“The Making of the Book: Five Centuries of Hand Bookbinding” opened this week in the library’s C.K. and Teresa Tseng Gallery, located on the 2nd floor of the west wing.

“The new Oviatt exhibition shows the development of the art and craft of bookbinding and binding decoration from the 15th to the 19th century, with examples from the Oviatt Library’s Special Collections and stunning works loaned by the Guild of Book Workers in California,” said Tony Gardner, the library’s curator of Special Collections and Archives.

The demand for bound books increased dramatically with the invention of printing in the mid 15th century. Progressing over the next five centuries, it led to the culmination of mechanized binding in the 19th century.

The exhibition will include equipment and tools used by hand bookbinders.

Well-known master binder Tini Miura will display her technique and expertise in a bookbinding presentation at an opening reception on Thursday, April 27, at 6 p.m. Members of the Guild of Book Workers in California also will display their bookbinding skill and decorating craft.

The exhibition is sponsored by Gus and Erika Manders and the Friends of the Oviatt Library.

Open during regular library business hours, the exhibit will remain on display until Aug. 4.

For more information, contact Friends of the Oviatt Library at (818) 677-2638 or visit the library’s Web site at library.csun.edu.

The Oviatt Library is home to more than 1.25 million volumes, 3 million microfilms, 125,000 government publications, and subscribes to more than 2,400 periodicals and more than 20,000 electronic databases, journals and books. It also has an extensive historical collection of mixed media, rare books and archives. It serves as the main research facility in the San Fernando Valley.