This semester the Preservation Lab is collaborating with the English department and Associate Professor Gary Weissman to teach ENGL 3097 – Book Arts. The experiential learning portion of the course is taught in the Preservation Lab by Holly Prochaska, with much assistance from Jessica Ebert, Catarina Figueirinhas, and Hyacinth Tucker. The course offers students a foundation in the history of the codex, artists’ books, and zines, as well as a hands-on introduction to paper making, bookbinding, and printing.
Last week the students finally got their hands on our beloved board-shears while making a tux box to house the many models they constructed during the course.
It has been a fun and rewarding spring thanks to the enthusiasm of our 12 students!
If you are interested in learning more about the experiential learning portion of the Book Arts curriculum, please reach out to holly.prochaska@uc.edu.
Last week I worked on a simple evaluation project for housing late nineteenth and early twentieth century publishers bindings. Here are three that I found particularly pleasing (and in good shape).
They all have in common different interesting green hues – just in case I washed my hands after handling! Why? Check out this post to find out!
To celebrate nationalPreservation Week (April 25 – May1, 2021), staff at the Preservation Lab are sharing the following answers to the question below as they reflect upon the wealth of library resources located in the Cincinnati community:
What is your favorite treatment or project that you have worked on in the Lab?
Jessica Ebert:
Learning a new photographic imaging technique, RTI
In April of 2017 I had the amazing opportunity of attending a 4-day workshop at Yale University to learn Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) from the experts at Cultural Heritage Imaging. It was one of the most exciting experiences of my career, and when I came back to the Lab to show the staff what I had learned, Aller Bucher Und Schrifften volume from Martin Luther was one of the first items we captured with RTI. I remember that moment when Catarina and I completed the capture and processed the images – we were just in awe of everything we could see with RTI that we couldn’t under normal illumination. Since then, we’ve made changes to our equipment and our workflow, so now the results are even better than they were back then…but this will always be my favorite.
The left side of the image shows the front cover under normal illumination, or what you see with your naked eye, whereas the right side is a RTI generated image using the specular enhancement mode.
This generated snapshot illustrates the Static Multi Light mode. Below the center panel that features a portrait of Martin Luther you can see “1571”, and above the panel you can see “ID”, both of which are virtually impossible to see in the normal illumination image.
Of all the projects I have worked on at the Preservation Lab, this item is by far one of my ultimate favorite treatments I was able to perform. This book was brought to the Preservation Lab in poor condition. The book had no binding, the text block was split in multiple areas, the sewing was broken, and several pages of the text block where either torn or had extensive loss. In addition, most of the text block showed signs of water damage. Since this book was in such poor condition and the curator of the collection wanted the book to be handled by scholars and the public, it was necessary to do a full conservation treatment.
I was thrilled when I got assigned to this book treatment. I love to work on any book, but the more complicated or involved treatments the better and this was definitely the case. In this treatment, I was able to repair the text block, reduce some of the tideline staining, fill losses and resew the entire text block, while also creating a new binding (called a split board binding) that is strong and flexible to allow such a heavy book to be read.
Before Treatment – Initial condition of the book when it was received by the Preservation Lab. The text block was split, the sewing was broken, and several pages were torn or had paper loss.
After Treatment – Conservation treatment complete. After the text block was repaired and resewn, the book received a new split board binding that allowed the heavy book to be read while mitigating further damage.
After Treatment – The new split board binding provided the book a more flexible opening.
This treatment took a long time to complete, and to this day it is still one of the projects that I have enjoyed the most. Click here to see the complete treatment report and all the photographic documentation. To learn more about conservation split board bindings, check out the Preservation Lab blog post by Kasie and Jessica.
Kasie Janssen:
Iron gall ink treatment of the CHPL Jones Account Book
Washing and rebinding treatments are always a favorite when they come across my bench, as they allow a highly damaged item to become usable and accessible once again. An account book of Jones and Rammelsberg offered one such treatment as it came to the lab with a myriad of issues: a damaged book block without a binding, corroding iron gall ink, previous mold damage, and a shocking amount of pest evidence. The treatment is incredibly memorable because to tackle the issues of aging iron gall ink I was able wash the pages of the book block using a calcium phytate bath to stabilize the manuscript. Once the washing was complete, I was able to resew and rebind the book block, making it whole, functional, and protected once again. It is rare and special to have done such an involved treatment, but in this case the in-depth steps allowed previous damage to be treated and helped remedy the inherent vice of aging materials.
The book block before treatment was highly damaged, so much so, that it was difficult for library patrons and staff to access and use the item without a cover.
Handling the book, you’d never know the hours of labor that went into the treatment (including learning!), but its functional form makes it ready for use once again.
Creating the Italian ledger binding for our teaching model collection
The lab creates a lot of models. Many of these models are made in preparation for treatments. However, some models are created with instruction or engagement in mind. These models, such as the Italian stationery binding (laminated archival bind) I created, help illustrate the history of the book as its form and manufacturing process change over time. Check out the model at the blog entry where you can see a video of the binding being handled. Follow the instructions on the blog make you very own, and in the future, come see it for yourself when our in-person open houses resume in the future.
View of the cover fully opened that shows the overband lacing pattern, the front fore edge flap, and the buckle clasp.
Ashleigh Ferguson Schieszer:
Treatment of a Haggadahowned by Hebrew Union College
I particularly enjoy the problem solving nature of special collection treatments and thus, my “favorite” treatment is usually the one I’m working on. Currently, I’m treating a Haggadah owned by Hebrew Union College that dates to 1526 or 1527. While I’ve treated other haggadahs from HUC, including this one, this project involved iron gall ink treatment AND rebinding a textblock with two different sized leaves, or pages, into its original historic leather cover. Because the binding had been previously treated and reformatted with materials that did not age well, collaboration with the librarians at HUC required exploration into whether we wanted to re-create the past reformatting option with longer lasting materials, or perhaps, explore a new option altogether. Before we committed to a solution, I created a model to test out a new option since unanticipated questions or outcomes often arise during experimental pursuits. For that reason, it’s better to problem solve on a model, rather than on an actual special collection material. In the end, the librarians and I were happy with the results of the new option, and I’m currently at the stage where I’m ready to start rebinding the pages of the actual object.
The top image shows the book open to smaller sized printed leaves before treatment. Leaves are previously reformatted with yellowed tape along the edges, attached to larger paper frames. Paper frames are cockled and distorted. The middle image shows a detail of untrimmed, full-size manuscript leaves. The bottom image shows the fore edge of the binding before treatment.
These images show the model that explores a solution to encapsulate the smaller pages into polyester sleeves that could be sewn into the binding next to the larger pages. This required staff to weld polyester sleeves with paper hinges that could be sewn through like a gathering.
The image shows the binding ready for resewing with its new encapsulated leaves, or pages, next to the created model.
Not only was this piece based on a favorite subject of mine (I love Shakespeare!), this was a historic photograph treatment I was able to handle with just a little guidance. I was able to properly identify the photographic elements on the first try, performed a surface cleaning on the piece, and created my very first cloth-covered clamshell and cradle to house it. It was such a wealth of learning experiences within one project, which is the best part of my work!
Before cleaning; albumen card (note the finger prints in the upper right corner). The image depicts the photographer as a soldier.
Cloth-covered clamshell exterior.
Cloth-covered clamshell interior, with piece opened to surface cleaned soldier image in integrated cradle.
Chris Voynovich:
Constructing a custom cloth-covered enclosure to house the Public Library’s William S. Porter Collection of photographs
One of my favorite aspects of the job here, in the lab, is designing and creating custom enclosures. This collection of rare daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes is an example of adapting a standard cloth covered clamshell to accommodate a collection. I created two trays with pull tabs that are removable for easy access and display. Each photograph has its own tuxedo box and is set in polyethylene foam (Volara) for protection. The tuxedo box enclosures are identical in size to reduce confusion while repacking. Check out this blog created by Jessica that shows a gif of the enclosure opening and closing, and this blog post showing a similar enclosure I created for a dairy collection.
View of the opened cloth-covered clamshell with the two removeable trays in place. The trays contain the collection of cased photographs in tuxedo boxes with labels for easy identification.
This image shows the bottom tray partially pulled out, displaying the two larger cased photographs.
Today at 3pm (EST) join Jessica and Catarina on the Preservation Lab’s Instagram (@thepreservationlab) for a quick, informal Instagram Live.
Then tomorrow, make sure to tune into the Public Library’s Instagram (@cincylibrary) at 12pm (EST) for an in-depth Instagram Live event where Catarina and Jessica will be sharing treatments they are currently working on; giving you a behind-the-scenes look and answering all your questions “Live in the Lab”.
As you might imagine remote work for a preservation lab is…complicated. Not all items awaiting treatment are good candidates for repair in the home studios of staff – the repair might require specialized equipment that is only available in the lab (e.g. suction table), the item may be too valuable to transport to a private home without engaging UC risk management and CHPL administration (i.e. all our special collections!), or the object may be too large to safely be worked on in our diminutive setups (e.g. many books with the folio designation).
But, that doesn’t mean that work from home isn’t happening! The image below is a batch of completed treatments awaiting return to our partners. These treatments are general circulating items that have been repaired, as well as items receiving custom enclosures created without the object, using just the objects measurements. The materials have been treated from home and now, on our new abbreviated lab schedule, are being end processed and returned to their originating institutions.
Though we all deeply miss the day-to-day work in the Preservation Lab, remotely we maintain our ethos of preservation stewardship keeping us connected to the lab’s preservation mission and the missions of our parent institutions. In this, we remain unchanged.
University of Cincinnati Libraries (UCL) and Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library (CHPL) materials awaiting packing for delivery.
The monographic series, Suave Mechanicals: Essays on the History of Bookbinding, just released volume 6 this month. Edited by Julia Miller and published by The Legacy Press (Cathleen A. Baker, publisher), the series focuses on in-depth analysis of historical binding structures, avenues for documenting these structures, and spreading awareness of their importance in bibliographic, conservation, and interdisciplinary research.
Included in this new volume is an essay co-authored by Ashleigh Ferguson Schieszer and myself titled “Adding Value: Increasing Access and Visibility to Historic Binding Structures.” The essay reviews work conducted in the Preservation Lab to document, preserve, and promote the special collections of the University of Cincinnati Libraries and the Public Library or Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
The processes and production described in our essay would not have been possible without the knowledge and expertise of the Lab’s staff, student staff, and volunteers who have traveled through our basement doors to make the Preservation Lab the special place it is today…and always has been. As our essay went to the publisher prior to the hiring of our newest team member, we would like to provide the following amended acknowledgement list:
This essay is couched in terms of “what the lab does and why.” Behind each of these actions is a staff member that had the idea and made it happen. The authors are grateful to the past and current Preservation Lab staff: Jessica Ebert, Catarina Figueirinhas, Gabrielle Fox, Sidney Gao, Kasie Janssen, Kathy Lechuga, Patrick Schmude, Veronica Sorcher, Hyacinth Tucker, Chris Voynovich, and our dedicated students and volunteers.
Please visit The Legacy Press (http://www.thelegacypress.com/) to learn more about this volume and to peruse the other amazing books they have to offer.
Holly Prochaska (UCL) — Preservation Librarian, and co-manager, The Preservation Lab
Today UC Libraries unveiled our new website design at https://libraries.uc.edu/. It is streamlined, meets accessibility standards, and is quite lovely.
However, this website refresh has altered the path users previously followed to access the Lab’s treatment reports. The new path is as follows —- From the main page top navigation bar choose Research and Teaching Support, then pull down to select Repositories.From the Repositories page choose UC Digital Resource Commons (DRC). You’ll then be directed to the main DRC search page. Here you can limit your search to the Preservation Lab’s collection. Or, for those power users, simply bookmark our digital content landing page – http://digital.libraries.uc.edu/collections/preservation/
Access to individual treatment reports remain linked within the library catalog’s item record level holdings as well.
Thanks for your patience during this time of change and transition. Holly Prochaska (UCL) —- Preservation Librarian
Our Preservation Librarian and co-manager, Holly Prochaska, is celebrating her 20th year at UC Libraries today! Holly is such a great advocate for the Lab and the Lab staff. She cares so much about the Lab and we wanted to show her just how much we care about her, so we planned a little surprise…See Holly’s reaction here:
Congratulations on this milestone, Holly!
Check out the Lab’s Instagram @thepreservationlab (especially our story highlights) to see more fun photos of the Rock (Dwayne Johnson) around the Lab. Jessica Ebert [UCL] – Conservation Tech/Photographic Documentation Tech
On Nov. 1st in Langsam Library, Preservation Librarian, Holly Prochaska was mentioned at the UC Bicentennial publications reception for her essay titled, Serendipity and Stewardship as part of UC Libraries commemorative book, From the Temple of Zeus to the Hyperloop: University of Cincinnati Stories, edited by Greg Hand. Her essay describes how the first-ever collaborative lab came to fruition in Cincinnati, OH and is accompanied by an array of essays written by varying authors who highlight innovative leadership in Cincinnati, including one essay by Archives and Rare Books Librarian, Kevin Grace, whose stories are always captivating.
During the bicentennial reception we also learned how Greg Hand’s anthology of over 30 essays complemented Professor David Stradling’s publication about Cincinnati’s historical celebrity, Daniel Drake. Known for many accomplishments, I was surprised to learn how Drake played an instrumental role in the formation of the first public lending libraries in Ohio! Stradling’s book, In Service to the City: A History of the University of Cincinnati, is an in-depth dive into Drake’s wide reaching influence in the 19th century. Drake’s legacy and passion may be of interest to innovators today. As a contemporary innovator, it’s easy to see why Holly was invited to write about her leadership role in the formation of the collaborative lab, as well as how nicely these books complement one another.
Meanwhile, at the Public Library… On Sunday, Nov. 4th, Public Library staff were given commemorative pins to celebrate milestone years of employment at the Staff Retiree and Recognition Reception. Of particular mention…Chris Voynovich received a 2018 Rufus Award and was honored for 20 years of employment at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Nominated by former Senior Conservation Assistant, Veronica Sorcher, the Award recognized Chris in the category for Growth and Innovation for his work on preserving the oversized Madisonville Sesquicentennial scrapbook from 1959! After a year of collaboration between the Madisonville Branch and Digital Services, the scrapbook was digitized, conserved, and returned home in improved condition with a brand new custom cradle, approximately 4 feet long. Way to go, Chris! Having only been gone a few short months, Veronica’s nomination of her colleague, Chris Voynovich, is a nostalgic reminder of Veronica’s thoughtful contributions she’s made over the last seven years at the Preservation Lab. In Chris’ words, “I was blown away and almost fainted when the Director of the Library walked in the department to give me a Rufus award!” Veronica, we’re wishing you well as you settle in near family in Nova Scotia! Ashleigh Schieszer (PLCH) —- Special Collections Conservator, Lab Manager
Our colleagues in the Classics Library sent us an interesting housing project. The goal, to secure and keep together a textbook and accompanying electronic content.
The additional electronic content was not in the form of a URL for on-line supplements, nor a DVD, but a small shiny USB drive. The drive was originally attached it to the book at the end of a long silky bookmark adhered to the text block. A neat idea, but the drive was almost impossible to use attached to the anchor of the heavy book.
Ah, the mashup of the old and new!
Our solution was to make a simple corrugated enclosure with a volara foam compartment and a photographic surrogate on the end of the bookmark. The surrogate directs users to the compartment holding the USB port. Additionally, a message in the item record alerts library workers to “check for one USB device”.
To me the pleasure of this item is that it illustrates so clearly the tension between the easy functionality of the book and the limits of its fixed form. It also speaks to how slow the march towards the digital age feels – illustrating a change in technology without much of an improvement, such as the move from DVD to USB storage.
[And here is where I lament that I STILL don’t have a hovercraft or a robot maid.]
Though many of us have vowed to get out of the prediction game, let me predict in 10 years our students will marvel at this USB device the way they do now at floppy disks and zip drives.
LONG LIVE THE BOOK!
Enclosure by Jessica Ebert, conservation technician
Most preservation labs track their conservation treatments through a database that links to, or shadows, their institution’s library or museum catalog. For many years these databases were home grown, with labs using Access or FileMaker Pro – and that is what The Preservation Lab opted to do. While there are now commercial and consortial alternatives, we are still using our homegrown Access database for now.
Occasionally the lab is asked to share what we use. So, by semi-popular demand, attached please find the Treatment Database! Though not perfect, it might serve as a good model to those beginning to organize their treatment documentation beyond printed sheets and physical file cabinets. Some data has been kept so that you can experiment with the functionality.
Screenshot of Treatment Database
To download the treatment database go to the following web address – https://uc.box.com/s/8sq75e5dxe889ezwzteh2dsrrbkmt7t1. Read this file first, https://uc.box.com/s/rn34n4we0wrxpdj1s2p7xg6abg7mavdx, to help make sense of the databases organization.
[Note: Access databases won’t PREVIEW in this cloud based storage, but once you download the database it will function just fine.]
Once you download them, make them your own…they are clay ready to be molded to your needs! Go forth and be productive! Holly Prochaska (UCL) — Preservation Librarian
