Visit the Typographic Library

Established in 2015, the Centre for Printing History and Culture (CPHC) is located across the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University, and has a national and international membership which includes, amongst others, scholars, designers, printers, librarians, archivists, and curators. CPHC provides a local, national, and international means of exchanging information, skills and expertise through research, events, publishing, and other activities. It also fosters partnerships between universities, heritage organisations, independent scholars, businesses, and practitioners to encourage the investigation and understanding of printing history and culture and to promote the exchange of knowledge.

One important aspect of CPHC is the typographic library which is located at Winterbourne House & Garden, part of the University of Birmingham. The library comprises more than 10,000 individual items including books and periodicals, leaflets and journals, and other artefacts concerned with the history of printing. The subjects covered included the machinery and equipment, the industry and its personnel, printing processes, and the design of printed products such as books, newspapers, journals, and ephemera. There are also examples of work produced at schools of printing and an extensive collection of type specimens and books on type and typography.

For more information: www.cphc.org.uk

The Typographic Library is accessible by appointment but on Wed 13 Sept, as part of Birmingham Heritage Week, it will be open to all from 10.30am–4.30pm without prior arrangement. 

Standard admission applies to the site, however there is no additional charge to view the library.

Organised by Winterbourne house and garden & Centre for Printing History and Culture