Book Preservation

Books, manuscripts and documents change lives.

Through the stories they tell, in the text on the page, the materials they are made of and the nature of their construction.

I work with you to save these objects and all the stories within so that they can continue to change lives indefinitely.

To be able to do this, these objects want to be seen. I design and construct supportive preservation solutions like boxes, cradles, handling and reading solutions that help you to allow your complex object to be read and displayed.

When I talk about “complex” objects I mean any book or manuscript object that you do not feel comfortable about putting in an “off the shelf” box board box.

WHAT I DO
Bridget Mitchell | ARCA Preservation


Bridget Mitchell

I’m an Icon accredited Book Conservator. I trained as a bookbinder and then a Book Conservator with Chris Clarkson at West Dean College.  I went on to work at the Bodleian Library and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London in the Conservation Departments for 13 years. I left in 2003 to set up my own business to allow me to specialise in the work I love. Solving storage, reading or display problems for large or complex objects.

I care that your object stays safe and protected, able to continue to tell its’ stories for centuries to come. I also want to enable you show your object to your audience. Helping to connect people to their past and inform their future.

I do this through:

realising the ideal response for you, your collection and your objects’ needs
perfect crafting of my products
making every detail of my boxes and cradles count
using the highest quality archival materials
I make boxes to the highest standards of craftspersonship. Click here to find out how I will make your box.

I also design solutions to object reading or display problems and have a range of Book Shelters to help you tell stories in specific locations, safely. 

WHO ITS FOR
I supply boxes and book cradles to libraries, archives and museums. I also make them for individuals and private collections. My book boxes and cradles are all tailor-made so I am as happy to make one, as I am to make 100.

I work with you to provide boxes and cradles in your chosen format and style. Or, I can design enclosures and cradles to achieve a specific purpose.

Are you an independent conservator? Leverage your time and effectiveness. Let me take care of your box and cradle making so that you can increase your time and money by getting on with the tasks that only you can do. I also do tracing, cutting and nesting of objects to provide display mounts, box liners and compensation pieces that fit your object exactly. And, all to a standard, you will be happy to call your own.

If you know what you want, I can complete it for you according to your specification. If not. Let me work it out and make it for you.

Want to get started or need more information? Click the link below to find out how to purchase a box or here to get a cradle made.

https://arcapreservation.co.uk/the-book-shelter/