Library Mission

Alright, so I'm at the OCAD library and I've started reading one of the books I cited yesterday as a good source (Bookmaking: Editing/ Design/ Production by Marshall Lee) and it's looking to be one of the most valuable sources yet, not only does it talk about the vital information that I'll need (printing techniques - an entire chapter dedicated to explaining the "four principal printing techniques: relief printing (letterpress) [...] Planographic printing (lithography) [...] Intaglio printing (gravure) [and] Xerographic printing" (Lee 207)) but it also includes other very important research information such as the history of bookmaking, the profession, editorial knowledge, prepress...well pretty much everything - it's really got me excited about doing this! I think it would be an excellent investment to buy this book, so I might be getting it sometime over the summer.

I also found two other books at the library that seem to have valuable research information for me;

Bettley, James. The Art of the Book: from Medieval Manuscript to Graphic Novel. London: V & A Publications, 2001. Print.

Williamson, Hugh. Methods of Book Design; the Practice of an Industrial Craft. London: Oxford UP, 1956. Print.

Methods of Book Design is looking to be another gem (AKA a super-important source!) Very much like Lee's book, this one has all the information anyone would ever need about about book design with detailed information about printing methods. The great thing about this book though, is that it talks even more in-depth about the different kinds of printing - it has three separate chapters on the topic: 13 - letterpress blocks, 14 - letterpress printing, and 15 - surface and recess processes.

The Art of the Book is more of an inspirational reference rather than informational one - I originally thought that it would be a good source of historical information but it really just writes vaguely about the chronology of the works presented. But the works do show a progression of style - something that I will be illustrating throughout my own work.