News & Events

Cornell University Library Conservation
Cornell University Library Conservation is a part of Digitization and Conservation Services. We provide preservation assistance for all Cornell Library collections, including consulting, conservation treatment, and collections maintenance and management strategy.
An Equestrian Zusetsu
J.M.IaccheiCornell University Library curators build our rare and distinctive collections to enhance strengths, expand subject areas, and respond to instruction and research needs. Laurent Ferri, curator of pre-1800 collections, Rare and Manuscript Collections, Kroch Library, has had a long scholarly and personal interest in Japan and the equine subject area. He has added a few […]
“Who fixes these, anyway?”
  “Who fixes these, anyway?” That was Michele’s Brown’s question. She was a recent graduate of Fordham University who studied English Literature. She was working in Harvard University’s Houghton Library typing catalog cards for rare books. At the end of every week, she would attach loose boards to textblocks with cloth ties, and she wondered […]
Conservation of Piranesi bound etchings: treatment
by Michele Brown In my previous post, I described the overall condition of Cornell’s set of bound Piranesi engravings. Now, let’s look at the treatment of these volumes. Objectives: The usual objectives for rare book restoration are compatibility, strength, usability, reversibility and longevity. Repairs should be sympathetic with the original binding, and also strong and […]
Many ways to do the same thing
I was fortunate to attend the Conservation of Leather Bookbindings workshop sponsored by AIC/FAIC (the American Institute for Conservation and the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation Endowment for Professional Development) in March, 2020, just before COVID-19 changed everything. The workshop was led by Jeff Peachey, an independent book conservator and toolmaker, who was a generous […]
Conservation of Piranesi’s bound etchings
by Michele Brown The 18-volume set of bound etchings by the Italian artist, architect and print maker, Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) is one of Cornell’s treasures. The Cornell set contains volumes presented in 1774 by Pope Clement XIV (1704-1774)  to Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland (1745-1790) and brother of the King of England, during his […]
Rehousing the Dora Erway Doll Collection | A custom-fitting
J.M. Iacchei Thank you to Eileen Keating, University Records Manager, RMC, for proving the information on the history of the Dora Erway dolls included in this blog post. The Dora Erway doll collection is frequently used for instruction and outreach.  The dolls were made by Cornell University students between 1924 and 1928, under the direction […]
An Update on Conservation Lab Staffing, Service Priorities, and Current Strategies
News Over the last year and a half, a major effort was undertaken by the Cornell Library Conservation Lab to clarify roles, responsibilities, and priorities, the result of which has gone into effect over the last 6 months. Beginning in April 2019, the lab has been restructured to reflect changes in staffing, streamline the reporting […]
Preservation Week: Photo-Albums and Scrapbooks
j.m. iacchei Today’s blog reports on the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) workshop Your Photographic Scrapbook: Identification and Preservation and is the 4th in our Preservation Week series highlighting Cornell University Library Conservation Lab’s continuing educational efforts to better preserve and protect our collections. Our family albums and scrapbooks are treasured heirlooms. […]
Treatment of a 19th C. hydrographical map
The Conservation Lab mentors students interested in library and archives conservation and their conservation projects are great learning opportunities for us all. Margaret Canfield, a Cornell University junior majoring in art history, has been a student employee in our lab for several semesters.  Her blog describes the treatment of an early 19th century map. Margaret […]
Partial Leather Rebacks: A Case Study
  Today’s blog describes a book conservation treatment informed by a resource from our Conservation Lab’s library of reference materials.  The Conservation Lab’s library has hundreds of resources on conservation and preservation topics (treatment, handling, environment, disaster planning and recovery), bookbinding, and artist’s materials and techniques. We add new resources to our library frequently and […]
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