On the third floor of the Florida Atlantic University library, lies a treasure trove of art works disguised as books. The Arthur and Mata Jaffe Collection of Books as Aesthetic Objects contains over 4000 books handmade by artists. The books were created more for their artistic merit than content and each one is a mini masterpiece.

The collection was started and donated by Arthur Jaffe and his late wife Mata. Arthur is a curator for the collection and has a hands on role in continuing to grow and exhibit the books. I attended a special exhibition that he arranged and it was delightful to see the books and the joy and pride he took in displaying them.

The books are housed in a 4800 square foot center which is open to the public by appointment. In the atrium right outside of the center, there are continuing exhibitions which are displayed at all times that the FAU library is operating. In addition, many of the books are available for viewing online at http://www.library.fau.edu/depts/spc/jaffe.htm .

Visiting the Arthur and Mata Jaffe Collection is a trip to a combination art gallery and library. It's an enchanting collection and a town treasure for Boca Raton.

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