Program Overview

Book Studies

Book Studies is designed to provide pathways for students interested in books as communication, material culture, and artistic media on a global scale. It takes two core approaches—history and theory, and practice—to help students experience how making and creating go hand in hand with thinking and analyzing.

students review books inside a library. — During winter term, students do research on sculptor and Oberlin alumna Edmonia Lewis in the college’s Special Collections.

Photo credit: Zach Christy

Program Facts

Program Type: Minor

Program Director

Ann Sherif,
Professor of Japanese

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Winter Term

Oberlin’s four-week winter term in January encourages students to discover the value of self-directed education. You may pursue individual or group projects that are directly linked to your field of study or explore opportunities unrelated to your major. Complete your project on or off campus.

Student Clubs and Organizations

Student Senate, Chess Club, Solarity, the Oberlin Review—these are among the more than 175 student groups and clubs available to you. From politics to faith and identity, and from special interest to sports, Oberlin has an array of clubs eager for new members, new ideas, and new leadership.

Book Studies Faculty

Book Studies draws its faculty and affiliate faculty from throughout the college to explore this inherently interdisciplinary field of study. Faculty expertise includes the disciplines of art history, fine arts, electronic media, English, East Asian studies, and library and special collections.

Explore Faculty within Book Studies

Laura Baudot

Interim Director, Career Development Center
Valerie Hotchkiss

Azariah S. Root Director of Libraries
Wendy Beth Hyman

Professor of English and Comparative Literature
Erik Inglis ’89

Professor of Medieval Art History
Megan Kaes Long

Associate Professor of Music Theory
James O’Leary

Frederick R. Selch Associate Professor of Musicology
Ann Sherif

Professor of Japanese
Danielle Skeehan

Associate Professor of English and Comparative American Studies
Ed Vermue

Special Collections & Preservation Librarian
Nanette Yannuzzi

Professor of Studio Art, Installation, Sculpture, Book Arts