The Mainz Minipressen Archive (MMPA) has existed in its current form since 1980 and is affiliated with the Gutenberg Museum. The original task of the MMP Archive was to collect the literary products of small and micro printing houses and publishers – also known as mini-presses – whose output, experience has shown, was difficult to find in public libraries and archives. Either the small print runs were not known at all, or they were ignored as "alternative literature."

The MMPA forms a unique collection of books (approx. 6,000), magazines (approx. 2,000 titles in 20,000 issues), press prints (approx. 200), videos (approx. 30), sound recordings (approx. 200), posters (approx. 500), flyers (approx. 1,000), and brochures from small publishers (approx. 30,000). This provides a good overview of their production in German-speaking countries.

Users gain valuable insight into the creation of printed materials and the work of Minipressen. Through seminars at the Mainz Minipressen Fair and further reading, the archive provides initial assistance for self-publishing one's own works or establishing one's own publishing house. In addition, the MMPA also administers the Victor Otto Stomps Prize of the state capital Mainz for outstanding small-scale publishing, which is awarded every two years. And it organizes the Mainz Minipressen Fair, which takes place every two years in Mainz's Rheingoldhalle.