Discover the Book Arts Workshop, a vibrant and unique part of the Dartmouth campus offering students, faculty, and community members the opportunity to explore the arts of bookbinding, printing, and typography.

The Book Arts Workshop is currently open to community members, staff, faculty and students. Face coverings are welcome, but not required.

About

Learn about books with historical and contemporary mediums, including letterpress printing, digital design and hand-bookbinding. From creating sturdy journals or pop-up books, to printing images from low relief objects, students are encouraged to utilize the Workshop’s bindery, presses, and wide selection of metal and wood typefaces to bring life to their own projects. We offer faculty and curricular support as well.

Find out more about our wide variety of classes and events occurring throughout the year at the Book Arts Workshop, take a tour of the studio, or stop by during our open studio hours. No previous experience is necessary, and all materials and equipment are provided.

Join the Dartmouth Book Arts Listserv and get weekly reminders for when our Open Studio sessions, classes and special events are happening.

Faculty & Curricular Support

students around the table with parchment and papyrus lesson

As a valued part of the Dartmouth experience, the Book Arts Workshop is available to faculty for curricular support, collaboration, and co-teaching. Over the years we’ve hosted classes from many departments; including English, Studio Art, Russian, Computer Science, and Environmental Studies, to tailor instruction around projects of varying length: from one session to the entire term.

If you’d like to use the workshop for an upcoming class, please contact Sarah M. Smith who can assist you in designing the exercise, confirming schedules, and obtaining any necessary supplies. This set of questions will help with planning for your project. If a full class visit isn’t possible, we always welcome the use of the workshop by individual students to complete coursework during open studio hours.

Book Arts Events

Apr
07
Letterpress Orientation 3:30pm - 6:00pm
Apr
11
Letterpress Orientation Lite 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Directions

The Book Arts Workshop Studios are located in Baker Library, Rooms 21-25 (west entrance, lower level, around the corner from the Orozco murals).  The Bindery Studio is in Baker Room 21 and the Letterpress Studio is in Baker Room 23. Room 25 (also known as the "Ampersand Room") is a resource room with books on books, computer, printers and a door to the Book Arts Workshop Program Manager's office.

You'll find a Baker Ground Level link on our Floor Guides page.