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