Sarah Norris offers book and paper conservation services for individuals and institutions.  Conservation treatments use archivally safe materials and methods to prolong the life of your valuable items.  Services include:

• Book re-binding
• Bible repair
• Treatments for maps and prints
• Tape removal
• Leather stabilization
• Paper flattening and mending
• Document matting
• Storage solutions
• Collections surveys

Please contact ssnorris (at) gmail (dot) com for rates and more information.

Conservation is a process by which objects of cultural heritage are stabilized and preserved for future use.  Activities within conservation include documentation, treatment, and housing.  The practice of conservation focuses on making structural and aesthetic repairs while maintaining historical integrity.  Conservators receive specialized training in scientific evaluation and refined craft skills so they can perform treatments with discernment and care.  A conserved item will not always appear brand new; however, it will remain historically authentic and will last for years.

Conservation is not restoration, an activity that aims to return an object to a previous state without a focus on its future stability.  A restored item may appear brand new, but its historical authenticity and long-term durability are not guaranteed.

Conservation is also not appraisal.  While conservators focus on the treatment of physical materials, appraisers specialize in evaluating an object’s monetary worth within current markets.  According to the Code of Ethics of the American Institute for Conservation, it is a conflict of interest for a conservator to provide authentication or appraisal services.