User:MHAngel/sandbox
Book Conservator
A book conservator is a trained professional who preserves and restores a wide variety of bound volumes. Book conservators must regularly inspect bound objects, and look for signs of deterioration, including yellowing pages, mold, mildew, foxing, stains, pests, light damage and weak bindings. They must adhere to the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works’ Code of Ethics.
Description
Book conservators treat bound volumes that range in date, style, format, and material.[1] This includes:
- Printed books
- Religious texts
- Rare books
- Diaries and record books
- Pamphlets
- Manuscripts
- Photograph albums
- Atlases
- Sketchbooks
- Scrapbooks [2]
Books conservators may use the following treatments:
- Surface cleaning to remove dust and dirt
- Mold removal
- Removing adhesives
- Mending tears
- Resewing loose pages
- Restoration of covers
- Deacidification of pages
- Rebacking [3]
All materials and techniques used by a book conservator must be reversible, in accordance with the AIC Code of Ethics. Careful documentation must be completed, in writing, and with photographs, of all treatments.
Book conservators must be knowledgable about paper chemistry, bookbinding, and paper repair.
References
Code of Ethics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2015, from American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works website:
About Book Conservation at NEDCC (n.d.) [5]
Rare Book Conservation (2015). [6]