Join us at the Fisher Library for a new series of workshops to learn bibliographical and research skills on rare books and special collections topics. We will offer six workshops during the Fall and Winter semesters, each one designed to introduce participants to key concepts and methods to working with rare books and special collections.

All the workshops will be held in the Maclean Hunter Room at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library.

All are welcome.

Upcoming workshops - Winter 2024

Introduction to Special Collections

Participants will learn key elements to define special collections today and how to integrate these ideas into research, academic or creative projects, and other interests.

Date and time: 25 January 2024, 6:00-7:30PM
Instructor: David Fernández, Head, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections

Medieval Manuscripts

This workshop will introduce the key elements in the production and use of Western medieval manuscripts. While focused on Europe, it will situate Western manuscripts within a global context.

Date and time: 22 February 2024, 6:00-7:30PM
Instructor: Tim Perry, Medieval Manuscripts and Early Books Librarian

Artists’ Books

At their simplest, artists' books are an artform that uses the book as the medium of artistic expression. This workshop will examine the history of artists' books by looking at both contemporary and historical examples, along with exploring book structures that will test one's precept of what a book is.

Date and time: 21 March 2023, 6:00-7:30PM
Instructor: John Shoesmith, Special Collections and Outreach Librarian

Previous workshops

Fall 2023

Introduction to Rare Books

Participants will learn key elements to define rare books today and how to integrate these ideas into research, academic or creative projects, and other bibliographical interests.

Date and time: 21 September 2023, 6:00-7:30PM
Instructor: David Fernández, Head, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections

Scientific Book Illustration

This workshop will explore the methods that early printers used to illustrate scientific books and how they were used to illustrate a range of complex scientific concepts, from Euclid’s geometry to Copernican heliocentrism to the minute details of human blood vessels. Participants will learn to identify prints made by woodblock, metal plate engraving, lithography and more – while working with some of the most highly illustrated books from the Fisher’s collections.

Date and time: 26 October 2023, 6:00-7:30PM
Instructor: Alexandra Carter, Science and Medicine Librarian

Canada in Print

How have the diverse peoples visiting and living on the lands of Canada embraced print technologies to tell their stories? This workshop will engage participants with examples across a range of eras and formats – from the unusual to the everyday – to learn about Canada’s unique history in print.

Date and time: 23 November 2023, 6:00-7:30PM
Instructor: Grant Hurley, Canadiana Librarian

Registration

Fisher Library Workshops