Recent work for Special Collections

We received the book entitled The Clerks Guide printed in 1672 from Special Collections to preform some restoration work on it in the Preservation Lab. The front board was detached, the endbands were missing, the back endsheets were lacking, the front few pages were loose and the spine was badly damaged.



The images above show some of the work in progress. The left side shows the process of lifting the original leather spine. The right side shows the book in the finishing press after all of the old glue was removed and the spine consolidated with new paste.

To finish the work, the loose pages were reattached, boards were restored and reattached, new two color silk endbands were hand sewn onto the head and tail of the text block, the spine was replaced with new leather, old spine remounted and a new fly leaf in the back was added.

Japanese Bookbinding

Recently we had an interesting book from the circulation collection come through the preservation lab. It was a book filled with beautiful Ukiyo-e prints from the Japanese printmaker Hokusai.

Once upon a time it had a beautiful binding with Japanese silk bookcloth, but the binding had seen better days and it was time for it to get a new case.

This book is not your typical book because it was produced in the traditional Japanese bookbinding style. Instead of having single leaves - called folios - that make up a signature, it was made in the accordion style with Japanese side sewing.

This book (NE1325.K3 M47) among other books on Hokusai can be found in the general collections housed on the fourth floor in the Tower. To read more about Japanese bookbinding methods there is an excellent book in Special Collections entitled “Japanese Bookbinding” by Kosanji Ikegami (Z270.J3 I3713 1986). Also if you are interested in seeing some Japanese prints there is an exhibit currently at the Weatherspoon Art Museum.

Jot This Down!

Post It notes are not kind to books.

No matter what the manufacturer says.

Treatment of a vellum diploma

Special Collections and University Archives sent this vellum diploma down to Preservation Services for treatment. It was rolled up and had insect damage to the edges of the diploma. This diploma dates back to 1904 when Charles McIver was president. Vellum (sometimes also referred to as Parchment) was once a common material used for diplomas but today almost all diplomas are printed on paper. Vellum is made out of animal skin that has been treated in a specific way. To read more about vellum go here and to see how vellum or parchment is made go here.

First thing we did to the diploma was humidify it so it would relax and flatten out. Once humidified, we let it dry under pressure between blotters for a few days.

Where there was insect damage that was unstable we mended with Japanese paper and paste.

To keep the diploma flat and to protect it we created a custom enclosure to house it in. Once finished we took it back to Special Collections and University Archives where it now resides once again.

Everyone Loves Tasha Tudor !

Here's a great book from the University Libraries collection. It's always fun to browse the stacks to see what great reads and unique materials the Jackson Library houses.

Preservation Services gets to see so many interesting books, like "Dorcas Porkus", and we hope you all will take the time to enjoy our fun books, and perhaps be inspired to find a corgi or little pig of your own to take on a walk.

LIS Graduate Students are great...

listeners as they visit the Preservation Services lab to learn more about the many things we do for the University Libraries. On March 4th, these dedicated LIS graduate students made an expedition to view our facilities, learn about book structure, remedies and repairs for worn out materials, problem books and how the Preservation department gives new life to library materials that are in high demand. We showed them the current ongoing projects we have undertaken for the University Archives and the Special Collections, talked about vellum, leather, sewing and good practices for libraries to employ for the safeguarding of its valuable holdings and collections.

We continue to be convinced...

that dogs prefer things other than Reading.

(but we're grateful the book was returned.)