Changes coming to Books by Mail: Starting in fall 2025, Books by Mail items will only be shipped to addresses in the contiguous United States 50 miles or further from campus. We will make exceptions for students, faculty, and staff with disabilities. Learn more.

Fisher restoration: Fisher Fine Arts Library is open and operating normally during ongoing exterior work. Find more details about this important restoration project.

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Learn Letterpress Printing, Bookbinding, and Book Arts

Learn a new craft, or expand your books arts skills, with the Common Press Studio! Students, faculty, and staff can attend workshops and book studio time, and faculty can arrange studio tours, workshops and other immersive experiences for classes. Our programs include open studio hours, visiting artists, and community outreach.

Learn more about the Common Press

Upcoming Workshops

More Common Press Workshops
Letterpressing is in process
  • Workshop
July 22, 2025

Studio Use Training: Letterpress Printing

Learn and practice the basics of letterpress printing and typesetting! This orientation is required as a prerequisite for working on independent projects at Common Press.

  • 2:00pm - 4:00pm
  • Common Press, Fisher Fine Arts Library, Lower Level
Open to Penn Students, Faculty, and Staff
Print of a postage stamp, Ben Franklin's signature, 1975, Philadelphia, PA
July 25, 2025

Open Studio: The Post Office Turns 250!

We'll celebrate the 250th birthday of the post office by making mail! Sign up to stop by any time during the event and letterpress print a quote from the first postmaster general Ben Franklin or use our rubber stamp collections to make some mail art.

  • 12:00pm - 2:00pm
  • Common Press, Fisher Fine Arts Library, Lower Level
Open to the Public
Service Category
Audience Groups

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