+ Close to Home: Artist book resources in CU, Chicago and Further Afield Rachel Suntop LIS490BA Summer 2014

+ Book Arts Co-op This organization serves as a link between students and the book arts organizations Soybean Press and Fresh Press, facilitating the use of book arts equipment and organizing workshops, trainings, and events. The studio is located at 2116 Griffith Drive in Champaign, IL. Facebook page: Tumblr page is

+ The Soybean Press The Soybean Press is a collaborative effort of several institutions at the University of Illinois. Founded in 2007, the Soybean Press offers classes, workshops and seminars on printing and bookmaking with particular emphasis on letterpress printing. Both traditional and cutting-edge techniques are utilized. Important collaborative efforts include Audrey Niffenegger and Combat Paper Initiative.

+ Fresh Press Studio The Fresh Press is an agricultural fiber paper-making research studio founded by Steve Kostell: Papers are made from 3 primary sources: agricultural (prairie grasses, corn stover, straw, etc), agricultural waste fibers (soy, wheat, etc.) and reclaimed wood fiber-based papers from campus recycling.

+ The Champaign-Urbana Edible Books Festival This annual event, sponsored by the University Library, takes place at the University YMCA in Champaign, IL. Anyone is allowed to enter a book, as long as it is edible. Several winning entries are selected in various award categories, including best visual presentation, most appetizing, funniest/punniest, best collaborative creation and people’s choice.

+ Zine Libraries in CU and Chicago The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center has a small zine library Chicago has two zine libraries: the Read/Write Library and the DePaul Zine Collection

+ Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection School of the Art Institute of Chicago This collection was established in 1989 and consisted of 1,300 items, acquired or donated to the library since the 1960s. Today, there are over 6,000 artworks. The website provides a comprehensive online directory and abilities to search through multiple access points. libraries.saic.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/jfabc libraries.saic.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/jfabc

+ The Center for Book and Paper Arts Columbia College Chicago The center is dedicated to the research, teaching and promotion of the book arts and hand papermaking as contemporary art media. It offers exhibits, artist residencies, workshops and public programs. paper/artists-books--fine-art-prints.php paper/artists-books--fine-art-prints.php

+ Columbia College Chicago Library Artists’ books include graphic novels, paper arts collections and pop-up books. Some are autographed. In order to see the collections, you need to make an appointment during business hours. Contact

+ An independently owned bookstore that sells independently-published and small press books, comics, zines and ephemera. They favor the unusual, aberrant, saucy and lowbrow. They opened in At Quimby’s, you can consign your own zines and artist books. Quimby’s Bookstore, Chicago

+ The Journal of Artists’ Books (JAB) This biannual journal is published at the Columbia College Center for Book and Paper Arts. It showcases artistic works ranging from single pieces to series. It was first published in 1994 and has a provocative and somewhat controversial history. It started in New York but in 2006 the press moved to Chicago. JAB plays an active role in the critical and theoretical review and discussion of artist books.

+ Herron Art Library, Indianapolis Indiana University-Purdue University This collection contains approximately 400 fine press and artists’ books. The website provides an educational video about the library collections: embedded&v=GInzCtLb418https:// embedded&v=GInzCtLb418 The collection is available to faculty, students and visitors during operating hours.

+ Fine Arts Library Indiana University-Bloomington This library contains an uncataloged list of over 1000 artists’ books on reserve at the circulation desk. The list is arranged alphabetically by artist name. Additionally, the collection includes anthologies and sourcebooks, journals, exhibition catalogs and materials on how to construct artists’ books.

+ Kohler Art Library University of Wisconsin-Madison This collection started in the early 1970s and now has more than 800 titles. It includes a broad range of creative work from more than 150 presses and artists from around the world. Artists include Julie Chen, Johanna Drucker, Clarissa Sligh, Buzz Spector and Barbara Tetenbaum. An online exhibit “Artists’ Books from the Kohler Art Library” is available at

+ The University of Iowa Center for the Book A unique program that conjoins the art of bookmaking with research into the history and culture of books. Studios in letterpress printing, bookbinding and papermaking. The Center for the Book offers the widest range of book arts courses in U.S. higher education. Watch the film about the center

+ Morgan Conservatory Cleveland, Ohio This non-profit art center is dedicated to the production and preservation of hand papermaking and the art of the book. The center offers workshops, exhibitions and special events. The center includes a bindery, paper studio, letterpress area and art lab.

+ Minnesota Center for Book Arts This large center’s mission is to “lead the advancement of the book as an evolving art form.” The center offers a wide variety of opportunities including workshops, exhibits, events, programs, internships, artist residencies, studio rental, mentorship and much more. The initial idea started in 1983 and the center opened to the public in It moved to a larger space in