Internships and Student Opportunities

The Special Collections Research Center is pleased to offer internships, independent studies, and work-study opportunities for students in all areas of its operations including reference services, bookbinding, conservation, book arts, and collection surveys.

Below are reports of some of these experiences. For more information contact Peter Verheyen, Head Preservation.

Bookbinding, Conservation, and Book Arts

Marieka Kaye, a student in the Art Conservation Department of Buffalo State University , completed a one-week internship (10-14 January) in book conservation techniques in the Special Collections Conservation Lab with Donia Conn. The conservation program in Buffalo, NY focuses on the conservation of works of art, therefore it does not have any formal classroom work in book conservation. Those students wanting to pursue a career in books need to find outside training experiences.

During her week in the Conservation Lab Kay completed 3 major projects. She reattached boards and did tissue mends on several Safire leather bindings, she learned the molded paper spine rebinding technique developed by Conn, and she rebound one of the collection's incunabula in a limp paper binding. She also spent her last day learning historic endbands techniques from Peter Verheyen.

In her own words:

"As a Masters student in the art conservation program at Buffalo State College, I am able to work on a variety of artifacts including paintings, objects, and paper. Gaining knowledge on the technology and treatment of a wide variety of materials is a valuable experience, but instruction in book conservation is not included. I worked in book conservation for several years prior to graduate school, and my passion for books remained. In order to keep up my skills and learn new techniques, I looked for a conservation lab in the upstate New York area, and naturally came upon Syracuse University.

My week working in the special collections lab was a truly valuable experience. Because I have not been able to work with books in my graduate program, I was anxious to work and learn again. I was given the opportunity to learn several new treatments, including the molded paper spine binding, board reattachment using joint tacketing, and Japanese tissue repairs for leather bindings. Donia provided series of books to work on with each problem, so that I could practice the techniques through repetition. It was so nice to work with books again, and I left feeling inspired and excited about pursuing further experiences in the book conservation field in the future."

Evan Ballinger of Los Angeles, a student in the American Academy of Bookbinding's (AAB) degree program completed a one- week internship (June 28 - July 2) in German binding techniques by working in the conservation lab with Peter Verheyen. Based in Telluride, CO, the AAB program focuses on French binding techniques and students are encouraged to pursue internship opportunities elsewhere to learn the nuances of other binding techniques and traditions. These kinds of opportunities are rare and often sought.

During his week in the Conservation Lab Ballinger completed 3 bindings - full vellum, full leather, and millimeter binding. Ballinger was well prepared for the experience, and discussions were frequent.

In exchange for this experience, Ballinger was trained in the making of preservation enclosures, and was able to clear out our rehousing backlog.

A graphic designer and photographer, Ballinger received a tour of Bourke-White, Sipprell, and Eisenmann by Carolyn Davis at the end of his last day. We may well see him again as a visitor to our Reading Room.

Gregory Santos completed a semester-long, for-credit, independent study during the Spring of 2002. Santos, a senior working towards his BFA in the VPA School of Art and Design, had been exposed to bookbinding and conservation as a work-study student in the Conservation Lab, and developed a deep interest and passion for the medium. During this independent study, Santos learned about the history of the book as structure by making models with Donia Conn, the Rare Book and Paper Conservator, and about modern structures used for fine and edition binding from Peter Verheyen, the Preservation and Digital Access Librarian. Selections of the works produced were shown in Santos' BFA exhibition.

Collections Surveys

During the Fall of 2001, while working towards her MLS, Christina Dietz (formerly of SUL Media Services) completed a three-credit internship in the Conservation Lab of the SCRC. She had earlier participated in the Library's job-shadowing program in the Conservation Lab. Christina's internship meshed perfectly with the dire need to begin systematically conserving materials from the "architecture collection" which receives heavy use.

Her first day began with an overview of binding structure, associated problems, and treatment options. She then went into the stacks ad began surveying the collection volume by volume, entering the results into a Palm-computer database for later analysis. Discussion of item condition and treatment options was ongoing. After completion of the survey, the results were analyzed, sorted by treatment type, and compared with a list of titles receiving continual use in presentations by Library staff. A representative range of treatments was pulled from the shelves for treatment. These included simple repairs, "tissue" rebacks for books with broken joints and other "minor" problems, and full treatments involving washing & deacidification, extensive mending, and rebinding.

Christina also spent a morning with Marty Hanson, SUL Preservation Administrator. Discussion centered on the origins of the New York State preservation program and the development of the current program here at the Syracuse University Library. Marty also described in detail the organization and assorted function of the Preservation Department.

This internship provided a unique opportunity for Christina, allowing her to gain insight into the issues relating to the conservation of special collections materials, how treatment decisions are made, and what is involved with high-level treatments. We were pleased to have been able to offer her this opportunity.