Center for the Book | Graduate College | The University of Iowa

two student carving wax tablets sitting across a table from one another

The Center for the Book

Bookbinding, Letterpress Printing, Papermaking, Lettering Arts, Artists Books, Book Design, and Historical & Cultural Book Studies.

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A distinctive degree-granting program that integrates training in book arts practice and technique with research into the history and culture of books.

Facilities

We offer a wide variety of experiences in bookbinding, letterpress printing, papermaking, lettering arts and more.

Student Handbook

References for procedures, policies and resources for all UICB students.

Graduate study opportunities

The UICB offers an MFA degree and a graduate certificate in book studies or book arts.

Learn more

A person inspecting a print in front of a printing press.

The Center for the Book is an innovative arts and research program dedicated to the past, present, and future of the book. The Center pursues a distinctive mission, integrating practice in the art of the book with a study of the book in society. We offer curricula in the arts of printing, binding, papermaking, and calligraphy, in the history and culture of books as a field of study, and in the expressive power of the book form. The Center also supports an active program of visiting lectures and workshops with renowned book scholars and artists.

Interested in learning about our program? We welcome inquiries from prospective students and are happy to set up tours of our facilities and meetings with faculty.

Center news

a view of the oxbow lake at Paper Book Intensive

UICB MFA Student Summer Adventures

Monday, September 29, 2025

UICB's Leonard awarded CBAA Distinguished Career Award

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Julie Leonard, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Iowa Center for the Book (UICB), has been awarded the College Book Art Association's Distinguished Career Award.

An immersion in Japanese paper arts

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Students at the University of Iowa Center for the Book get an in-depth experience with kozo paper, from harvesting to processing to crafting works of art.

Upcoming events

Nadia Sophie Seiler Visiting Book Artist: Shawn Sheehy

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 6:15pm to 7:15pm

University of Iowa Main Library

The University of Iowa Center for the Book, in partnership with the UI Libraries, proudly presents an artist talk with Nadia Sophie Seiler Visiting Book Artist Shawn Sheehy. This free event will take place in Shambaugh Auditorium and is open to the campus community and the public.

“Paper Engineering: Book Arts in Four Dimensions”
Pop-up books capture a reader's attention not only with sculptural form but also with movement through space and time. Join paper engineer Shawn Sheehy as he demonstrates...

UICB Annual Kozo Harvest

Friday, November 14, 2025 9:30am to 4:30pm

UICB Paper Research Facility & Kozo Garden

Join us for the 2025 Kozo Harvest!

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