Hi! My name is Amber Cooper, and I am currently the Preservation and Binding Assistant here at the University of Arkansas Libraries! Every quarter from now on, I’m going to be giving you an insight into how I got into conservation, my adventures (or misadventures!) in conservation here at the University of Arkansas, the world…Continue Reading The Adventures of an Aspiring Conservator
Welcome back to Part Two of the conservation treatment of Special Collections’ 1542 edition of the Decameron. When we left off, our cover-less book had been assessed, a treatment plan had been devised, surfaces were cleaned, and materials were prepped. In this post, we will dive a little deeper into the materials prepared, get the board…Continue Reading The Detached Decameron, Part 2
Sometimes a book will come across the bench that is both exciting and a little bit terrifying. In early February, this kind of book made its way to me. At the end of 2024, Special Collections acquired a fantastic 1542 Il Dicameron Di Boccaccio rebound by Francis Bedford sometime in the 1800s. This book is…Continue Reading The Detached Decameron: Part 1
Welcome back! Seeing that we’re all working from Mullins Library once again, here’s a look at our new space. The Libraries held a grand reopening in April, and the Preservation Lab was one of spaces open for touring. Visitors were welcome to explore the displays of tools and items we work with and use (almost)…Continue Reading Preservation Updates in 2025