Re-introducing The Preservation Lab
Formed in 2012, the Preservation Lab is a book and paper conservation lab that began as a collaboration between the University of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library to provide preservation services to the two partner institutions.
Beginning in 2025, the Preservation Lab expanded its mission to provide expertise and services to the larger cultural heritage community, moving to a regional lab model. Under this new model, the Preservation Lab is now entirely managed, staffed and equipped by the University of Cincinnati.
“The Preservation Lab is a point of pride for UC Libraries,” said Liz Kiscaden, dean and university librarian. “We are fortunate to have a lab of this caliber and the talented team that supports it to support our work of responsible stewards of library collections.”
The Preservation Lab will continue to provide the full suite of preservation services to the University of Cincinnati Libraries and, for a fee, to other cultural heritage institutions. The Preservation Lab’s expertise is in book and paper conservation, with services available in general circulating materials repair, single-item conservation treatment, housing, exhibition prep and preservation consulting.
To learn more about the services, people and work of The Preservation Lab:
- “Identifying and Describing Historical Binding Structure: A Stacks Appraisal Workshop” by Catarina Figueirinhas, assistant conservator in the lab,
- Previous Source articles about the Preservation Lab,
- Annual Preservation Lab Open House, May 1, 2-4pm, 3rd floor Langsam Library, “More than Conservation.”
Book Arts in The Preservation Lab
This spring semester, students are gaining hands-on knowledge of artists’ books.
A collaboration between the Preservation Lab and the College of Arts & Sciences, the Book Arts course is an introduction to paper making, bookmaking techniques and artists’ books, supplemented by study of the theory and history of the book. In this course students craft book structures while exploring the book in its many incarnations, from clay tablet to scroll to codex to digital reader, with an overall emphasis on how artists’ books utilize myriad historical forms and structures.
In addition to discussing the book as object, medium, idea and art, class participants engage in observational analyses, do research and take part in weekly hands-on exercises. Together, they examine examples of historical book structures, artists’ books and zines, and use specialized tools and materials to craft their own book forms. Students conduct research on artists’ books to determine which artist’s book(s) the Elliston Poetry Collection, run by assistant research professor and curator Michael Peterson, should purchase and add to its collection. The course culminates in a final bookmaking project: drawing upon knowledge of historical and contemporary book making and binding structures to create an artist’s book, zine or hybrid.
The hands-on portion of the class is taught in the Preservation Lab by Holly Prochaska with assistance from the Preservation Lab staff, while discussions of readings and research, conducted in the Elliston Poetry Room, will be led by Gary Weissman, professor of English and undergraduate director of film and media studies.
