- image from Londontown.com
The British Library Conservation Center, a branch of the British Library, is a state of the art facility dedicated to preserving and conserving relics of the past. Separate from the library, it’s its own little world, with multiple floors and rooms for their various projects. The room we were shown was a large, studio-like room with multiple large tables. Each one seemed to have its own purpose, each one being used for a different task.
The first person we talked to, Vanya, has one of the most interesting jobs in my opinion. Taking large chunks of dirt, clay, and whatever else had accumulated over the years, she was able to remove old scrolls. Removing these bits and pieces of the scroll, she was able to properly identify them as Tangut, the language of a dead people. Finding something so rare and unravelling the mystery of what it was just fascinates me. I’m really jealous of her job!
Second was Daisy. She was in charge of binding old books that needed to be taken care of. She showed us multiple binding techniques and even did a simple one for us to observe.
Liz was third. Her job was to conserve textiles. The project she was working on was a flag of the Royal East India Company volunteers. These men were responsible for watching storehouses and even aiding the police in London. This flag, covered in soot, was being cleaned and repaired.
Last was Jenny. She was working on the Hebrew project, which consisted of digitizing Hebrew manuscripts. Digitizing parts of a collection is very important, but it can also be dangerous for books. When working, Jenny was sure to minimize the risk of harming the books by using gelatin and other items to protect the fragile pages.
The Conservation Center has been one of my favorite visits, as I enjoy learning about the field of this important task. I’m so glad we got to visit and speak to conservationists. Being in the room and watching them work was an experience I won’t ever forget. One key thing I learned to always remember in the world of conservation: Everything must be reversible.
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