The British Library is pleased to announce the first in a series of Conservation workshops. The workshops will all be held in the new Centre for Conservation which was officially opened in October 2007. The following courses will run in 2008.
Ethiopic Bindings
25 - 29 February 2008
Tutor: John Mumford
Price: £550
This five day course is aimed at conservators interested in the history of the book. The course will give an introduction to the history of Ethiopic Bindings. Through a series of practical demonstrations and exercises participants will gain an understanding of the construction of an Ethiopic binding within a cultural and historical context. Reference will be made to the conservation of historical Ethiopic bindings.
There will be an introductory lecture on Ethiopic Bindings placing them in context within the history and development of book structures. This will be followed by practical workshops focusing on:
- Preparation of text block and wooden boards.
- Sewing the text block and boards.
- Endband construction and covering in leather.
- The making of a traditional leather carrying pouch.
Participants will be required to bring some bookbinding equipment, a list will be provided following registration. Some knowledge of the history of bookbinding would be desirable but is not essential.
John Mumford is the head of Book Conservation at the British Library with a deep background in Book conservation. John has taught at The London College of Printing, The Colchester Institute, as well as undertaking many workshops in the UK and abroad.
Places are limited in order to provide close supervision and maximum opportunities for discussion and interaction.
Islamic Bindings
21 - 23 April 2008
Tutor: David Jacobs
Price: £495
This three day course is for mid career conservators who have experience in book structures.
The aim of the course is to develop an understanding of Islamic book structures and to apply this knowledge to conserving manuscripts.
There will be an introductory lecture followed by a practical workshop during which participants will make a small Islamic binding.
Participants will be required to bring their own hand tools for bookbinding, a list will be provided following registration.
David Jacobs is a Senior Conservator at The British Library with 36 years experience.
Places are limited in order to provide close supervision and maximum opportunities for discussion and interaction.
East Asian Sewing Structures
19 - 21 May 2008
Tutor: Mariluz Beltran de Guevara
Price: £495
This three day course is aimed at conservators interested in the history of the book.
The course will provide an introduction to East Asian bookbinding focusing on Chinese historic bindings. It will give an overview of the problems that conservators encounter and the ethical dilemmas involved.
There will be an introductory lecture followed by practical workshops during which participants will produce 3 - 5 different structures and a traditional enclosure (Tao).
Participants will be required to bring some bookbinding equipment, a list will be provided following registration.
Mariluz Beltran de Guevara is the British Library's Parchment and Vellum specialist with considerable experience as a book conservator. Mariluz previously worked at the Dundee University Conservation Unit. Mariluz has a BA(Hons) Paper Conservation (Camberwell College of Art); Postgraduate Diploma Conservation of Rare Books and Manuscripts (West Dean College).
Places are limited in order to provide close supervision and maximum opportunities for discussion and interaction.
For information on how to book a place on one of these courses please contact
Alison Faraday
The British Library
Centre for Conservation
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)207 412 7776
Fax: + 44 (0)207 412 7777
Email: alison.faraday@bl.uk
The British Library is pleased to announce a series of workshops to be held in 2008 at the Centre for Conservation. These workshops will be held in conjunction with International Academic Projects. The following courses will run in 2008.
Indo Persian Paintings workshop
16th - 20th June 2008
Tutor: Anita Chowdry
Price: £495.00
The main aim of this workshop is to provide participants with a body of experience and resources for a deeper understanding of the practical aspects of Indo-Persian painting. Participants are given a basic grounding in the materials that were used, and the way in which they were prepared for use. This includes the sizing and preparation of paper and cotton painting surfaces, and the grinding and cleaning of minerals such as malachite and gold to make water-based paints. The use of a variety of mineral pigments is demonstrated, and how their properties influenced painting practice is explained and examined. The emphasis is on the practical experience of the painters who worked in the royal ateliers of the Mughal and Regional Indian courts and the training undertaken by artists in the ateliers. Participants are introduced to the practice of drawing using Indian miniaturist's squirrel-hair brushes, and the various stages involved in constructing a painting, including the application of colour and gold. This practical work will be put into context with a basic historical background and appreciation of the paintings in the British Library collection.
Deacidification of Paper
25 - 26th June 2008
Tutor: Herve Cheradame
Price: £245.00
This two day course covers paper chemistry and the problems of acidity, and the various treatments available and possible requirements in the future.
Discussions (where possible, demonstrated in practical work) will include:
i) determination of the acidity of a paper (surface pH non-destructive, pH cold extract)
ii) determination of the alkaline reserve of a paper
iii) the treatment of an acidic paper using conventional methods (spray)
iv) the treatment of a paper by the Centre Interrégional de Conservation du Livre (CICL) method
v) determination of the breaking length of papers.
It should be noted that the British Library does not necessarily endorse any or all of the techniques discussed in this course.
Lapis Lazuli - fact and fiction - workshop
8 July 2008
Tutor: David Marguelies
Price: £145.00
This practical workshop explores the fact and fiction surrounding Lapis Lazuli in history - its geology, trade and uses. In the studio, participants will experience hands-on processing of the stone into objects and the manufacture and methods of application of lapis as a pigment.
This course aims to be helpful to conservators and curators in understanding the methods of preparing, using and applying lapis lazuli to works of art.
Cleaning Surfaces of Books and Paper
14 - 18 July 2008
Tutor: Richard Wolbers
Price: £495.00
This course will be held at the new conservation facilities at the British Library. It is aimed at book and paper conservators and consists of morning lectures and afternoon practical and discussion sessions - an arrangement allowing participants to try out in practice the discussed methods and materials. Topics include the characterisation of surfaces; an overview of aqueous and solvent techniques; chelating / complexing materials; thickeners, gels, pastes and poultices; resin soaps; enzymes and emulsions.
During the course of this five-day workshop, participants will be presented with a general survey of the theoretical principles needed to evaluate, as well as formulate, for themselves, tailored aqueous and solvent based cleaning systems for various surfaces on books, paper, leather and parchment.
Case histories illustrating the use of these principles will be presented during morning lecture sessions. Afternoon sessions will be devoted to the practical preparation of materials discussed in the morning sessions. The goal will be to better empower participants to formulate tailored preparations for both surface cleaning problems (soil removal) as well as coating and re-paint/over-paint removal problems.
Practice pieces will be provided to experiment with, participants are invited to bring test or problematic items to work out cleaning systems. Each participant will also make a gel eraser. Participants will be invited to share the results of their individual experiments in a final class presentation.
Integrated Pest Management for Libraries and Archives
22 July 2008
Tutor: David Pinniger\
Price: £145.00
This one day course is aimed at anyone involved with, or responsible for, the care of libraries, archives and collections of books and paper.
The aim is:
1. To introduce the main insect pests which attack collections - What they need to live - How to identify them - The damage they cause - Ways to prevent them becoming established.
2. To understand pest environments/habitats.
3. To consider the selection of the most appropriate treatments for control pests.
4. To investigate methods of establishing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme.
For information on how to book a place on one of these courses please visit the International Academic Projects website: http://www.academicprojects.co.uk/
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