Handle With Care

Across Showalter Fountain from the Hope School of Fine Arts where I spend a good amount of each day sits an unsuspecting building fronted by wide steps named the J.K. Lilly Library. Obviously, this being a college campus, libraries are a common sight, attached to almost every classroom building. This being known, the majority of IU students walk by this small building everyday, their eyes captured by the water shooting high out of the fountain or their minds lost in dreams of the weekend ahead. This is not just any library however. What lies inside its walls combine to be worth billions. Indiana University is known world wide for many reasons, such as the Jacobs School of Music, but the Lilly Library may be its best kept secret.

The Lilly Library holds special significance for a student of my major. It's shelves and vault are littered with the best examples of printmaking and bookmaking known to man. From early examples of cuneiform dating to 2000 B.C to the first book printed at an Italian printing press. Looking for an intact version of the first book printed from moveable type? Look know further than Gutenberg's 42 Line Bible proudly displayed in the center of the main room.

Today, I had the pleasure of taking a look at some of their most valuable books from the vaults with my graphic design class. Now, it was amazing, but you could easily look at them yourself. The Lilly Library takes pride in being one of the most user-friendly rare book libraries in the world, allowing anyone with an ID and an address to ask to see any of their thousands of books or 7.5 million manuscripts. Stop in for research, or just to gaze in awe at their incredible collection.

We looked solely at important books in the evolution of the art of print and some pretty priceless (or very valuable pieces.) Namely, we were allowed to marvel at Albrecht Durer's Apocalypse praised for its perfect wood cut images which has an alternate version sold for over $10 million. That's something you can't do at your local library.

I had no clue that this little gem was so closely located to my travels everyday. I had a notion that is had famous books, but my evaluations were not even close to the actuality of the truth. I hope to return soon to ask to read one of the original prints of The Declaration of Independence or George Washington's acceptance speech for the Presidency of the United States, it being the sole copy.

Next time you are in Bloomington, ask me to take to you to the Lilly Library. It's a short trip to take to be in the presence of over 4000 years of printing history. You won't be disappointed.

Tomorrow: Crean and Crimson