This is a page out of my library’s Conservation Manual, circa 1979. I literally gasped when I read the first bullet point about mending pages with Scotch Magic tape. This sure explains why so many of the books sent to the lab have just been absolutely COVERED with book tape. Taping our general collections book […]
I’m weeding my office today, and finally tackled the three filing cabinets in the conservation lab that are just chock full of outdated and useless files. It’s been very cathartic, throwing things in the recycling bin.. but the absolute highlight of today was throwing away a 3 INCH THICK stack of files that were just […]
Artist’s books on display at the Bainbridge Island Art Museum in Washington state. Top to bottom: “Beyond Blue” by Catherine Alice Michaelis “Icarus” by Mare Blocker “Apothecary for the Landlocked” by Deborah Peek “Bugs” by Carolyn Terry “Nuts” by JoAnna Poehlmann
Glass is really cool. This is a piece called “Ladder on Fire” by artist Steven Maslach. Love how the colors shift depending on where you are standing. As seen at the Bainbridge Art Museum in Washington state.
Christmas lights made from library catalog cards.
The Christmas cactus is blooming on time!
Opening an uncut book, with a paper knife. Whoever had checked this out before it was sent to the lab must not have read very much of it because half of the textblock was uncut, and thus unreadable! (Source: http://bookbindingdictionary.com/)
“Treat books gently; for books are kind friends. We benefit by their advice, and they exact no confessions.” Most of this 100+ year old advice is still good! Some of my favorites are: -“Books are not intended for card-racks or for receptacles of botanical specimens.” -“Books should not be toasted before a fire or be […]
Just discovered this dapper man hiding in the spine lining of this old book.
For some good, clean fun…visit the sanitary fair!