What is a conservation binding—is there any such thing? Should we be rebinding books? What can we learn from rebindings of the past?
This online talk provides the foundational principles behind Sonja’s in-person class on soft paper bindings on May 26. Sonja will explore the history of the idea of the conservation binding and its features, what to consider in making the decision to rebind, and potential of the soft paper binding to serve as an appropriate structure for this purpose. She is co-author of Chapter 26 of Conservation of Books, “Binding Structure, Functionality, and Integrity” which explores various case studies of rebindings.
Participants in the class have automatic tickets to the talk and do not need to register for it directly, but this way those of you too far away for the class can also catch some of the content.
The talk will be recorded and available for 48 hours so that anyone not available to attend live can catch up at a more convenient time.
About the speaker:
Sonja Schwoll ACR FIIC has worked in book and archive conservation for over 20 years in the private sector as well as in public institutions. With an MA in Book Conservation and in Art History, she ran an independent book conservation studio in South London working for the Wellcome Trust, Natural History Museum, UCL Special Collections, Royal Academy of Music and many more clients. For 10 years, she was an associate lecturer for the MA Book Conservation programme at Camberwell College of Art as well as at West Dean College. Today she is Head of Conservation and Treatment Development at the Collection Care Department at The National Archives in London. Conservation education in theory and practice, especially book conservation, has remained one of her specialist areas.