Caring for Parchment-Bound Books
This webinar discusses the use of parchment, primarily as a covering material for books, but also as a writing substrate. Participants learn how parchment is made, as well as the history and structure of books bound in parchment. Most crucially, the webinar covers common condition issues, proper storage, and how to know if preventative care solutions.
Description
Parchment, animal skin that has been scraped and dried under tension, has been used in the dissemination of the written word for millennia. While parchment is a robust material—surviving examples exist from as early as the 8th century—it can also be incredibly sensitive to environmental changes and proper care of parchment volumes requires specialized knowledge. This webinar discusses the use of parchment, primarily as a covering material for books, but also as a writing substrate. Participants learn how parchment is made, as well as the history and structure of books bound in parchment. Most crucially, the webinar covers common condition issues, proper storage, and how to know if preventative care solutions can be applied in-house or if it’s time to call a conservator.