{"id":3978,"date":"2022-08-23T11:26:50","date_gmt":"2022-08-23T15:26:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/thepreservationlab\/?p=3978"},"modified":"2026-02-06T18:03:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T23:03:05","slug":"a-librarians-new-favorite-teaching-tool-a-historical-book-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/thepreservationlab\/2022\/08\/a-librarians-new-favorite-teaching-tool-a-historical-book-model","title":{"rendered":"A librarian\u2019s new favorite teaching tool? A historical book model!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In February 2019, the Lab received a unique item at the special collections\u2019 meetings for the UC Libraries, a Book of Hours (ms.37) from 1475 from the Archives and Rare Books Library.  I was so excited when this book came into the Lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This 15th<\/sup> century Book of Hours was in poor condition and in need of conservation treatment. Not only was the binding structure failing and the text block broken in half, but this book was also heavily used as a teaching tool at the ARB library, and in its current condition it could not be safely handled. This was the perfect project for Ashleigh and I to collaborate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the beginning, it was decided that in conjunction with the conservation treatment of the Book of Hours, I would create a book model like the original Book of Hours, to be used as a teaching tool in the ARB library collection. In addition, the model would have a leather chemise, a common feature in some Book of Hours of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Book of Hours MODEL with a removable chemise.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Now here is where this story begins with the model of the Book of Hours. Often, here in the lab, we all create book models for various reasons: to learn about a new treatment, test different treatment options, to understand how some materials work together, and as teaching tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a teaching tool in the ARB library collection, this model needed to resemble the original Book of Hours in its structure and materials used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The primary goal for this model was to show how a Book of Hours was historically built, its sewing structure, the materials used, and also to provide the ARB library with a book that could be easily handled by students and scholars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the treatment for the Book of Hours was fully established and confirmed with the ARB curator, I was able to start working on the book model. I will save you form reading about all the different steps of making the model, but here are the main features of model:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Text block<\/p>\n\n\n\n