fine art of the book, in all its evolving forms from scroll to sculptural artist’s book, is alive and kicking. In fact, within the last decade, interest in workshops, programs, and societies dedicated to promoting book arts has increased worldwide. Not surprising then is book arts’ ever-growing presence on the Web. In the digital age, the once solitary book artist can now connect to a worldwide online community of artists and ideas. Starting points • Book Information Website. This site presents a large list of Web links dealing with book arts, book history, letterpress printing, book schools, book restoration and conservation, papermaking, artists’ books, bookbinding, and antiquarian books. Access: http://www.xs4all.nl/~knops/index3.htm. • Boston Book Arts. Boston Book Arts, founded in 1999, promotes information and idea sharing among book artists. This association holds regular meetings and sponsors lectures series and workshop opportunities. The site is organized into four sections: News (current events), Buzz (bulletin board), Show (a gallery of members’ work), and Links (listing of book art related Web sites). Access: http://www.bostonbookarts.org/. • Fine Press Book Association. Founded in 1996, this UK-based association focuses on fine printing and books. The organization produces a journal, Parenthesis, twice a year, and while no full text is offered on the Web site, the tables of contents for recent issues are available. The site includes membership information and upcoming events. Access: http://www.the-old-school.demon.co.uk/fpba/fpbamain.htm. • Los Angeles Book Arts Center. Information available on this site includes schedules of classes, membership and contact information, and exhibition opportunities. Access: http://www.LABookArts.com. • Pacific Center for Book Arts (PCBA). This Web site lists Calendar and Announcements, Exhibitions, Services Directory, Publications, About Us and Membership, Volunteer Opportunities. This site uses frames. Access: http://www.pcbaonline.net/. • San Francisco Center for the Book. This organization’s site offers information about its workshops, exhibits, public events, and features a "Book Pix" page with numerous color photos of bookworks. Every year, the group offers more than 300 workshops focusing on printing, binding, related arts, and youth programs. Access: http://www.sfcb.org/index.php3. Schools, programs, and workshops • MFA in the Book Arts Program at the University of Alabama. Part of the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Alabama, this program’s site provides information about the MFA’s curriculum and admission requirements, conference opportunities, student Web links, and a list of book arts Web resources. Additionally, there is a link to information about the Paper & Book Intensive, which the program sponsors and has held in different part of the United States for the past 20 years. Access: http://www.bookarts.ua.edu/. • Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA). As an independent book arts center, MCBA offers many educational opportunities, especially for children. Information about their programs, including classes for teachers, families, adults, and teens, is available on their Web site. In addition, the site includes information about the center’s shop and gallery, links to online exhibits, current news, events, and a guided tour of the MCBA that includes photographs. Access: http://www.mnbookarts.org. • Nebraska Book Arts Center (NBAC). Founded in 1989 by the Nebraska Board of Regents, NBAC is based at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. The center distributes limited editions of handmade books by various small presses and the Web site contains a catalog of titles and information about the presses. Also available is a listing of book arts classes offered through the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Access: http://www.unomaha.edu/%7Enbac/home.html. • University of Iowa Center for the Book (UICB). UICB’s Web site lists book arts educational opportunities for graduate and undergraduate study, admission procedures, course descriptions, mission statement, facilities index, current events listings, book and paper store information, and FAQ’s. Access: http://www.uiowa.edu/~ctrbook/ • Wells Book Arts Center. Based at Wells College in Aurora, New York, the Wells Book Arts Center was founded in 1993. The center’s education opportunities include courses, workshops, internships, and a summer institute. The Web site is divided into the following sections: Our Mission, News, Personnel, Facilities, The Wells College Press, Events, Educational Opportunities, Friends of the WBAC, Site Map, and contact information. Access: http://aurora.wells.edu/~wbac/bookarts/index.html. • Personal Visions: Artists’ Books at the Millennium. This site represents the online exhibition of artists’ books from an exhibition that was on view from January 15–June 9, 2002, at the University of Delaware’s Special Collections Department. Iris R. Snyder curated this exhibit, which features books from the university’s artists’ books collection and focuses on pieces created between 1995 and 2001. Also available is an exhibition checklist and an exploration of “What are Artists’ Books?” Included are photos of the bookworks and a text-only version. Access: http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/exhibits/artistsbook/index.htm. • Women in the Book Arts: A Selection. An online companion site to a Welessley College Library exhibition of ten women book artists. The site offers artists’ statements, photos of artists and of books featured in the exhibit, along with descriptions of each book. Access: http://www.wellesley.edu/Library/wombks/homepage/page1.html. • 4000 Years of Miniature Books. This online exhibition highlights selections from the 4000 Years of Miniature Books exhibit held from June 18th through September 15th, 2001, at the Indiana University’s Lilly Library. The online exhibit offers photo images of books featured in the exhibit, as well as corresponding text about each item. Themes explored and pictured in the exhibit include early printed books, thumb bibles, miniature libraries, almanacs and calendars, near and far east, 19th to 20th century Europe and America, and modern and contemporary presses. Access: http://www.indiana.edu/%7Eliblilly/miniatures/. • American Museum of Papermaking. This site offers general information about the museum, including a virtual tour and listings of educational opportunities. The “Collection” section of the site provides information and photos on numerous topics corresponding to the museum’s actual collection. Access: http://www.ipst.edu/amp/. • Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: A Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology. This Web site presents the online version of Roberts and Etherington’s 1982 dictionary of descriptive terminology. It includes a full-text keyword search, which supports Boolean searches, and it may also be browsed alphabetically. There are a few illustrations of tools and machinery. Frederick R. Goff authored the forward. The notes on the electronic edition were prepared by Walter Henry, Preservation Department, Stanford University Libraries during Spring 1994. Access: http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/don/don.html. • Makingbooks.com. Book artist and teacher Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord offers useful book making tips and project ideas for teachers, parents, and children. Bookmaking projects section includes step-by-step illustrated examples of six different projects for children. The resources section includes a bibliography of instructional and informational books and a brief listing of Web sites. Also provided are teaching tips for materials use and the teaching process. Access: http://www.makingbooks.com/. • Paper Crafts Projects and Ideas. The Yasutomo company specializes in Asian art materials and craft supplies. The “Projects and Ideas” section of the Web site lists numerous papermaking and book folding ideas. Each project includes directions and illustrations or photos. Access: http://yasutomo.com/project/paperpro.html Letterpress printing • Resources for Letterpress Printers. The American Amateur Press Association presents this Web site of resources containing letterpress printing Web links, information about type foundries that currently make new metal type, printing equipment, letterpress services and suppliers, classified ads related to letterpress printing, and letterpress focused publications. Access: http://members.aol.com/aapa96/lpress.html Journals/newsletters • Page Two, Inc. This searchable site contains two helpful online publications for book artists. The first, The Book Arts Directory, is an online listing of international printers, artists, publishers, galleries, and other resources. The second, The Book Arts Classified, is “a quarterly publication containing ads for an assortment of books, paper, equipment, and supplies; as well as listings for conferences, workshops, exhibitions, and calls for entry.” While current issues of The Book Arts Classified are available by subscription only, back issues since January 1999 are freely accessible online. The site also features a photo gallery of book artists’ works. Access: http://www.bookarts.com/. • Printing History. Produced by the American Printing History Association (APHA), this journal is appears twice a year and is available via membership to the organization. The journal’s Web site offers selected articles (in PDF), as well as an article table of contents and an author/subject index. Access: http://www.printinghistory.org/htm/journal/index.htm. Notes About the Author © 2004 Cynthia L. Gregory |
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list. Its large collection of annotated links and reference information covers topics such as binding tutorials, educational opportunities, book arts organizations, exhibitions, reference, and FAQs. The site is also the home of the BOOKARTS-L electronic list. Access: 
• Bay Area Book Artists (BABA). BABA’s Web site includes membership information, a schedule of meetings, an annotated listing of Web links, and exhibits and workshop listings. In addition, the “Gallery” section provides color images of members’ work. BABA, along with Foothill College, also sponsors the annual “Book Arts Jam.” Access: 
informative Web site provides brief background information on miniature books and offers articles, miniature book publishers and dealers’ listings, MBS membership information, and details about the annual Miniature Book Conclave. Access: 
collectors, dealers, creators, and lovers of the fine publishing arts.” Among its many features is a gallery of online exhibit space for book artists. The Colophon’s Forum encourages discussion among those interested in any aspect of book arts. Access: 
• American Printing History Association (APHA). The APHA formed in 1974 “to encourage the study of printing history and its related arts and skills.” Its Web site offers selected articles (in PDF) from the association’s journal, Printing History, as well as an article table of contents and an author/subject index. Also found here are listings of regional chapters, the APHA’s background and history, and information on sponsored events and programs, such as the annual APHA conference or Lieberman lecture series. Access: 
helpful online resource guide of further information and Web links for each published issue. Although the full text of articles is not available online, the site does feature listings of article topics, tables of contents for issues, and back issue and subscription information. Access: 
books. The companion Web site to the journal offers archived articles in Adobe PDF format available from 1997 to 2001. More recent articles from 2002–03 are available selectively. Access: