Special Collections is part of a community of students, professors, artists, and library staff who study the transmission of ideas and images through the lens of book culture. From medieval manuscripts to contemporary artist books, from early modern prints to tarot decks, and including lead type and linoleum blocks that students print in our studio, if it's on parchment or paper, we're interested.
We host classes from across the curriculum and we teach classes in the ExCollege. We host workshops, lectures, and open houses. We meet with student groups. We offer online and physical exhibits. Readers can see material from our collection by appointment or during open hours. We have a full type cabinet, two printing presses, and traditional-style Asian barens for printmaking, along with ink and paper.
If we have it, you can see it. It does not have to be connected to a class assignment.
Drop in during open hours to see rare books, set and print type, carve an image in a relief block (or print one of ours, many copied from 15th and 16th century books), or try your hand with a quill pen. Tell us what interests you in manuscript, print, and paper culture.
We are open Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00 – 4:00 pm and by appointment in Tisch Library Room 103, at the foot of the main staircase down from the lobby.