After it became possible to mass-produce books and other printed matter, some printers still chose to create books by hand. Sometimes demand was too low to necessitate long print runs, but often, these printers wanted to celebrate the craft of bookmaking, and to experience the focus and concentration required to print by hand.
During the second half of the 20th century, some creators began to push at the traditional boundaries of what constitutes a book, creating new structures and styles. The Chapin Library holds a substantial collection of Artists' Books (sometimes written Artist's Books), including pieces created by many of the the book artists listed here.