Multiple programs at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University are involved with Book Arts which brings a rich mix of ideas and mutually reinforcing enthusiasms into exploration of the book as a medium of expression.

Benedictines have for centuries recognized the importance of books for religious and secular learning. Both the Saint Benedict's and the Saint John's monastic communities historically had bookbinding operations as part of their stewardship activities. The CSB/SJU English and Art Departments have well-established classes that address book arts. The CSB Literary Arts Institute has sponsored workshops and research projects on papermaking. CSB has an NEH grant proposal in progress that examines the evolution of the book as a vehicle of meaning. The CSB Library has a growing collection of artists' books and broadsides. SJU's Arca Artium has significant holdings in book design, typography, and illustration, as well as artists' books. The Hill Museum and Manuscript Library has a very active program of preserving handwritten books. And SJU is sponsoring the creation of the Saint John's Bible, a contemporary illuminated manuscript Bible.