UMD BookLab and the Plaintxt Press
@umdbooklab.bsky.social
Founded in 2018, BookLab is the University of Maryland English Department’s letterpress workshop, book arts studio, and bibliographic makerspace; and the Plaintxt Press is our imprint. Come visit in Tawes Hall 3248.
We make small language models.
We make small language models.
Happy to lend a hand! 🏳️🌈
some of my queer media students with the broadsides we printed in BookLab last week--- quote from QUEERS READ THIS! (1990): "The revolution could be here if we started it"
(shared w/ permission)
(shared w/ permission)
April 14, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Happy to lend a hand! 🏳️🌈
Wanna buy us some ink? Today is UMD’s big campus-wide fund raiser!
The BookLab Fund (please write in "BookLab"), which supports @umdbooklab.bsky.social through student & community workshops, visits from artists & scholars, and hands-on, immersive activities such as bookbinding, printing with traditional metal and wood type, papermaking, & much more: go.umd.edu/1x1y
Give to Your Choice - College of Arts and Humanities | Giving Day
I’m ready to support Your Choice - College of Arts and Humanities on March 5, 2025 during Giving Day. Learn more about Your Choice - College of Arts and Humanities
go.umd.edu
March 5, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Wanna buy us some ink? Today is UMD’s big campus-wide fund raiser!
Today the MAKING WORDS students worked cooperatively on three different presses to print this 1935 Walter Benjamin quotation on a multi-layered background. They turned out awesome.
February 20, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Today the MAKING WORDS students worked cooperatively on three different presses to print this 1935 Walter Benjamin quotation on a multi-layered background. They turned out awesome.
LET’S GO
February 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
LET’S GO
NOX day (by Anne Carson) is always a favorite.
February 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
NOX day (by Anne Carson) is always a favorite.
ChatGPT as tactical media. A little bit of resistance printing today by @kmkraus.bsky.social . All handset type.
January 20, 2025 at 9:18 PM
ChatGPT as tactical media. A little bit of resistance printing today by @kmkraus.bsky.social . All handset type.
Reposted by UMD BookLab and the Plaintxt Press
Me demonstrating the resiliency of a single piece of paper that went through a press in @umdbooklab.bsky.social for ~40 unique, overlapping impressions
December 13, 2024 at 6:57 PM
Me demonstrating the resiliency of a single piece of paper that went through a press in @umdbooklab.bsky.social for ~40 unique, overlapping impressions
Some of the work on display yesterday at our Wayzgoose.
December 13, 2024 at 1:15 AM
Some of the work on display yesterday at our Wayzgoose.
Aww. 😘 Never say never!
Today’s my last shift working at @umdbooklab.bsky.social, where I’ve worked for 1/6 of my life (!!!). It was especially nice to work with our letterpress & book arts interns this semester, whose work I am so, so excited to see at our Wayzgoose on Wednesday 🥰
December 9, 2024 at 7:06 PM
Aww. 😘 Never say never!
One of our interns so dedicated they are OUT MAKING PAPER in this weather. (We all but forbade it.)
December 6, 2024 at 7:03 PM
One of our interns so dedicated they are OUT MAKING PAPER in this weather. (We all but forbade it.)
It’s that time of year again.
December 2, 2024 at 5:05 PM
It’s that time of year again.
First work on our new sign press (and a bit of an homage to its retail provenance).
December 1, 2024 at 8:56 PM
First work on our new sign press (and a bit of an homage to its retail provenance).
A certain slant of light . . . welcome to our newest addition, a Morgan Sign Company Line-o-Scribe with a 14x22” print bed, our largest yet. This particular press was used in a family-owned hardware store in Georgia until recently.
November 25, 2024 at 9:20 PM
A certain slant of light . . . welcome to our newest addition, a Morgan Sign Company Line-o-Scribe with a 14x22” print bed, our largest yet. This particular press was used in a family-owned hardware store in Georgia until recently.
Reposted by UMD BookLab and the Plaintxt Press
Gradually filling up the galley tray. If you're not here don't get out of sorts, just ask!
November 15, 2024 at 3:40 PM
Gradually filling up the galley tray. If you're not here don't get out of sorts, just ask!
Reposted by UMD BookLab and the Plaintxt Press
CFP for the 3rd annual (!!) Queer Bibliography symposium. @18thcenturysam.bsky.social & @elizaaudacis.bsky.social have worked so hard organizing this!
📚 full cfp here: bit.ly/QueerBib2025
📁 submission form here: bit.ly/QB2025Propos...
This call will close 31 January 2025. Share widely & submit!
📚 full cfp here: bit.ly/QueerBib2025
📁 submission form here: bit.ly/QB2025Propos...
This call will close 31 January 2025. Share widely & submit!
November 15, 2024 at 8:01 PM
CFP for the 3rd annual (!!) Queer Bibliography symposium. @18thcenturysam.bsky.social & @elizaaudacis.bsky.social have worked so hard organizing this!
📚 full cfp here: bit.ly/QueerBib2025
📁 submission form here: bit.ly/QB2025Propos...
This call will close 31 January 2025. Share widely & submit!
📚 full cfp here: bit.ly/QueerBib2025
📁 submission form here: bit.ly/QB2025Propos...
This call will close 31 January 2025. Share widely & submit!
Hello Bluesky! We’ve been parked here for a while but this account will be becoming more active.
Founded in 2018, we are the U. of Maryland English Dept.’s letterpress and makerspace for book arts. We like good trouble.
Follow us for updates; we would love to be included in your starter packs!
Founded in 2018, we are the U. of Maryland English Dept.’s letterpress and makerspace for book arts. We like good trouble.
Follow us for updates; we would love to be included in your starter packs!
November 13, 2024 at 4:18 PM
Hello Bluesky! We’ve been parked here for a while but this account will be becoming more active.
Founded in 2018, we are the U. of Maryland English Dept.’s letterpress and makerspace for book arts. We like good trouble.
Follow us for updates; we would love to be included in your starter packs!
Founded in 2018, we are the U. of Maryland English Dept.’s letterpress and makerspace for book arts. We like good trouble.
Follow us for updates; we would love to be included in your starter packs!
Big congrats to our longtime colleague and friend! english.umd.edu/news/dylan-l...
Dylan Lewis Named to Andrew W. Mellon Society of Fellows in Critical Bibliography
By Chloe Kim English doctoral candidate Dylan Lewis has been named to the Andrew W. Mellon Society of Fellows in Critical Bibliography, a prestigious community of scholars housed at the Rare Book Scho...
english.umd.edu
April 23, 2024 at 4:41 PM
Big congrats to our longtime colleague and friend! english.umd.edu/news/dylan-l...
Check out Nat McGartland and other fab folks in this gathering of emerging letterpress artists and activists: partnersinprint.org/event/print-...
Print Futures: Spring 2024 • Partners in Print
The next Print Futures is Apr. 7, 2024. This online program spotlighting emerging letterpress printers is free to attend. Co-produced by PiP & LEAD.
partnersinprint.org
March 20, 2024 at 1:35 AM
Check out Nat McGartland and other fab folks in this gathering of emerging letterpress artists and activists: partnersinprint.org/event/print-...
Open hours this semester! Wednesdays 12-2 and Thursdays 10-2. Tawes 3248.
February 9, 2024 at 12:34 AM
Open hours this semester! Wednesdays 12-2 and Thursdays 10-2. Tawes 3248.
Congrats to BFF Dr. Christina Walter on this amazing write up about her office and curio collection! today.umd.edu/a-peek-insid...
A Peek Inside … English Professor Christina Walter’s Office
With Collection of Optical Toys, Seeing Isn’t Always Believing
today.umd.edu
January 30, 2024 at 5:09 PM
Congrats to BFF Dr. Christina Walter on this amazing write up about her office and curio collection! today.umd.edu/a-peek-insid...
Just a typical day in BookLab, with two generations of Drs. Chico sharing treasures of the centuries (and of Spain’s Rastro market). Thank you to everyone who turned out!
November 15, 2023 at 9:25 PM
Just a typical day in BookLab, with two generations of Drs. Chico sharing treasures of the centuries (and of Spain’s Rastro market). Thank you to everyone who turned out!
Happening Wednesday! A cabinet of curiosities and table talk. Free and open to all.
November 14, 2023 at 1:53 AM
Happening Wednesday! A cabinet of curiosities and table talk. Free and open to all.