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Center for the Book

The University of Iowa Center for the Book represents a community of faculty, staff, students, and local book specialists with interests in all facets of book production, distribution, and use. Some members of the center actively research the history and circulation of the book, examining books' role in cultural and historical processes. They also look at how changes in book production affect the way books are viewed as artifacts. Specialists in book arts and technologies study the history and technique of book crafts, including letterpress and offset printing, typography, calligraphy, papermaking, and bookbinding. Others engage in the conservation or production of books, including artists' books and literary fine press publications.

The center offers classes; sponsors lectures, seminars, and workshops; and encourages the exchange of ideas among individuals with interests in the book. A wide range of perspectives on the book as an aesthetic, cultural, and historical artifact is provided by associated faculty, staff, and graduate students in the Schools of Art and Art History and Library and Information Science; the Departments of History, English, and Computer Science; University of Iowa Libraries; the Iowa Writers' Workshop; and other areas. This interdisciplinary membership and the center's facilities combine to provide an exceptional environment for studying the history of the book, its evolution, and its future.

The center collaborates with the Graduate College to offer a graduate-level certificate program. Undergraduate students can add dimension to their majors in English, art, journalism, history, and other disciplines by taking Center for the Book courses in book crafts and book studies. They also may include an emphasis on book arts or on cultural and historical aspects of the book in the interdepartmental studies major.

Certificate

The Certificate in Book Studies/Book Arts and Technologies requires 24 s.h. of course work. It is offered by the Center for the Book through the Graduate College.

The program's principal objectives are to:

• place the interdisciplinary study of book history, arts, and technologies in academic and aesthetic contexts;
• provide a structured program in art, English, history, library and information science, and other departments for graduate students who are seriously interested in book studies; and
• give nondegree, graduate-level students who wish to study the book a framework for their study.

Students have two options in pursuing the certificate. Graduate students enrolled in a degree program at Iowa may work concurrently toward the certificate and an M.A., M.F.A., or Ph.D. Students who wish to pursue the certificate but not a graduate degree may do so with nondegree status in the Graduate College.

Of the required 24 s.h. of course work, at least 6 s.h. must be taken from the academic course list and 6 s.h. from the arts and technologies course list. Required course work also includes a final project--a substantial work supervised by a committee chosen by the student (see the center's publication Final Project Guidelines). For more information, contact the Center for the Book or visit its web site.

Admission

Admission requires active standing in the Graduate College. Applicants submit a statement of purpose and evidence of scholarly or creative work to the center. For more information about admission, contact the Center for the Book.

Financial Support

Students may secure support from University of Iowa sources (contact the Office of Student Financial Aid) or from outside funding agencies. Working assistantships are available at the center's professional production workshops. Internships and part-time work are available to qualified student and nonstudent professionals, especially in the areas of bookbinding, papermaking, and letterpress printing.