Workshop Fee (includes materials fee): $225
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Bookbinding Core Certificate Program

The San Francisco Center for the Book celebrates the craft and art of bookbinding. Our Bookbinding Core Certificate Program introduces students to four different binding models, leading them through the history and evolution of bookmaking.  It provides students a comprehensive foundation to delve into the practice of binding and qualifies them to rent studio time in our bindery. Core classes must be taken in order, 1 through 4.

Click here to learn more about the Bookbinding Core Certificate Program and how to receive a discount!

Bookbinding Core 1 :: Coptic Binding

To paraphrase Lewis Carroll, we begin at the beginning. This, the first of our Core Bookbinding series, introduces students to the craft with the Coptic stitch, one of the earliest structures in binding. Students will spend the morning making their own decorative pastepapers, then use them in the afternoon when binding their book.

In addition to coming away with a finished book made by hand, students will also be introduced to the tools and terms of bookbinding. Basic practices and equipment will be discussed as students familiarize themselves with both skills and safety measures needed for working in a bindery.

Competencies Gained:

Knowledge:

• Basic vocabulary of bookbinding tools and equipment
• Basic bindery practices and procedures
• Understanding paper grain

Skills:

• Folding, pressing, piercing, sewing, cutting and gluing

Equipment:

• Board shear, nipping press, hand tools

>> Prerequisite: None <<

Materials to Bring: None. All tools and materials will be provided. Students with their own bookbinding tools are welcome to bring them.

Date & Time: Saturday, January 25, 2025 :: 9:30am-5:30pm

Location: 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103

NOTE: Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class. Registration will close approximately three days prior to the start date of the workshop to allow the instructor time to prep materials for class. We recommend you not wait to register, as workshops that don't meet our minimum enrollment will be canceled, sometimes as much as a week in advance.
 

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About the Instructor | Nina Eve Zeininger (they/them)

Nina Eve Zeininger {they/them/mx.} is a paper artist, budding book historian, and knowledge management professional. They hold a BFA in Photography from the San Francisco Art Institute with a focus on historic processes and an MLIS from Indiana University with a focus on Book History. Their art is concentrated on bookmaking, photography, and letterpress printing and is infused with nature, bright colors, and sarcasm. Their book history research centers on diverse representation and equality in information access, Readers’ Advisory, and inclusive & reparative description.

After growing up in New England, Nina headed west for college and still hasn’t found a good reason to leave the Bay Area. By day Nina’s time is spent making information accessible and connecting teachers and students with the resources they need to teach and learn. On nights and weekends, Nina morphs into a book arts instructor, researcher, writer, and sometimes even a baker & bartender. Of course no life would be complete without a daily game of fetch played with two giant felines. They dream of writing about books professionally and teaching book history and information science at the college level.

Nina Eve’s artwork and bookish musings can be found at ninaevezeininger.com.

Past Student Reviews:

“The workshop assumed we had no prior experience in bookbinding. Having all the materials was a huge convenience.”

“The steps were clear and comprehensive. There is obvious thought behind the curriculum and the individual skills and tools being introduced.”

“Nina was informative and personable. They were very encouraging and helpful whenever students encountered problems or confusion.”

“Nina is a fantastic instructor, they demonstrate every step very clearly. Great balance at breaking down the various steps to bind the book but also giving us enough space and time to work independently.”