The Book & Paper Group aims to keep this document as up-to-date as possible, and welcomes any suggestions and additions to the list of resources. If you want to suggest a source to be added or amended, please email us with the subject line ‘Resource Document’
Conservation courses
These are the current paper and/or book conservation courses being taught in the UK
West Dean College
University of Lincoln
University of Northumbria
City & Guilds of London Art School
Short book/photo/paper courses
Society of Bookbinders – their events, held across the UK, provide workshop opportunities.
Location: UK
- Additionally, the Society of Bookbinders provides a list of bookbinding courses across the UK
Language(s): English
Montefiascone Summer study program - The classes provide an opportunity for librarians, conservators, cataloguers, bibliographers and those interested in the history and conservation of books, to assemble once a year to study one or more of the four, week-long courses
Location: Italy Language(s): English
San Gemini Preservation Field School - Summer study programs in different conservation fields, from ceramics to book and paper materials.
Location: Italy Language(s): English
Recanati e Restauro - Summer course ‘Introduction to Book Conservation and Historical Bookbinding’ as well as other book and paper related courses throughout the year.
Location: Italy Language(s): English
The Centre for Photographic Conservation - run by Ian and Angela Moor, offers in-depth training in the conservation and preservation of photographic materials
Location: London, UK Language(s): English
Icon courses and events – this page on Icon’s website offers events held by Icon but also advertises for other courses, lectures and events.
Location: Virtual and UK Language(s): English
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties plans free courses in Europe, on themes related to Japanese materials and heritage, usually held during the summer.
Location: Europe, with other courses throughout the year in Japan Language(s): English
Conservation Organisations
Many of these organisations will have a wide range of resources available on their webpages, and becoming a member will give you benefits, such as subscribing to newsletters and publication journals, and discounted events, lectures and conferences. Many offer concessionary membership rates for students and early career conservators.
In addition to the Book and Paper Group, make sure to check the Emerging Professionals Network – the hold events and provide resources aimed at emerging professionals and students in the conservation community
ICOM International Council of Museums
IIC International Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
IADA International Association of Book and Paper Conservators
AIC American Institute for Conservation
CCI Canadian Conservation Institute
ARA The Archives and Records Association for the UK and Ireland
NEDCC Northeast Document Conservation Centre
IRCI Institute of Conservators-Restorers in Ireland
ALCTS Association for Library Collections and Technical Services
CCAHA Conservation Centre for Arts and Historic Artifacts
AICMM Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material
Codes of Ethics and Professional Standards
Most of the above organisations will have their own Codes of Ethics by which members have to abide. Icon, AIC and ECCO all have a Code of Conduct; these are well known in the conservation community.
In 2020, Icon published revised Professional Standards and a new Ethical Guidance.
As a conservator – and particularly if you are a member of Icon – you should be familiar with these documents, their contents and how they should all be read and used in conjunction with each other.
E-learning
Museum of London has e-learning tools aimed at collection care professionals, ranging from pest identification to emergency planning.
AIC has collection care resources and recorded online courses on collection management, conservation assessments, etc.
AIC’s free photographic chemistry for preservation course goes into detail about the creation of a photographic image.
Other accessible online material
The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC’s) gobal conservation forum (also known as condistlist) is an international online forum. Subscribers can also opt to get the daily email, which will include updates on the forums, job opportunities, courses and questions asked by conservators worldwide.
US National Archives disaster response and recovery resources
AIC disaster response and recovery guides
AIC salvage at a glance
NEDCC preservation 101 online textbook
Getty Conservation Institute – Materials, publications and other resources are made available online.
ALCTS YouTube channel
Rare Book School YouTube channel
AIC/FAIC Youtube Channel recorded online lectures, webinars.
UCLA History of the Book – a website created by UCLA on the history of the book, each chapter available to download as PDF, lots of resources.
Image Permanence Institute - webinars, available on their site for free
CCAHA has their previous lectures available on their youtube channel, and their upcoming ones can be seen here.
BCIN, the Bibliographic Database of the Conservation Information Network, is the web's most complete bibliographic resource for the conservation, preservation and restoration of cultural property.
Funding
The grants and opportunities page on Icon’s website provides information on some grants and funding opportunities to support continuing professional development. Make sure to check the ‘other grants’ link!
The Stationers’ Company Postgraduate Bursary Scheme – paper conservation students have been awarded the scholarship in the past.
The Stationers’ Company Scholarships and Awards – the financial assistance and major awards are open to conservation students.
The Emerging Professionals Network has a very thorough and informative document on funding opportunities.
Health and Safety in conservation
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) database (safety datasheet search website, formerly material safety data sheets)
British Standards Institute
There are a number of standards that have been published by the BSI that are relevant to the conservation of cultural heritage in the UK. Icon members can get a discount to purchase BSI standards.
Icon publishes a list of relevant standards.
As a student, you should not have to buy any of the standards – they are usually purchased by the professional institutions that work in the cultural heritage environment and employ cultural heritage professionals. However, being familiar with the most important ones is recommended:
PD5454: 2012 – Guide for the Storage and Exhibition of Archival Materials
(superseded by BS EN 16893: 2018 and BS4971:2017 but still relevant and in use)
BS EN 16893: 2018 – Conservation of Cultural Heritage. Specifications for location, construction and modification of buildings or rooms intended for the storage or use of heritage collections
BS4971:2017 - Conservation and Care of Archive and Library Collections PAS 197: 2009 – Code of Practice for Cultural Collections Management You can find a brief overview of their contents on the BSI Shop.
Books
There are many publications on paper, papermaking, paper conservation, bookbinding, etc. but this list includes a few of the ones you should be familiar with and that you will use as a students
Paper and Water: A guide for Conservators by Gerhard Banik and Irene Brückle
How to Identify Prints: A Complete Guide to Manual and Mechanical Processes from Woodcut to Inkjet by Bamber Gascoigne
Conservation Mounting for Prints and Drawings: A Manual Based on Current Practice at the British Museum by Joanna Kosek
Contemporary Theory of Conservation by Salvador Muñoz Viñas
Conservation Skills by Chris Caple
The National Trust Manual of Housekeeping by National trust
Conservation Treatment Methodology by Barbara Applebaum
Book Conservation and Digitisation by Alberto Campagnolo
Science for Conservators series (3 volumes) by The Conservation Unit
Materials for Conservation by C. V.Horie
Practical Guide to Book Repair and Conservation by Arthur W Johnson
The Thames and Hudson Manual of Bookbinding by Arthur W Johnson
Papermaking: the history and technique of an ancient craft by D. Hunter
The care of Prints and Drawings by M. Ellis
Preservation and conservation for libraries and archives by N. Balloffett and J. Hille
Journals
As a student, you should be able to access these through JSTOR, your institution’s library page or your institution’s library might have physical copies available.
For journals by conservation organisations such as Icon and IIC, you can access the journals for free if you are a member.
Journal of The Institute of Conservation (formerly The Conservator and The Paper Conservator)
Studies in Conservation – IIC Journal
Journal of Paper Conservation – IADA Journal
Restaurator - International Journal for the Preservation of Library and Archival Material
Additionally, conference papers are usually published after a conference has been held; many of these can be found online for past conservation conferences from different institutions and organisations.
Blogs
Many institutions, organisations and conservation studios in the UK and beyond have online blogs in which they post about projects, new techniques and interesting developments in the profession. It is worth checking them out!
British Library Collection Care Blog
Rita Udina Book and Paper Conservation
British Museum Blog – Conservation Posts
The National Archives Blog – conservation posts can usually be found under the ‘Behind the Scenes’ category.
PZ Conservation – A blog about preserving books and documents for the future
