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Rochester Institute of Tech Project Digitizes Books on Bookbinding

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 04/02/09

In a touch of high tech irony, a collection of rare books about bookbinding from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has found its way onto two digital book sites. RIT's Bernard C. Middleton Collection, a set of printed resources on bookbinding history and practice, has been digitized and made available through Kirtasbooks.com, a site that sells books printed on demand and that's hosted by Kirtas Technologies, which sells book imaging equipment. The collection is also available on RIT's own Cary Graphic Arts Press Web site.

"We are delighted to participate in this ground-breaking venture with Kirtas," said David Pankow, Cary Collection curator. "Imaging and innovation are the hallmarks of RIT and the Rochester community, and our partnership with Kirtas is another example of that spirit."

Kirtas currently has 12 partnerships with universities and public libraries to make special collections available for sale online. Distribution rights are non-exclusive, so the books can also be made available through other distribution channels at a library's request.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

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