Basic training I was born in Kalmthout (Essen)-Belgium in 1960. Originally, I have been trained in ergotherapy in which I graduated in 1983 with a thesis on the significance of hand bookbinding in the revalidation of people recovering from a cerebrovascular accident. In 1985 I received a post graduate diploma of teaching (didactic). During my studies I received all basic courses of physics, chemistry, physiological chemistry, morphology and hygiene (bacteriology, parasitology and virology) on a high school degree level (Belgium A1-level) which I consider to be very useful for further studies on restoration and conservation in general. This knowledge allowed me in many cases to communicate with scientits on a theoretical level (e.g. deterioration of paper, morphology of the goat skin, toxicity of molecules to tissues etc...). I found this very useful to start a multidisciplinar discussion; craft versus theory..

Bookbinding training During the same period I studied during 4 years, elementary fine bookbinding, book design & gold tooling at the Ghent Technical school. Later, over a period of 10 years, I studied several binding techniques from the old and the new Europe and from the Orient (Japanese and Islamic bindings), by intensive training in private workshops of well-known bookbinders and by participation in specialized courses in Belgium and Switzerland. This period of studying offered me a basis of all types of historical binding techniques and tooling. My teachers in fine bookbinding and design were: Karel Storme (Belgium), Albert Janssens (Belgium), Arthur W. Johnson (England), Ole Olsen (Denmark), Jules De Kimpe (Belgium), Ann Brumagne (Belgium), Zaanstra (the Netherlands), Edwin Heim (Switzerland).

Teaching fine bookbinding and tooling Since 1983 I am a teacher at the Department of Bookbinding at the Permanent Education Centre in Ghent (Belgium) were I am teaching fine bookbinding, tooling and decoration techniques. I am sharing with my colleague the practical and theoretical education of about 100 students over a period of a 4 years full-time curriculum. I have taught for short periods at the Library School in Ghent and at workshops on Japanese bookbinding in the Olin Library, Cornell University (New York-USA), and in Tokyo (Japan). I participated in several exhibitions.

For terms used by Bookworkers consult The Dictionary on Bookbinding Terms by Etherington and Roberts.

Book Arts Web features links to a large selection of book arts related sites on the web, including galleries with images. It is also the homepage of Peter D.Verheyen.

Book information website houses a lot of information around books, paper, graphics, ... in all their aspects (production, training, etc...) and has several links to many other book related sites. It is also the homepage of Cor Knops.