Work experience in preservation services at the library.

• Author: Preiss, Lydia

Susanne Wullen Ching and Jess with their secret backing removal tools

Jess Wignell Ching wetting out the backing board with hot water in preparation for a backing removal from an artwork

Jess Wignell Ching cleaning a coloured lithograph on the vacuum suction table

Ching Hui Huang Jess making a storage folder for fragile material

Ching Hui Huang Jess lining a damaged pamphlet

Preservation Services has a long history of taking work experience placements to work and learn alongside staff in the area. Placements have mainly been students completing training in the fields of cultural preservation and librarianship in Australia, but the Library has also taken placements from cultural institutions in Asia and the Pacific, to share information and practical techniques in the care of cultural collections. Participating in these placements has been a challenging and rewarding learning experience for all involved, as we have had to adjust the approach to meet the various placement needs.

This year we have two placements, based in the Paper Conservation Laboratory but also working across relevant areas in the Library.

In 2006 Preservation Services was approached by Ching Hui Huang, a graduate student in paper conservation from the Tainan National University of the Arts in Taiwan. Most of these students do their internship at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Centre at...