Book Conservation Team

Mindell joined Watson Library as the restorer in 1982 and soon after established the first Watson book arts exhibition program. In the late 1980s when the professions of book conservation and library preservation were established across the US, Mindell created a new Watson unit for book conservation and preservation, providing services to Watson and departmental libraries. In 2011, Watson renovated its book conservation facility with a grant from the Sherman Fairchild Foundation. Mindell currently supervises four staff involved in conservation, preservation, educational outreach, exhibition support, collection development, and publishing. Mindell holds a BFA from Carnegie-Mellon University, completed a four-year apprenticeship at the Center for Book Arts, attended an advanced course in fine bookbinding and restoration at Camberwell School of Arts and Craft, and holds an MLS and a Certificate in Library Preservation and Administration from Columbia University School of Library Service. 

Clare joined Watson Library’s Sherman Fairchild Center for Book Conservation in 2022. She is responsible for the preservation and conservation treatment of library materials from collections across the Museum. She is a bench-trained book conservator who began her training as a volunteer in book conservation at Watson Library in 1999. Since then, she has trained and worked in small institutions and with institutional and private clients throughout New York City.

Andrijana joined Watson Library’s Sherman Fairchild Center for Book Conservation in 2015 and is responsible for the conservation treatment and preservation of library and rare book collections across the Museum. She holds a BA in Anthropology and Art History from Hunter College, an MLS from Queens College-CUNY, and an MA in Art History from The City College of New York. Before taking on a full-time position at the Sherman Fairchild Center for Book Conservation, she interned and volunteered at the center and worked on the grant-funded conservation project for the Department of Drawings and Prints.

Kelsey first joined the Watson Library as a Bibliography Assistant in 2021 while completing a graduate program at Columbia University. She was able to work with the Book Conservation team on various projects and was hired full-time in 2022 as Collections Specialist. She manages loans of Watson Library materials, processes Watson Library collections, assists in preservation activities, and coordinates IPM for the Library. She holds a BS in Biocultural Anthropology from Oregon State University, and an MA in Museum Anthropology from Columbia University where her research focused on the collection and display of human remains in international museums.