On Friday, December 15^th a new exhibit entitled Jump Start: Launching an Artists’ Books Collection opens on the 2^nd floor at the Central Library. The exhibition takes place in the cases in the corridors outside the Art Department and the Print and Picture Collection. A reception open to the public will be held in the Print and Picture Collection from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. At the reception, the cases will be open so that most of the books will be available for perusal (with clean hands or white gloves).

Recently, a collection of 60 artists’ books was donated to the Print and Picture Collection. As a follow-up, the donor challenged the Philadelphia book arts community to match that donation with works of their own. This exhibition is a response to that challenge. Artists include Katie Baldwin, Teresa Bonaddio, Dee Collins, Lauren DeMille, Erin Elman, James Engelbart, Feehan Hammock, Monica Kane, Hedi Kyle, Michael Neff, Tara O'Brien, Caitlin Perkins, Mary Phelan, Rosae Reeder, Jude Robison, Mimi Shapiro, Patty Smith, Eriko Takahashi, Susan Viguers, Elysa Voshell, and Michelle Wilson.

The exhibition dates are December 15, 2006 - February 3, 2007.