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Book cradle with book on display

Elegant Enclosures—The Collapsible Book Cradle

February 2, 2026

Authored by rwharper

Let's take another look at some of the “Elegant Enclosures” that we use in Special Collections! Today I'll offer you a close-up view of some of the structures we build in Preservation to…

a torn page

At the Book Spa: Paper Repair

October 10, 2025

Authored by rwharper

“Whoops, I’ve torn a page of my book. That’s okay, I’ve got some handy tape right here, I’ll just fix it right up. Probably the Library folks will thank me….”

(cue sound of record…

Swatch of fabric featuring the N.C. State Memorial Bell Tower, created in the School of Textiles

Elegant Enclosures--Swatches, Swatches, and More Swatches!

June 6, 2025

Authored by rwharper

Welcome back to “Elegant Enclosures,” a semi-regular series from the Preservation Unit, which is part of the Special Collections Research Center at D.H. Hill, Jr., Library. In…

Measure twice; cut once!

Special Guests in the Preservation Lab

April 4, 2025

Authored by rwharper

Recently the Preservation Lab in Special Collections hosted a class of students from the Society of North Carolina Archivists (SNCA). We are always excited to share our space with folks from…

Phantasmagoria 2007 by Sue Doggett

Ghostly Books and “Deal with the Devil” Ink in Providence, Rhode Island

November 11, 2024

Authored by rwharper

You’ve seen our Preservation blogs in the past, where we have talked about our work as part of the Libraries’ Special Collections. This time I’m taking you out of the Library and into the larger…

Our job backer with book awaiting treatment.

Let’s See What’s In The Lab—Ancient Equipment!

August 8, 2024

Authored by rwharper

Let’s See What’s In The Lab—Ancient Equipment!

(If you get that Lab reference, you might have been around when this equipment was made!)

…

Ancient Peruvian beans from Vicia, Chima Culture, 1000 A.D.

Elegant Enclosures: Sonic Welding

May 5, 2024

Authored by rwharper

Preservation is back with another post in our Elegant Enclosures series. These are processes and solutions we come up with to house objects that are not suited for standard boxes. Check…

An adhesive bind in progress.

At The Book Spa! Adhesive Bind

November 11, 2023

Authored by rwharper

 

Welcome back to another episode of At The Book Spa! Last time we talked about that great little treatment, the Spine Repair. This time we’…

The old cloth on the cover is peeled back to make room for a new cloth spine.

At the Book Spa! Spine Repair

September 9, 2023

Authored by rwharper

If you saw our blog post on July 24, 2023, you’ll remember we gave a general overview of the work that is done in the Libraries’ Preservation Unit. Today we’re taking a…