Book Binder

Thornwillow Press, Ltd.; City of Newburgh (NY); On-site; USD 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Thornwillow Press, Ltd. in Newburgh, NY is seeking a Book Binder to join our bindery. We perform all fine bookbinding in-house, including folding, sewing, cloth and leather bindings, and box making, with training provided for enthusiastic candidates.

The role is on-site in Newburgh, with a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:30 to 5:30. The initial training period runs about 3–6 months at $160/day, with increases based on performance and responsibility.

Qualifications

• Experience is not required; training will be provided.
• Ability to work with hands and learn craft skills.
• Enthusiasm, patience and determination with a love of books.
• Reliable commute to Newburgh, NY.

Responsibilities

• Becoming familiar with techniques used at the press and learn to master the craft.
• Delivering top-quality work efficiently and on schedule.
• Updating project reports and schedules.
• Maintaining component inventories.
• Maintaining production workflow and procedures.
• Managing project planning, scheduling and organization.
• Finding ways to improve quality and productivity by modifying workflow and equipment use.
• Training new and less skilled team members.
• Assisting with quality control, packing and shipping during crunch periods.

Skills

Enthusiasm

Manual dexterity

Patience

Team spirit

Love of books

Job description

Thornwillow is a printer and publisher of handmade, limited edition books. We do all of the design, typesetting, letterpress printing, and binding at the press in a complex of 19th-century buildings in Newburgh, NY. We believe that in this age of disposable communications and virtual relationships, beautifully made objects that are designed to last matter. Thornwillow is one of the leading fine press publishers in the world. Our books are in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian, the Metropolitan Museum, and the White House. Our collectors and customers are based all over the world. We are an artisanal enterprise committed to teaching and perpetuating the related arts and crafts of the written word.

Book Binder

We are looking for a full-time or part-time person to join our bindery. In the bindery, we do every aspect of fine bookbinding in-house, from folding and sewing to making paper, cloth, and gold-tooled leather bindings. We also make the clamshell boxes, marble and decorative paste paper in house. Experience is not necessary, as we like to train enthusiastic people and pass on the craft. We are looking for someone with enthusiasm, the ability to work with their hands, patience and determination, and a love of books.

Book Binder responsibilities include:

• Becoming familiar with the techniques employed at the press and working every day to learn and improve one's mastery of the craft.
• Delivering top-quality work efficiently and on schedule
• Updating project reports and schedules
• Maintaining component inventories
• Evolving responsibility for care and maintenance of tools and equipment
• Evolving responsibility for maintaining production workflow and procedures
• Evolving responsibility for managing project planning, scheduling, and organization
• Evolving responsibility for finding ways to improve quality and productivity through modifying workflow, deploying dormant equipment. and expanding the skill base of the team.
• Evolving responsibility for training new and less skilled members of the team
• Help with other ancillary work at the press as needed - including assisting with quality control, packing and shipping during crunch periods. In short, lending a helpful hand even when it is not directly connected to your immediate area of responsibility.

The following skills are will be developed within the scope of work:

• folding & collating
• Sewing
• cloth bindings
• half leather bindings
• full leather bindings
• edge gilding
• stamping and tooling
• leather paring
• marble and paste paper making
• box making
• Solid organization and time-management skills
• Care and attention to detail.
• Excellent manual dexterity and hand skills
• Team spirit.

Job Type: Full-time or part-time

Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:30 to 5:30

Work Location: Newburgh, NY 12550. Candidates must be able to reliably commute to or relocate to this location before starting work.

Compensation & Structure This position begins with a training period (typically 3–6 months) at $160/day, with increases based on performance, ability, and level of responsibility.Positions typically begin at 3–4 days per week, with the potential to grow over time.For candidates with prior experience, compensation may be adjusted accordingly.This is an on-site role at our Press in Newburgh, New York.

For more information, please contact: [e-mail]