ABSTRACT
In special collections library instruction at the Universities of Iowa and Miami (Florida), librarians, artists, and faculty collaborated and applied innovative and diverse approaches to interdisciplinary pedagogy with textual artifacts. Showcasing artists’ books in concert with medieval codices, manuscript materials, and early printed books, students were exposed to, handled, and evaluated material texts. This chapter expands on prior work regarding special collections instruction and also offers new perspectives on the subject: the co-authors are early-career special collections professionals and an award-winning book artist and educator at an esteemed degree-granting book arts program. The chapter features case studies of interdisciplinary instruction handling objects and using experiential and inquiry methods; outreach to zine fairs, community groups, and prison populations; connecting makers and students to collecting and the book trade; and examining how students find commonality in textual artifacts and contemporary works, through materiality, geography, and language.
