Miniature Books and Art Exhibit at the M.P. Baker Library

Beginning May 1 until June 28, 2006, the M.P. Baker Library of Panola College will host the Miniature Books Society (MBS) Traveling Exhibit. MBS is an international non-profit organization chartered in 1983 by the State of Ohio. Its purposes are to sustain an interest in all phases of miniature books, to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and to serve as a clearing house for information about miniature books.

In the United States, a miniature book is usually considered to be one which is no more than three inches in size—height, width or thickness. According to the Society, (www.mbs.org) the very first miniature books were one-of-a-kind manuscripts laboriously lettered by monks and scribes on thin sheets of sheepskin (vellum) for devotional use by royalty and persons of wealth. These works represented months or even years of work. Queen Anne Boleyn was said to have carried a tiny gold-bound book of psalms at her execution. Queen Elizabeth I published her own miniature book in 1570 with six of her prayers, translated into French, Greek, Italian, and Latin. Miniature books are published in many parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Russia, Japan, Canada, Mexico and elsewhere.

“Our community will have the opportunity to view the MBS Traveling Exhibit from May 1 until June 28, 2006,” said Zeny Jett, Director of Library Services. “In conjunction with this event, Mrs. Ann Boland’s art class and Mrs. Teresa Beasley’s photography class will be exhibiting paintings, ceramic pieces, and photographs produced by students this semester. These art pieces will be on display from May 1 -12, 2006.”

The MBS Traveling Exhibit presents fine miniature books along with photographs of collectors, designers and publishers as a way of promoting MBS. The exhibit is traveling from the Cushing Library, Texas A & M University to M.P. Baker Library, Panola College and then on to Harland Hatcher Graduate Library of the University of Michigan.

“The Miniature Books Traveling Exhibit, combined with the art and photography presentations are well worth a visit, said Jett. “I would like to extend an invitation to our community, especially our local schools, to come out and tour the displays. They are open to the public and free of charge. For further information, please call 903-693-2005.