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Center for the Book
Funded in part by the Friends for the Public Library, the Center for the Book is a hands-on learning center that presents programs on the history of books and printing to area school children. But the Center is not just for children. Book-related programs and special exhibits from its extensive collections are also open to the public. Located in the Special Collections Library, 423 Central Ave NE, the Center is open to visitors Tuesday through Saturday 10 am - 6 pm.



Center for the Book acquires a fourth Bobcat Press
A scale-model replica of a Gutenberg-era printing press was donated to the Center for the Book by the ¡Explora! Children's Museum. Richard Hicks of Cedar Crest has spent a lifetime hand-crafting working replicas of early printing presses.

1912 Platen Printing Press
In May 2005 Mrs. Georgia Durward of Albuquerque donated the 1912 printing press [5] in memory of her husband, H.W. Durward. Mr Durward was a long-time Albuquerque printer. Built by the Chandler & Price (C & P) Company of Cinncinati, this cast-iron press is a newer model of our 1888 C & P press [4]. Center volunteers and staff are busy restoring the 1912 printing press to its original condition.




Print Shop


A favorite part of the Center is The Print Shop. It functions as a working museum with nine antique printing presses:

Medieval Press - Replica
¡Explora!'s Medieval Press
Large Common Press
1888 Chandler & Price Platen Press - Old Style with "S" spokes on the flywheel
1912 Chandler & Price Platen Press - New Style with straight spokes on the flywheel
Small Common Press
1945 Miehle V-50 Vertical Press
Multilith 85 Offset Pres, ca 1975
Mergenthaler Linotype Model 91, ca. 1925
The Center produces letterpress printing, hand-set in moveable foundry type. Mountains of Books for Sale broadside is the first in a series of fine-art broadsides available for sale. Jane Hellesoe-Henon, an Albuquerque artist and Friends Pricing and Sorting volunteer has created an original linoleum cut which the Center has printed as an 11" x 17" broadside in two formats.
Edition of 75.  Printed on artist's quality mould-made Italian paper, signed by the artist. $35.00
Edition of 250.  Printed on commercial paper. $5.00