Leah Mackin
Book Arts & Preservation Librarian, Assistant Professor
- email: pvdv4v@jmu.edu
Building: Carrier LibraryMSC: 1703
Departments: Academic Engagement Unit, Digital Scholarship & Distinctive Collections Department
Pronouns: She / Her / Hers
About me
As Book Arts & Preservation Librarian, I lead the Book Lab, a working preservation space and site of active learning for the JMU community, within JMU Libraries’ Digital Scholarship & Distinctive Collections department. I oversee the care of library collections through craft-based conservation, ensuring that materials can be safely used for research and instruction while supporting their long-term preservation. I develop and deliver book arts instruction using our artists’ book collection and other special collections materials, as well as hands-on workshops. My goal is to make the Book Lab a visible, welcoming space for collection care, learning, and public engagement.
Education
Master of Fine Arts in Studio, Printmedia | School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Printmaking + Book Arts | The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
About Profile Photo
Selfie from the mirrored slipcase of JMU Libraries’ copy of Ed Ruscha’s Every Building on the Sunset Strip (1966).
About Academic Engagement Unit
We welcome people to the Libraries and help facilitate their experience by staffing the Libraries’ buildings and supporting people on their journey of inquiry. We answer and refer questions via Ask the Library, provide instruction sessions and consultations, and leverage our expertise to develop and provide access to scholarly collections, including special collections. Departments include Access & User Services, Digital Scholarship & Distinctive Collections, and Research & Education Services.
About Digital Scholarship & Distinctive Collections Department
We encourage exploration of history and cultural heritage through unique resources and innovative research methods. We collect, preserve, and share rare books, manuscripts, and archives in tangible and digital formats. We partner with students, educators, scholars, and communities to record, engage, and understand the past. We foster active learning with the oldest sources of knowledge and the newest technologies. Balancing responsible stewardship with inquiry and experimentation, DSDC is a site of curiosity and creativity at JMU, open to all.