Artists' Books Guide

This directory will help you locate libraries primarily in the U.S. and Canada with artists' books collections.

Columbia college not only hosts the Center for Book Arts, their library also holds a number of artists’ books.

The Getty Research Institute holds over 5,000 of the best known artists’ books. In 2018 they published a catalogue highlighting many of these holdings entitled “Artists and Their Books / Books and Their Artists”, which can be found at the Pratt Institute Libraries.

This collection holds over 700 artists’ books created by women.

There are over 1000 artists’ books held at the Smithsonian Libraries. The website also has a number of useful blogs related to the subject.

ABC is an international group of artists focused on self-publishing activities and associated issues.

The American Printing History Association (APHA) is a membership organization that encourages the study of the history of printing and related arts and crafts, including calligraphy, typefounding, typography, papermaking, bookbinding, illustration, and publishing. The organization does this through a wide variety of programs and services: the annual three-day conference and Lieberman Lecture series; the oral history project; the fellowship program; the scholarly journal Printing History and other special publications; and the annual individual and institutional awards that honor distinguished achievement in the field of printing history.

The College Book Art Association supports and promotes academic book art education by fostering the development of its practice, teaching, scholarship and criticism.

Designer Bookbinders is one of the foremost societies devoted to the craft of fine bookbinding. Founded over fifty years ago it has, by means of exhibitions and publications, helped to establish the reputation of British bookbinding worldwide. Its membership includes some of the most highly regarded makers in the fields of fine bookbinding, book arts and artists’ books, each with a passion for presenting the bound text as a unique art object.

The Fine Press Book Association (FPBA) is an organization of individuals interested in the art of fine printing, formed with the goal of promoting the appreciation of beautiful books and printing skills.

The Guild of Book Workers promotes interest in and awareness of the tradition of the book and paper arts by maintaining high standards of workmanship, hosting educational opportunities, and sponsoring exhibits.

The Society of Bookbinders is a UK-based educational charity dedicated to traditional and contemporary bookbinding and to the preservation and conservation of the printed and written word. The society is organised into eight UK regions plus a ninth region for overseas members. The UK regions hold regular meetings at which masterclasses, lectures and demonstrations are given on various bookbinding or binding-related subjects and techniques. The regions also hold social events, organise visits and exhibitions and represent the SoB at local book and craft fairs. At a national and international level, the society organises a biennial Education & Training Conference accompanied by an International Bookbinding Competition. A smaller E&T Seminar is held in non-Conference years. Members receive regular Newsletters as well as the society's flagship journal, BOOKBINDER, which is published annually. The SoB also produces educational and documentary bookbinding DVDs.

Since 1976, the American Printing History Association has organized an annual conference on a selected theme in printing history.

The Codex Foundation was conceived in 2005 by Peter Rutledge Koch, fine press printer, and Susan Filter, paper conservator. Its purpose was to create an environment for promoting the book as a work of art. They accomplished this by bringing together the Best of the Best book artists and fine press printers from around the world to share their work, explore new and old concepts, and to start an on-going conversation about the fate and future of the book as an essential art form.

Founded in 2008, the College Book Art Association supports and promotes academic book arts education by fostering the development of its practice, teaching, scholarship and criticism.

The Editions|Artists Book Fair has grown in size and stature to become the premier showcase for contemporary publishers and dealers, presenting the latest and greatest in prints, multiples and artists books. The Editions|Artists Book Fair was the first Fair to offer FREE admission, initiated with the intent of introducing a broader public to the medium of prints, multiples, and artists books.