Established in 1984 with the purpose of preserving the collections, the Conservation Studio specialises in books, manuscripts and art on paper.
Care of the Collections
Conservators work on the stabilisation and repair of fragile and damaged items. This work is minimally interventive whenever possible and focussed on retaining original material and preventing future loss.
Caring for the collections also includes preventive care through management of the environment such as temperature, humidity, light levels and storage conditions.
Tours of the Conservation Studio
Tours of the Conservation Studio can be arranged on request. Visitors see a variety of traditional hand-bookbinding techniques. These skills are used not only for fine bindings and protective enclosures, such as solander boxes, but are also an essential part of the conservation process, both in the repair and in gaining an understanding of how a particular book structure will react to treatment, handling and the environment in which it is stored.