Is That a Book?

An artists' book is a book or book-like object made by an artist or group of artists. Simple, right? But artists' books aren't like that latest bestseller on the shelf. They're often made by hand using a variety of unusual materials and techniques and are published in limited editions of 100 or less. Artists' books are special.

Your library collects artists' books because they are a vibrant, diverse, and exciting genre of art at a time when books as physical objects are sometimes seen as artifacts of the past. They invite us to explore beyond the traditional book form and to re-examine our ideas of what a book is supposed to be.

Interested in seeing some of TSCPL's artists' books for yourself? See photos of our Books Outside the Binding exhibit on Flickr, or contact Special Collections Librarian Brea Black at 785-580-4512 or bblack@tscpl.org to set up an appointment. Mark your calendars for August 3 – September 21, 2012 for Telling Stories, our next exhibition of artists' books.