My name is Ana, and I am delighted to introduce myself as the conservation intern at the British Library Centre for Conservation (BLCC). I began this enriching journey in March 2024, and since then, I have been gaining invaluable experience in the field I am deeply passionate about: book conservation. 

Allow me to provide a brief overview of my professional background. In 2020, amidst the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I completed my BA in Conservation of Cultural Heritage at Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. During my studies, I developed a strong interest in book conservation, which I further specialized in through a Graduate Diploma and an MA in Conservation Studies of Books and Library Materials at West Dean College in the UK. 

Upon completing my academic training, I was thrilled to embark on this professional chapter at the British Library. This Funded Conservation Internship has been a remarkable opportunity to work alongside leading experts in the field, enabling me to establish my career within such a prestigious institution. 

A distinctive feature of my internship was its rotational structure. Approximately every six weeks, I transitioned between various teams, which allowed me to collaborate with different professionals, learn from their diverse expertise, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the operations within the BLCC’s departments, which significantly enhanced my professional development in book conservation (see Fig. 1).

Fig. 1: Ana working on an illuminated Persian Manuscript as part of her internship at the British Library

I have had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects, including the conservation of three small children's leather books, a 15th-century Persian manuscript (see Fig. 2), a 19th-century Daoist Rituals manuscript, and six notebooks belonging to G.K. Chesterton.

My work has also involved the preservation of Arakanese Buddhist manuscripts from the Murray Collection for digitisation, as well as volumes from the Adam Matthew Digitisation Project.

Additionally, I rebounded a volume from the Cotton Collection containing fire-damaged pages from the Ashburnham House fire of 29 October 1731.

I have also collaborated with colleagues from the Preventive Department on the preparation of the Medieval Women exhibition and assisted in the conservation and preparation of various items for a touring exhibition. 

Fig. 2: Ana testing pigment solubility on an illumination from a Persian manuscript

Working on such diverse items and alongside experienced professionals has allowed me to deepen my knowledge of various materials and different conservation techniques through hands-on experience. This has refined my decision-making skills, enabling me to approach new projects with greater confidence, adaptability, and a more strategic perspective, while also fostering greater independence in my work. 

 

As my internship comes to an end, I feel more confident in my conservation skills and look forward to applying this newly acquired knowledge to future projects and experiences at the British Library as a book conservator and a contributing member of the team. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the British Library and my line manager, Zoë Miller, for this incredible opportunity, and to Dr Lars Atkin, whose generous support made this dream possible. 

I will forever be grateful for the experiences and knowledge gained during this internship, and I look forward to carrying these lessons with me throughout my conservation career.