A closer look at the tooling tools. On the end of each is a different design. I was told they were used to stamp designs into leather. Gold and other metals were also poured into the molds to create design pieces. #libraries #conservation #preservation #NYC
Upon entering the Conservation Lab, I immediately noticed this large piece of equipment, which is a board shear from the 1800s. It’s still actively used to cut and trim boards used for mounting, say, newly restored oversized maps, etc. #libraries #conservation #preservation #NYC
Deeper into the lab, we got to see the conservators at work. Here, one is doing inpainting, “where damaged, deteriorated, or missing parts of an artwork are filled in.” She’s using color pencils and watercolors to do the work. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inpainting #libraries #conservation #NYC
Here, one of the conservators is doing bookbinding repair. They explained that the back covers were missing on several of these, so they found paper that perfectly matched the front cover in color and texture and did the repairs. Like new! #libraries #conservation #NYC
At this table, a conservator is tending to the creases, crinkles, and stains on an illustration of the Brooklyn Bridge done on drafting linen, a cloth once “commonly used as an alternative to wood-pulp papers.” en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drafting_… #libraries #conservation #NYC
Throughout the lab are these large tubes suspended directly above workstations. I was told they’re used for ventilation when conservators are working with adhesives or other substances that give off strong odors. #libraries #conservation #NYC
The person leading the tour of the Conservation Lab showed us what he’s working on: a 1923 Japanese comic titled Shochan no boken. We were told it was a contemporary of the Belgian comic Tintin. He pointed out the rusted staples binding the comic. #libraries #conservation #NYC
Historic costumes and other archived clothing items are also brought to the Conservation Lab. Laid flat on a large table and covered with protective paper is a gown with bright feathers, some on the verge of falling off. #libraries #conservation #NYC
In one corner of the Conservation Lab is a large mat cutter that staff have nicknamed Kermit, for its green color. They even gave it googly eyes and a sticker that looks like the open mouth of Kermit the Frog. Very playful 🐸 #libraries #conservation #NYC
Last stop on the tour of the library’s Conservation Lab was this room where #conservation of photographs was being performed. Here is the setup for this sort of work. #libraries #preservation #photograghy #NYC
Photos were originally affixed to the black construction paper pages of a scrapbook. #Conservation involves separating them from the pages, removing remnants of black paper and adhesive from the backs, mending tears, etc. Educational and enjoyable tour of the lab! #libraries #NYC