Every year, the Bibliography Room in the Robertson Davies Library at Massey College offers an apprenticeship opportunity for members of the Massey community to learn letterpress printing with the College Printer, working with the Library’s collection of 19th century iron printing presses.
The Massey College Printing Apprentices will assist the Printer with designing keepsakes for Massey events, as well as provide tours of the Bibliography Room for guests. Apprentices will have the opportunity to learn the basic skills of typesetting, registration, presswork, distribution, and basic principles of letterpress design. They will also assist in the regular maintenance of the Bibliography Room including sorting spacing, distributing type, general clean-up and other hands-on tasks required to keep the presses in working order.
The term of apprenticeship begins in January 2023 and ends in the Spring of 2023, around the end of the academic term. Selected applicants are expected to promise at least three hours per week during the 2023 Winter Session, working under the instruction of the College Printer.
The Library is currently seeking two Printing Apprentices to begin training in January 2023. To apply, please email a 1-page letter of interest along with a C.V. to College Printer Kit MacNeil at kmacneil@masseycollege.ca. Please write “Massey College Printing Apprentice Application” in the subject line of your email. Applications will be accepted until Sunday, December 4th at midnight.
The accepted Apprentices will be announced by December 15th.
No previous experience is required, but preference will be given to those applicants whose research or coursework would benefit greatly from hands-on experience of this kind, and to those who clearly demonstrate an interest in teaching and educational programming.
Please direct all questions to College Printer Kit MacNeil.
