Condition database
The condition of all the manuscript and early printed books is recorded on a database, which is updated as repairs are carried out.

Storage and housing
Improving the boxing and encapsulation of the documents in the archives is a continuing process.

Bookshoes
This is a special innovative project in the Chained Library, to support and protect the most precious and vulnerable chained books while allowing them to remain upright on their shelves to preserve the authentic appearance of the Library as a heritage site of international importance.

The bookshoes have been designed by Christopher Clarkson, conservation consultant to the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library.

The short-term bookshoes, which should last 20-30 years, are made from acid-free card and are produced by the Preservation Services of the Bodleian Library, Oxford. They are nearly complete for the medieval manuscript books.

The long-term book box-shoes are made of oak and lined with acid-free card. They will last for over 100 years but take longer to make, as they require the work of a skilled craftsperson in wood. Only a few have been complete so far, and the design is still being developed.

For more information about the bookshoes and how you can help to support this important conservation project, please contact the Librarian.

Conservation repair
There is an ongoing programme of active repair, as funds permit. The current priority is to repair those manuscript books which are too badly damaged to take their place on the shelves in the Chained Library.

Policy
In all conservation matters, we aim to preserve as much of the original structure and context of the book or document as is consistent with its survival and safe future use.

Funding
We are grateful to the Mappa Mundi Trust for providing an annual amount for conservation repair, and for funding the initial stages of the bookshoe project.

We have received grants from various charitable funding bodies in the past for particular large projects, most recently from the Radcliffe Trust for the conservation of the first of the Beddoe albums of prints, drawings and photographs, etc. We shall be seeking additional funding for the book box-shoes in the near future, as well as for the remaining two Beddoe albums, and for the repair of one of the medieval manuscripts, the cost of which is likely to exceed the Mappa Mundi trust's annual grant.