I’m often asked how you become a conservator and what we need to know to do our jobs. Here’s a short list of the skills all good library conservators have:

• Knowledge of the history of the book and printing
• An understanding of organic chemistry, especially as it applies to paper, leather, parchment and pigment manufacturing and deterioration mechanisms
• Knowledge of historic and modern materials (paper, thread, cloth, inks, pigments, skin, etc.)
• Skills in mending and housing a variety of archival formats (books, paper, audio-visual, felt dolls, early codices, etc.)
• Understanding of libraries (mission, language, organization, etc.)
• Critical thinking, decision-making, communication, and research skills, not to mention computer and photographic skills.

But there is one skill that every conservator needs that we use almost every day…

Cat-like reflexes.

These are particularly useful for when you drop your scalpel on the floor.