We couldn’t meet our conservation aims without the help of others. In all our conservation efforts we are dependent on the kindness of benefactors and volunteers, who give generously of their time and money.
We have very many books from the 18th and 19th centuries. Many books have suffered, not only from being well-used over the years, but from being housed in a city centre building – which, until the 1960s, had coal fires! Book preservation and conservation is therefore a critical part of our operations. Our aim is to ensure as many of our books as possible are accessible and usable.
Preservation in the Library
Over the last few years we have made a concerted effort to improve the conditions in which our books are stored. We monitor the environment in the different rooms of the library for fluctuations in temperature and humidity, and we use heating, dehumidifiers, and humidifiers to try and stabilise these conditions. We have also added UV-filtering film to the windows in areas where the most delicate books are stored, as well as improving the blinds and window coverings to help block visible light (as well as to improve the aesthetics of the rooms!) We also monitor regularly for mould, and insect and rodent pests.
This is an ongoing project! We want to continuously improve the conditions for storage of the books, to ensure that they are damaged as little as possible while they are in our care. However, everyday use and general wear and tear will continue to take their toll, and many of the books will still require some remedial conservation.
The Arts Society Volunteer Scheme
We are fortunate to benefit from weekly conservation work carried out by a team of trained Arts Society volunteers. All are members of the library, and all have received training in book conservation before they begin working with us.
Conservation binding and the Adopt a Book scheme
Rebinding to conservation standards is expensive, and only a limited number of our books can be conserved in this way. Our Adopt a Book scheme, running since 2006, has been generously supported by our members, and we have been able to give many books a new lease of life. We also occasionally benefit from grants awarded by charitable trusts specifically for book conservation. We still have many books which need attention, so our appeal for adopters is ongoing – please let us know if you would like to help.
Going forward
Our board of trustees recognises the importance of preserving our collections for the future and fully supports our conservation programme.
As well as working to improve conditions in the library, and to repair and refresh individual books, we are also planning to explore the digitisation process, to assist us in both preserving our most precious and unique items, and in making them more easily accessible.