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

Emily Martin wins the 2025 Meggendorfer Artist's Book Prize

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Kimberly Obee

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

a view of the oxbow lake at Paper Book Intensive

UICB MFA Student Summer Adventures

Monday, September 29, 2025

Upcoming events

The William Anthony Conservation Lecture Series presents Anne Hillam

Thursday, February 26, 2026 6:00pm to 7:30pm

Virtual

The William Anthony Conservation Lecture Series invites book and paper conservators and bookbinders to share their experience and work with the UI book arts community and beyond.

Poojana Prasanna's MFA Thesis Exhibition "A Portrait of Home"

Sunday, March 8, 2026 7:00am to 8:30pm

North Hall

Poojana Prasanna's MFA Thesis Exhibition, A Portrait of Home

Exhibition Dates: March 8–13th 2026

Reception: March 10, 5–7pm

Three years ago, I moved from India to Iowa City to pursue the MFA in Book Arts. As I settled down in this new place, the river by the department, the tree behind the Old Capitol, the vibrant colours of fall, the great sugar maple tree I walk past every day, the morphing of days into days and nights into nights on opposite sides of Earth all anchored me to the new life I...

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