PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH CONSERVATION AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY

Abstract

The new Centre for Conservation at the British Library (BL) opened in London in 2007. It comprises state-of-the-art book conservation studios and sound preservation facilities, inextricably intertwined with an ambitious training and public outreach programme, all housed together in a beautiful, purpose-built, multi-million pound building next to the new Eurostar station at St Pancras in London. It is the only such centre to focus on the conservation of books and the preservation of sound. The presentation of the conservation of the BL's holdings of the world's cultural heritage and the public programmes were integral to the fundamental ideas behind the building, designed in from the earliest stages of the project. The paper describes the thinking behind this development and assesses the public engagement with conservation a year after the new building opened. The public programmes include a permanent, free exhibition on conservation and decision making at the entrance to the new conservation centre, linked to the rotation of iconic collection items within the BL's Treasures Gallery. There are free, behind-the-scenes tours of the conservation studios for the public as well as demonstrations, workshops and talks to widen public access to the activities and concepts behind caring for the British Library's vast collections. These developments at the British Library are considered in the wider context of trends in presenting cultural heritage. The paper concludes with developments in how conservation is contributing to international engagement and cultural diplomacy.