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The article profiles Terry Belanger, who retired in September 2009 as director of the Rare Book School, which he founded and where he teaches. It notes that his approach to rare books is that of a mechanic. He is interested in what can be learned from the physical characteristics of rare books and the way they are put together. His students learn to set movable type, print with a press and research bookbinding, papermaking, illustration techniques and typography. His students have gone on to become rare book librarians in major universities. Belanger, it states, is interested in functionality. His approach replaced a fusty worhipfulness towards old books, which he calls pretty book syndrome. He collects flawed specimens so he can take them apart to teach his students how they are made.