The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Secret Book Hospital: Where Books Go to Be Saved
Hidden beneath the bustling halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art lies a secret world where books are brought back to life. In the Sherman Fairchild Center for Book Conservation, a team of six employees work tirelessly to restore 2,500 books each year, ranging from rare and valuable to everyday volumes.
Unlike the rest of the museum’s art, these books are handled and treated for various ailments such as broken spines, torn pages, and crumbling bindings. The lab is equipped with fearsome machines, including a guillotine, that are essential tools in the book restoration process.
Mindell Dubansky, the head of the conservation center, describes the lab as a place where “violent equipment” is a part of daily life. Despite the intimidating machinery, the staff’s goal is to intervene as little as possible while ensuring the books maintain their functionality and appearance.
The lab, which has been performing book maintenance in-house for nearly a century, underwent a major renovation in 2011 to create a state-of-the-art facility. With antique tools, modern touches, and a rotating roster of patients, the lab exudes a certain “mad-scientist magic” that captivates book lovers who enter its doors.
Dubansky offers advice for book lovers looking to keep their own collections in top condition, including avoiding light, dust, and extreme temperature fluctuations. She also warns against using damaging bookmarks like Post-it notes and paper clips, recommending a simple slip of paper instead.
For those who cherish books as much as the staff at the Sherman Fairchild Center for Book Conservation, the lab is a place of wonder and dedication. As Dubansky puts it, “For people who love books, entering the lab is like getting hit with Cupid’s arrow.”
