How was a book made in the age of the hand press, and how can we read the evidence behind that book? What do you need to start a student-centered book arts makerspace, especially when resources are limited?
Applications are now open for two Rare Book School winter 2027 online courses that will explore these questions and more:
G-20v Printed Books to 1800: Description & Analysis
Taught by David R. Whitesell
Course Length: 22 hours
Dates: 6–15 January 2027
Meeting Times: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET
This course is intended for librarians, educators, collectors, booksellers, and others who seek an introduction to the physical aspects of books printed during the hand-press period (i.e., 1450–1830). It covers the identification and description of paper (laid vs. wove, watermarks, sheet sizes); typography (type sizes, fonts, and non-textual material); letterpress composition and printing; illustration processes (relief, intaglio) and their use in hand-press books; bookbinding materials (textile, leather, parchment, paper), methods, and decoration; provenance (personal, library, and book trade markings, inscriptions, and bookplates; the ways in which owners and readers have physically altered books; documenting a copy’s life history); bibliographical description (how to interpret bibliographical descriptions of hand-press books: format, collation, signings, pagination); edition, issue, and state; the use of physical evidence to address broader questions; and online resources concerning pre-1830 books. The course relies heavily on Rare Book School’s rich collection of hand-press books and related artifacts. Learn more.
L-140v Building a BookLab
Taught by Matthew G. Kirschenbaum & Kari Kraus
Course Length: 6 hours
Dates: 12, 14, and 19 January 2027
Meeting Times: 7:00–9:00 p.m. ET
This short course will explore practical approaches and strategies for building a student-centered book arts makerspace—a “booklab”—with an emphasis on institutions with more modest resources. It will be based upon the instructors’ success in jointly conceiving, developing, and directing BookLab at the University of Maryland since 2018. We will explore start-up considerations, such as physical space and budget, as well as essential purchasing. We will cover a range of tabletop letterpress options and discuss how to source type and other printing necessities. In slightly less detail, we will cover how to organize activities, such as bookbinding, papermaking, and zine making, as well as the integration of newer technologies like 3D printing, laser cutting, and potential applications of generative AI. We will devote significant time to curriculum, programming, and community building, as well as the challenges of maintaining and sustaining a booklab—including considerations of financials, funding, and staffing. For all of the above, we will address diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, and physical safety. Learn more.
Please click on a course title above for more information, including how to apply.
For the best chance of being admitted, please submit your application(s) by Sunday, 1 November 2026. Applications received after that date will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all available seats have filled, but classes frequently fill in the first round of admissions decisions.
Applications will be accepted through the myRBS system; instructions for using the site can be found on the landing page once you’ve created an account. Get more information about the application process here. If you have any questions, please contact rbsprograms@virginia.edu.
