During a digitization project, I noticed this intriguing printer’s error in a 18th century herbal. Apparently, the paper had a fold in it when it went through the press, which accounts for the wide blank line, and the crookedness of the text. On the opposite side, it was clear that they unfolded the paper before […]
Just wanted to let y’all know that I’m going to be speaking as a panelist for the Library Collections Care Discussion Group at this year’s AIC Annual Meeting, which is less than a month away from now! I’ll be chiming in about using social media (Twitter, Tumblr, etc) as a form of conservation outreach. This […]
Well, the most common use is to use them as weights during treatments… But my lab has also employed them for other practical reasons, such as to raise up some of the tables… …and also used them as part of a holder for our roll of polyester film (which we use to encapsulate items).
Backing press
One of the library staff found this book in the stacks and brought it to me to see if we should maybe put it somewhere safer (like Special Collections). It was published in 1798, and I’m pretty sure that’s the original binding, based on the paste-paper cover and hand-written spine label. The paper is absolutely […]
Very unusual fading pattern on this 19th century book. It looks like lace!
How to make a library conservator mad: steal all but the last 3 pages of an entire book, then leave behind the empty case for someone else to find.
Today in the lab: encapsulating some vintage Star Wars posters with our Minter ultrasonic welder. Ps encapsulation is NOT the same thing as lamination.
Friday morning project: preparing to fill out the Preservation Statistics survey. Here’s a handy infographic about preservation-related statistics! (Source: https://vine.co/)
Carefully opening a sealed commemorative box of Kellogg’s corn flakes in the conservation lab. The emptied box will go live a happy life in one of our Archives collections. No, I’m not going to taste the cereal… 😛 (Source: https://vine.co/)