Book History at Penn State

Scholars who study the history of the book examine scribal and print culture, and their influence on the development and transmission of culture. Academics worldwide have established organizations dedicated to defining the field and to developing curriculums, research centres, and lecture forums in this nascent field. One such organization is the Penn State Center for the History of the Book, established by the author in 1992. The centre aims to teach the discipline, to establish a publication program, and to further promote the field in the university and general communities through lectures, exhibits, and conferences. The centre's activities in studying book history also serve to illuminate the current debate over whether the book as we know it is an endangered species in an increasingly electronic environment.