“Caroline’s excellent survey of the book collection at Sissinghurst Castle provided a clear and insightful summary of the collection. The deeper understanding that this provided has been the starting point for a major conservation project.”
— Hester Liakos, Property Manager, Sissinghurst Castle, Kent (National Trust).
“Caroline Bendix provides an excellent conservation service with a special focus on collection-wide conservation. This results in a professional with a greater understanding of the importance of stabilization and cleaning as part of a long-term conservation plan, which in the long term saves money and protects the collection for the future.”
— Rev. Emma Walsh, Librarian, Angus Library, Regent’s Park College.
“Caroline Bendix has led a team of four conservators, annually undertaking a month’s conservation work of the pre-1800 volumes in the Codrington Library since Easter 1989. To date an estimated 13,000 volumes have been cleaned, and boxed or shoed as necessary. Great care has been taken to ensure the volumes have been kept in their correct order.
The work has been undertaken in the library mainly, though not exclusively, when the library is closed to students. Caroline has been happy to answer any questions from visitors to the library, and to demonstrate the methods used – which can differ from volume to volume. At the same time she has been very happy to discuss with our Graduate Trainees methods and materials used in the conservation of books.
We have always been impressed by her professionalism and the care taken with the collection under conservation. Caroline has also advised on the environmental conditions needed to safe guard a collection comprised of many different materials and ages. The most impressive aspect of Caroline’s work in the library is her appreciation and awareness of the collection as a whole, her ability to prioritise, and her holistic approach to conservation.”
— Dr. Norma Aubertin-Potter, Librarian-in-Charge, All Souls College, Oxford.
“Caroline has been a wonderful source of support to us on book conservation issues. She combines a wealth of technical knowledge and years of experience with a very practical approach, tailoring her advice to what we need most and can realistically achieve. Whether she is advising on minor book repairs or on packing and moving an entire library, her assistance is always invaluable and her positive attitude makes even the most daunting task seem manageable. Our NADFAS volunteers, for whom she runs an annual training day, say “Caroline is a marvellous communicator. Her enthusiasm is infectious and she inspires us with the confidence to learn so many new skills and techniques and apply them to the books we work with.”
— Kathy Lazenbatt, Librarian, The Royal Asiatic Society.
“Caroline’s expertise and advice is always practical and, importantly, centres the necessity to conserve and preserve the Cathedral’s Library collection for future generations while recognizing the necessity to engage current audiences with our collections. Caroline’s passion and enthusiasm is apparent in her work with the Cathedral’s collections, staff, volunteers and public alike. It is critical that the advice we receive is expert and that any conservation work carried out on the Cathedral’s collections is done to the highest standard. We would be happy to recommend Caroline to anyone to entrust her with their book collection.”
— Armand de Filippo. Library Development Officer, Rochester Cathedral.
“As one of our move consultants, Caroline Bendix ACR played a vital role in the management and organisation of the move of UCL Special Collections to The National Archives, Kew (2010-2011) (click to read it). With her help and extensive experience we were able to move 7000 linear meters of archives and rare printed books smoothly and to agreed schedule. She also recommended sources of volunteers which made a huge impact on our ability to wrap and clean these often fragile collections. I have no hesitation in recommending Caroline Bendix’s skills as a library and archive move consultant and manager of volunteers.”
— Fred Bearman, UCL Preservation Librarian, UCL, London.
“NADFAS (National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies, now The Arts Society) Heritage Volunteers have benefited from Caroline Bendix’s knowledge and expertise for over 20 years. The volunteers work in libraries over the whole of the country. Caroline trains them first in the basic skills and then refines those skills for each library. Her training sessions are both highly instructive and highly enjoyable and as a result the volunteers are amply praised for their work.”
— Chloe Bevan, Manager of Department of Volunteering, NADFAS