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Baylor Libraries Book Arts & Letterpress Lab

Welcome to the Book Arts & Letterpress Lab

header image of printing presses and moveable type The Book Arts & Letterpress Lab offers a wide array of experiential, hands-on learning opportunities featuring a variety of resources and tools to explore and learn about many aspects of the art and history of the book.  Here lab visitors can to learn about and experience composing and hand setting text with metal and wood type, operate historic printing presses, and exploring a variety of book arts related activities. The lab includes the Press Room, Type Studio,  Book Arts Studio, and Instruction Space. 

Members of The Book Arts & Letterpress Lab team offer online education with introductory modules and safety training requirements, as well as in-person demonstrations and hands-on training to give students a responsible introduction to the practice of printing by hand. We welcome all members of the Baylor community and the local community to learn about and experience the world of book arts and letterpress printing with us!  

Currently, use of the Book Arts & Letterpress Lab is by appointment and in curricular partnership with faculty members and their students. Use of the presses requires safety and operational training. Our team will offer scheduled workshops in a variety of aspects of book arts and affilated arts, including Introduction to Letterpress workshops. Those who have completed requisite training may make appointments to create their own original work in the lab or work on assigned curricular projects.  

Engagement in the Lab

students setting moveable metal type in the bookarts and letterpress lab type studio
students pulling prints on an iron hand press during class
students pulling prints on an iron hand press during class
students setting moveable metal type in the bookarts and letterpress lab type studio
students pulling prints on an iron hand press during class
a book layout printing form of moveable metal type and copper image plates from the Armstrong Browning Library's Ruskin Collection for an art class
students pulling prints on an iron hand press during class
students setting moveable metal type in the bookarts and letterpress lab type studio
students pulling prints on an iron hand press during class
students setting moveable metal type in the bookarts and letterpress lab type studio
students pulling prints on an iron hand press during class
students pulling prints on an iron hand press during class
students pulling prints on an iron hand press in the press room during class
pulling prints on an iron hand press during class
pulling prints on an iron hand press
pulling prints on an iron hand press during class
students pulling prints on an iron hand press during class
class in book arts and letterpress lab type studio
book arts workshop participants showing their projects
book arts workshop participants
students pulling prints on an iron hand press during class
students pulling prints on an iron hand press during class
library faculty mentorship event in the type studio
class orientation in book arts and letterpress lab press room
inking a printing form on an iron hand press
lab assistant applying ink to a cylinder press
letterpress form on platen press that reads
printing a photo engraving plate on an iron hand press
lab team organizing metal type and spacing material
class orientation in book arts and letterpress lab

University Libraries

One Bear Place #97148
Waco, TX 76798-7148

(254) 710-6702