Conservation Bindings – Bound for the Future: A Mechanical Study of Sewing Techniques and Materials

Conservation binding is a last-resort solution for text blocks lacking adequate bindings for preservation, posing ethical and technical challenges for conservators. A single binding model cannot address the wide range of cases encountered, and the lack of mechanical studies limits informed decision-making. To tackle these issues, conservation studios at the Bibliothèque Interuniversitaire de la Sorbonne (BIS, Paris) and the Service de Coopération Documentaire Interuniversitaire (SCDI, Montpellier) launched a research project on conservation bindings for Western medieval parchment manuscripts. Combining theoretical analysis with mechanical testing, the project re-examines traditional bookbinding practices to better understand their performance. This study evaluates durability of sewing threads and supports, effects of different sewing techniques, and spine behaviour during opening. It presents materials, methods, and initial experimental results from collaborative work with the Solid Mechanics Laboratory (LMS) at the Ecole Polytechnique (X, Paris). All documentation follows an open-science approach to enrich international dialogue on conservation practices.