Museum of Printing Expands to New Location, Houses Romano Graphics Arts Library
HAVERHILL, Mass.—July 15, 2015—The Museum of Printing, formally based in North Andover, Massachusetts, announced it has secured a new site and will soon begin the process of moving its contents. After 13 years at its current location, the museum is moving to Haverhill, Massachusetts, along Route 495, north of Boston in the Merrimack Valley.
The new building better suits the museum’s evolving mission of education, preservation and exhibition of graphics arts materials and equipment. The new facility is also on a single floor, fully handicapped accessible, with dedicated areas for workshops and lectures. The Museum will also expand its role of hosting educational events
“The relocated facility will house a world class printing and graphic arts library and museum,” said President Frank Romano. “There will be more dedicated space for exhibits, events, and workshops, plus stores for letterpress and related equipment. It will also offer more interactive exhibits.”
Two Libraries in One
A unique feature of the museum will be that it will house two libraries; one for general reference of typographic books, type specimen books and specialty publications. The second will be the Romano Graphics Arts Library for scholars and researchers with over 5,000 books, many rare, plus extensive graphic arts ephemera. Part of the Museum’s collections includes the original type drawings used to create U.S. Linotype fonts.
“The Museum of Printing has existed for 37 years with no endowment. A passionate group of members and volunteers has made this possible. Expanded exhibit space will make the Museum/Library the largest printing and graphics arts museum in the world and the only one with a collection of phototypesetting machines and documentation,” added Executive Director and Founder Kim Pickard.
The museum will remain open at its current location in North Andover, Massacusetts, throughout the summer and fall of 2015. The new facility will open in early summer, 2016. Currently on exhibit is the Lance Hidy retrospective, the Anna Hogan wood cuts and a collection of Mark Fowler prints. A major fundraising program will be inaugurated to upgrade the facility and tailor it to the Museum’s needs.
About the Museum of Printing
The Museum of Printing preserves the past of printing for future generations to understand the impact of printing on today’s world. Showcasing a large collection of letterpress tools and presses, the museum is also proud home to the only collection of historic phototypesetting systems in the world. The 25,000-square-foot museum is also home to one of the largest collections of print-related books, ephemera and typeface art. The museum contains two 90-foot galleries, a large lobby, a library and access to the library’s four floors of archival stacks making it an ideal educational field-trip destination for local school systems.
Source: Museum of Printing.
