Photographs

Workshops
Letter C 1583aroline’s workshops are practical and tailored to the needs of any particular collection.

Groups of volunteers can achieve a high level of skill if given regular support and training; professional conservators may have a lack of experience in one area which a day’s focused training will resolve, or librarians and archivists may require a refresher in conservation practice or preventive conservation issues, such as the courses run by West Dean College at the British Library.

The aim of each course is to provide a practical understanding of problems and solutions to them, whether in the form of hands-on work, discussion or visual presentations.

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Book Damage & Issues

Books may be damaged in so many ways. A poor environment will lead to problems, such as mould growth, distortion or pest infestations, handling without care and/or an understanding of book structure may lead to expensive and utterly unnecessary repairs, and unexpected threats, such as gravity, can cause major destruction of a book over time. Recognising damage, its source and simple and effective ways to resolve it is of key importance to the long-term well-being of collections.

Here are some examples of types of damage and other issues that can be found in libraries and archives, some with examples of before and after treatment.

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Regarding tapes images:

Books have for many years been tied with tapes of varying colours. In a historic interior, these look unsightly, so Caroline designed a range of brown tapes – Heritage Library Tying Tape – that blend in better and are therefore more discreet. These can be found at the Conservation by Design.