San Francisco Center for the Book

While bookbinding and book repair share many skills and techniques, they are also distinct pursuits. This course will introduce the student familiar with bookbinding to key practices within basic book repair.

This will include how to mend various tears, losses, and splits with different types of Japanese paper as well as an introduction to localized humidification and flattening. Key items discussed in this class will be a brief history of book conservation, the difference between conservation and restoration, and how to choose the proper adhesive and Japanese paper in different scenarios.

Through both discussion and hands-on practice, students will get the answers to these questions and more in order to start to appreciate the challenges and rewards of book repair.

Topics addressed/activities will include:

• The history of book conservation
• Conservation ethics
• How to distinguish different types of adhesives used in conservation; students will discuss and touch various papers used in conservation
• Various types of paper mending and strengthening with kozo tissue and paste
• Humidification and flattening
• How to make a custom-fitted conservation enclosure

SFCB's Windgate Scholarship Fund is dedicated to providing need-based financial support to individuals interested in learning bookbinding, letterpress printing, and related book arts. Click here to apply.

Prerequisites:
None, though some bookbinding experience or experience in the safe handling of fragile items is recommended.

Materials to bring:
All tools and materials will be provided.

About the Instructor:
Clair Emma Smith (she/her) is a bookbinder specializing in repair located in Oakland, California. She found her love of bookbinding during an art conservation internship at a historical society in Indiana, and she has been setting up her dream home studio ever since. Clair Emma relocated to the Bay Area after graduating from North Bennet Street School's bookbinding program in 2019 and works in private practice for both herself and other conservators as Bouguereau Bindery.