"Chasing the Paper Canoe," the debut book from Coastal Carolina University's recently established Athenaeum Press, was released April 12.

The new photography book revisits Nathaniel Bishop's trip down the Waccamaw River, first chronicled in a little-known travel book called "Voyage of the Paper Canoe" published in 1878. For the new book, students and faculty from CCU's Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts worked collaboratively to produce a work that embraces new technological formats. In addition to the 120-page book, the project includes a companion website and augmented reality, where readers can download a free mobile app to see some of the photographs come to life as streaming video.

Many of the multimedia components were developed by Marcello Garofalo, a CCU senior majoring in visual arts. "The work on the book has allowed me to experience the collaborative process in publishing on a professional level that far exceeds the typical classroom experience," Garofalo said. The photographs in the book are by 2012 CCU visual arts graduates Tracy Fish and Tim Hodge.

This book represents the mission of The Athenaeum Press -- to concentrate on a small list of high impact projects that integrate student learning with print and digital projects and that involve faculty and community. This threefold commitment to quality, education and community engagement goes well beyond the boundaries of a traditional university press.

The book was launched on April 12 at the Spring Gala at Coastal Carolina University and will be part of the festivities at RiverRead at the Riverfront in Conway on April 20. Books will be available for purchase beginning April 12 at the Chanticleer Store (CCU's campus bookstore) and online at theathenaeumpress.com/papercanoe.

For more information, contact Trisha O'Connor, director of The Athenaeum Press at Coastal Carolina University, at poconno@coastal.edu or 843-349-6652.