Book conservation and repair workshop: intermediate and advanced

City Lit

Course

In London

£ 339 VAT inc.

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Description

  • Type

    Course

  • Location

    London

  • Start date

    Different dates available

This is one of three short courses which teach conservation methods for paper (VD245), cloth (VD246) and leather bound books (VD247). These courses are aimed at learners with some basic experience in bookbinding or book conservation and will comprise instruction on a range of conservation techniques including archival housing for bindings. The courses cover both the theory and practice of book conservation and students will, through practical exercise, gain the skills and experience to be able to conserve and repair their own items. Students are expected to provide their own books on which to work.
What students liked most about this course run in 2015/16:
"The number of varied projects covered by participants during the course was great. Also the mix and match of newcomers like me with experienced practitioners made for a great atmosphere."

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
See map
Keeley Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 4BA

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

• Identify variations in cloth-bound book styles
• Recognise typical characteristics of cloth degradation
• Explain a practical conservation approach appropriate for the type of damage to a book
• Use learned skills to restore cloth covered boards and damaged pages.
• Conserve a cloth-bound book with a variety of materials including bookcloth, Japanese tissue and Western paper.
• Construct a simple archive slip case.

You should provide a book(s) to work on, and have this/these available at the beginning of the course. The bindery is equipped with most of the specialist tools, but you will be expected to use your own hand tools and come equipped with a range of tools including:

• knives (scalpel, utility or craft and leather paring) and spare blades
• brushes in a range of sizes
Page 1 of 2

• a steel rule or straight edge with measured increments
• pair of dividers
• pair of tweezers
• large and small bone folders.
• craft scissors or shears of reasonable quality

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Subjects

  • Housing
  • Conservation

Course programme

• Cloth-bound book styles
• The characteristics of cloth degradation
• Conservation techniques for cloth-bound books
• In-situ book repairs
• Repair of text-blocks and bindings using Japanese and Western papers
• Sewing and re-casing/binding options
• Making an archive slipcase housing.

Weekly topics follow the linear aspects of book conservation, from damage assessment through various treatment options to completion of work. Each student will work on their own items. There will be demonstrations, and one-to-one practical teaching.

Additional information

VD247 follows on from VD246. You may also be interested in VD204 Book conservation: vellum books or wish to expand your knowledge beyond conservation classes in bookbinding on a course such as VD316 Wooden boarded binding or VD434 Bradel binding. Your tutor will be able to advise you during this course. General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library on Monday to Friday from 12:00 – 19:00. See the course guide for term dates and further details

See related categories

Book conservation and repair workshop: intermediate and advanced

£ 339 VAT inc.

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See all

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