1989: Division III
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Eccentric Books.

By Gay Walker.

New Haven, CT: Yale University Library, c1988.

62 p., with pop-up covers.

The term "eccentric book" is fully explored in this catalog. Pulling from the rich resources of several Yale University Libraries, Ms. Walker explores the genre of eccentric books from artists' books to children's books, from technical manuals and training manuals to poetry books and planning guides. Displaying books that change shape, fold out or in, make a noise or a smell, the exhibition was designed to "whet the viewer's appetite to see more ... [of these] oddities that delight, entertain, instruct, and inspire." In addition to surveying the history of this genre, the catalog provides a useful classification scheme and extensive bibliography.

The theme is carried through in the design of the inexpensively produced catalog. "Constructed" by Gay Walker, of the Arts of the Book Collection at Yale University, it features pop-ups, cut-outs, and a fold-out of its own.

Colophon: "This catalog was produced on a home computer and printed out on a laser printer; then imposed, reduced, and photocopied on a Kodak 85 onto Xerox XXV Archival Bond acid free paper; the covers were printed at the wild wood press; the binding was done by hand; all by the author; only 150 or so copies were made. january 1988 number 40" Catalog produced in conjunction with an exhibition held January — March 1988, in Sterling Memorial Library, Yale University. Division Three Winner, 1989. Exhibited courtesy of the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin. (EC)

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