Centre For The Book
In 2011, the University of Otago established a Centre for the Book with the purpose of providing a unique centre of excellence in book history, print culture, and investigations into new platforms and models of book publication and distribution.
It fosters new research, promotes book-related activities such as conferences, publications and workshops, and liaises and develops creative partnerships with relevant national and international organisations and businesses.
In 2012, a team of up to 30 scholars, led by five University of Otago staff, began writing A History of the Book in New Zealand, which will form a companion volume to Book and Print in New Zealand (1997) which identified what was known about the history of print in New Zealand. The project will identify key developments in the history of print and describe how they contributed to print’s power to shape New Zealand’s identity, especially the social effects of its influence. This will be published in both English and Māori.