One of our goals at the Chair of Book Studies is to offer students a hands-on experience and connect with practitioners in the industry and international colleagues and students alike.
Regarding international collaboration, we have close ties to universities in Europe and beyond which teach book history and publishing. We are members of the Association of Publishing Education (APE) through which we can offer students participation in online seminars for publishing students. We participate in international exchanges and an informal publishing pen pal program coordinated by the Graduate Program Book Publishing at Portland State University.
Beyond our Book Studio and meetings with practitioners in the industry, we have organized study trips to the Gutenberg Museum (Mainz) and to Frankfurt Book Fair. We are also currently forging closer ties with the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) and will visit antiquarian book fairs for exchange and new perspectives. In 2024, our students will be participating in the Leipzig and Frankfurt book fairs as part of the “Studium rund ums Buch” initiative alongside other German universities offering book studies programmes.
TRIP TO STUTTGART AND LUDWIGSBURG RARE BOOK FAIRS, 2025
In late January 2025, members of the postgraduate class book studies traveled to the state of Baden-Württemberg with Ellen Barth and Corinna Norrick-Rühl to tour the rare book fairs “Antiquaria Ludwigsburg” and “Antiquariatsmesse Stuttgart.” In Ludwigsburg, students were given behind-the-scenes information from Münster’s own Michael Solder (Antiquariat Solder) as well as by the organizers of the fair. In Stuttgart, the tour was hosted by the Verband der Antiquare and Dr. Markus Brandis. Dr. Fréderic Spagnoli from Besançon’s MA course Rare Books and Digital Humanities joined the Münster group for both tours to inaugurate a closer cooperation between our two MA programs. We are already looking forward to the fairs in Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg in January 2026 and the ILAB congress planned for Berlin in September 2026!
A report by Daniela Batarilo, Thea Clasen, and Sofia Funtikova
There is no better place for book lovers and professionals to be than Frankfurt in October, during the world’s largest trade book fair. This year, students from the University of Münster's Chair of Book Studies not only attended the Frankfurt Book Fair but also represented the BAPS Master Program with their own booth for the first time. Over the course of five days, the students engaged with visitors and shared insights into Book Studies. Whether with prospective students exploring academic options, parents seeking information, or curious attendees stopping by, the booth became a hub for meaningful conversations.
Famous for bringing together authors, publishers and other industry professionals, as well as book fans from all around the world, the Frankfurt Book Fair offers a space to explore the latest bestsellers, marketing strategies, and innovations in the book industry. For our students, the fair provided a behind-the-scenes look at publishing and a perfect opportunity to network with industry members, some of which even stopped by the booth.
The Book Studies program was part of “Studium rund ums Buch,” a larger booth co-hosted by the Frankfurt Media Campus, where book-related programs from around the country came together to present what their respective universities have to offer. This collaborative setup allowed students to connect with attendees, as well as other students, through casual conversations, structured program presentations, and entertaining activities. At the University of Münster’s booth, visitors could contribute to a community zine, take part in a quiz, or exchange book recommendations through the “take-a-rec, make-a-rec” game. These activities proved to be a fun way to engage with the fair visitors and created a welcoming environment for them to learn more about the program and to chat about their favorite books. Therefore, most left not only with new reading ideas but also with a better understanding of the Book Studies program.
Furthermore, our students participated in a daily academic panel where university representatives provided insights into the benefits of studying at their institutions. These sessions included information about their academic programs, respective cities and overall campus life. This interactive panel was particularly valuable for prospective students, offering them the opportunity to learn more about what could become their future university.
In addition to the booth activities, the students had the chance to attend workshops and panel discussions on a wide range of topics. These sessions covered areas such as digital publishing trends and challenges faced by international authors and publishers, as well as current politics and culture within the publishing industry. The Frankfurt Book Fair hosted 4,300 exhibitors, with booths from all around the world, highlighting the diversity of this fair and the opportunities it provides.
Moreover, the fair featured keynote speeches by famous authors and industry leaders and provided an opportunity for valuable insights for our students. For example, the head of German publisher Klett-Cotta spoke as part of a panel on independent publishing around the world. A panel on BookTok and pop literature discussed the buying habits of young readers, and how the internet helps to keep people reading. Another highlight was the German Book award, as well as the BookTok awards.
During the weekend the fair also featured readings by popular authors, such as Lauren Roberts (Powerless) and Frank Schätzing (Der Schwarm). Münster students had the chance to attend an after-fair event, hosted by the Luxemburg publishing booth, facilitating interesting conversations on literary prizes outside of Germany, as well as publishing practices in smaller countries and by independent publishing groups. This provided an opportunity to connect with other industry professionals, while also reflecting on the fair.
In addition to the professional benefits, the fair provided a memorable cultural experience. The vibrant atmosphere, the bustling energy of attendees, the colorful displays of books from around the world, and the passion for literature left a lasting impression on everyone involved. For the students, this environment was both inspiring and exciting, supporting their passion for the field of Book Studies.
The University of Münster’s Book Studies program, being the only one in Germany taught entirely in English, offered a distinctive perspective for future students. This unique aspect of the program was a major draw for visitors, many of whom expressed interest in pursuing studies at the university. For current students, the fair was an invaluable opportunity to deepen their understanding of the book industry. It allowed them to explore facets of the publishing world, some of which they had previously known little about. The booth provided a space for many interesting conversations and who knows, maybe some of the book lovers we talked to will join us in Münster next year!
This March, members of the Book Studies Team had the opportunity to represent the MA BAPS and NTNS programs at the Leipzig book fair. They did so as part of the joint booth "Studium rund ums Buch", which is a cooperation of book-related degree programs from Stuttgart, Mainz, Munich, Leipzig and Münster. The visit was organized by the Chair of Book Studies, and this was our first time at Leipzig book fair.
A field trip to the antiquarian book fairs was organized in coordination with the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) in June 2023. In addition to touring the book fairs and attending events in Ludwigsburg, the group also visited the award-winning Stuttgart City Library.
In October 2023, students visited the Frankfurt Book Fair for the second time. In addition to exploring the various halls and attending talks, the book fair also presented opportunities to network with students specializing in Book Studies / Buchwissenschaft from other German universities.
In October 2022, the Book Studies team along with MA BAPS and NTS students attended the Frankfurt Book Fair for the first time. Highlights included a guided tour of the Guest of Honour Pavilion (Spain).
