About the Centre for the Book
Dr. Donald Kerr and Dr. Shef Rogers co-direct the University of Otago Centre for the Book. Established in 2011, the Centre aims to promote the rich book heritage of the university, city, and country.
The Centre is also proud to have the support of an excellent Advisory Board:
Ms. Anna Blackman, Curator of Archives and Manuscripts, Hocken Collections
Professor Lyall Hanton, Department of Chemistry
Professor Sir David Skegg, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine
Professor Lyn Tribble, Department of English
The Centre’s Focus
Research
To foster research by staff and post-graduate students in the role of the book in cultural and historical processes using Otago’s existing and unique English and Māori resources.
Teaching
To promote use and sharing of the University’s printed research collections to foster cross-disciplinary projects between departments, and to support Dunedin’s offerings in Australasian Rare Book School.
Conferences
To provide a forum for lectures and conferences on the history of the book and print culture, and to encourage national and international exchanges and visiting speakers.
Promotion
To disseminate information and news about Book events, and co-ordinate meetings with other book-focused institutions locally, nationally, and internationally.
Publications
To foster publications related to book history/print culture, including textual editing and bibliography.
To support existing publications:
- the annual creation of the Otakou Press Printer in Residence programme at the University Library
- the New Zealand Colonial Texts reprint series of pre-1930 New Zealand fiction in the English Department
- Script & Print, the quarterly research journal of the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand
Workshop Technologies
To offer workshops on letter-press and etching press printing, as well as develop further the Otakou Press print resources.
Download a brochure about the Centre and its activities.