1. Daily demonstrations of the Gutenberg printing press
All year round there are demonstrations on the hour at 10 and 11 am and at 12, 2, 3 and 4 pm of the Gutenberg printing press in the basement of the museum.
No prior booking is required. Just turn up in the museum basement at the given times and enjoy the show!
On a replica of Gutenberg's original printing press visitors are shown how books and documents were printed during the day and age of Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of moveable lead type. Any questions you may have are answered at the end of the demonstration.

2. Daily film screenings
A film suitable for visitors of all ages on the life and inventions of Johannes Gutenberg is shown at regular intervals in the projection room on the ground floor of the Gutenberg Museum. The film is in German and screened at 9.45, 10.45 and 11.45 am and at 1.45, 2.45 and 3.45 pm. Films in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Japanese are shown on request. Please ring Ms Schäfer or Ms Bürtscher at the main desk on +49-(0) 61 31 – 12 26 44.

3. Action weeks
With the concept of a "living museum" as its motto the Gutenberg Museum stages several action weeks throughout the year. These take place shortly before the summer and autumn school holidays and the school breaks at Christmas and Easter. Come and see bookbinders, illuminators, papermakers and many other experts who work with books, print and type ply their trade! Watch as printers demonstrate how the old printing machines of the 18th and 19th centuries work or print documents on the Gutenberg press using moveable type cast at the museum. Listen as experts on script and type, Sumerologists and book historians explain how the written language was developed or ask them to write your name in cuneiform on miniature clay tablets which you can take home with you. For further details on our action weeks please contact the museum education officer, Ms Ilse Schröer, either by phone on +49-(0) 61 31 – 12 25 64, by fax on +49-(0) 61 31 – 12 34 88 or email at ilse.schroeer(at)stadt.mainz.de or alternatively Dr Inge Domes on +49-(0) 61 31 – 12 23 71 or Dr Claus Maywald on +49-(0) 61 31 – 12 26 41. claus.maywald(at)stadt.mainz.de

4. Special demonstrations
In addition to those held on fixed dates (see the above) there are also special demonstrations staged at irregular intervals in the various sections of the museum. The dates and times of these special demonstrations are published in our calender of events.

5. Workshops
Exhibition and thematic workshops
Several times a year the Gutenberg Museum also puts on a number of workshops, either to tie in with a specific exhibition or independent of such. These workshops are open to all. Fees are levied depending on the cost of the materials required; details can be requested by phone.

Some of the workshops held over the past year include:

• The miniature book (make your own miniature book as a present or keepsake)
• Old books revamped (new designs for old: from the book to objet d'art)
• The different book (study and make your own early "books", from the scroll to the palm leaf book to the folded book)
• Bookbinding made simple (easy bookbinding skills, such as thread binding and side stitching)
• Calligraphy – an open book

The dates of our future workshops are printed in the museum's calender of events. Our museum education officer, Ms Ilse Schröer, is pleased to offer information and advice on our workshops. She can be reached by phone on +49-(0) 61 31 – 12 25 64, fax on +49-(0) 61 31 – 12 34 88 and email at ilse.schroeer(at)stadt.mainz.de

Another person to contact is Dr Claus Maywald:
Phone: +49-(0) 61 31 – 12 26 41
Fax: +49-(0) 61 31 – 12 34 88 [Einfügen auch im Deutschen!]
E-Mail: claus.maywald(at)stadt.mainz.de

6. Workshops at the educational museum workshop (Druckladen)
Our educational printing workshop (Druckladen) gives interested parties and individuals the chance to get to grips with letterpress and gravure printing. Roll your sleeves up and try your luck as a typesetter or printer! School parties and groups can also print on our historic presses (weekdays by prior arrangement). Tel.: +49-(0) 61 31 – 12 26 86.
Thursday is open day at the Druckladen when anyone can come along to the workshop and delve into the world of printing from 10 am to 5 pm.
The Druckladen can be reached by phone on +49-(0) 61 31 – 12 26 86, by fax on +49-(0) 61 31 – 73 70 8.