Assorted Book Resources

Reading The Archimedes Codex has brought on an onslaught on information. Last night I couldn’t sleep due to the need to research rare books, manuscripts, x-ray machines, palimpsests and more schooling options. Here are some of the links to really fabulous information on books and conservation:

The Walters Art Museum, which houses the Archimedes Palimpsest, also has a great page of other conservation projects. If you ever wondered if there was a need for conservators, pick one of those projects and run with it.

Continuing education resources:

California Rare Book School. I have always been fascinated by the romanticism of being a rare books dealers and the fact that there is a school for it is amazing! I would be extremely interested in taking the History of the Book course.

North Bennet Street School. Have I mentioned this one before? I have been thinking about this school more and more lately. The more research I do into book conservation, many currently working book conservators have been graduates of this institution. Its two year program looks absolutely wonderful and I know i would gain the best knowledge on book conservation. Hmmm....undecided still. It could be the cost that’s keeping me from taking the jump. Maybe a workshop would be better.

The Montefiascone Project. Heather Brown first introduced me to this project and I have been seriously considering attending. Not this summer, but hopefully next. Wow, is all I think every time I read through the program details.

I’ve also been compiling a list of libraries I would like to visit. Don’t most people spend their time thinking about vacationing to dark dusty stacks?

Beinecke Library (houses the Voynich Manuscript and has a Gutenberg on permanent display)

The Huntington Library (Amazing collection of American documents, including an autobiography of Benjamin Franklin in his own hand, and the botanical gardens. They also are on iTunes U)

Library of Congress (Largest rare book collection in North America, a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, a perfect copy of a Gutenberg. I might never come out.)

Folger Shakespeare Library ( Where the Werner Gundersheimer Conservation Laboratory is located. Their website has great info on conservation treatments and projects being preformed on site.)

Recently added to the list is the Trinity College Library Dublin. My mom and I are taking a trip to Northern Ireland to research our family history, but on that trip she suggested we stop by Dublin. Who am I to complain about libraries? It houses the famous Book of Kells, which was rebound by Roger Powell in 1953.



I do a little girl squeal when thinking about visiting all these great libraries.