We are pleased to announce the creation of a new program for training conservators and restorers of library and archival materials. The San Gemini Book & Paper Conservation School, will launch in the fall, for the academic year September 16, 2024 – May 23, 2025. Founded by the International Institute for Restoration and Preservation Studies of New York, in association with the San Gemini Preservation Studies program (now in its 25th year). The deadline to apply for fall 2024 is May 1st.

This 9-month program will provide intensive training in the field of restoration and preventive conservation of books and paper, including all the basic skills necessary to be a conservator and restorer of books and documents made with Western paper technology from the 16th Century to the present. This training aims to meet the needs of American, Australian and New Zealand libraries, archives, and museums.

The duration of this program will be one academic year (nine months September 16, 2024 – May 23, 2025) and classes will be held in the town of San Gemini in Umbria, Italy. This intensive study program (five days per week) will include theoretical instruction in the classroom as well as practical training in workshops and field trips. All instruction will be in-person, in English, in San Gemini.

The program is a certificate program aimed at graduate students that already have a background in conservation, library, archival, or museum studies. At this point, we do not offer university credit, but we hope to be able to offer credit in the near future.

Our faculty are amongst the most experienced and established restorers and academics who have worked on some of the most significant book collections in Europe such as the Vatican Apostolic Library, British library, Cambridge University Libraries and the Royal Collection Trust (Windsor, UK).

The application form, tuition/housing costs and program details can be found on our website www.sangemini-bp.org. Please contact pwithers@iirpsemail.org with any questions.

We are still accepting applications for the summer introductory courses through the San Gemini Preservation Studies in Paper Restoration and Bookbinding and Archival Material Conservation. These four-week summer courses are offered in association with West Virginia University and students have the option to receive credit by applying through that institution. The deadline for applying for these summer courses is extended to April 15, 2024.

To find out more about our programs please visit our program websites:

If you know any students, scholars, or others interested in this type of study, please inform them about our program. We would appreciate it if you could list our program on your organization’s website as an available educational resource. If your institution may be interested in an affiliation with our school, we would be very interested in hearing from you.