nehirose:

oberlincollegelibraries:

 Preserving the Small Things

Every so often we open a book in Special Collections only to discover a flower, a leaf, or some other makeshift bookmark that reminds us that these books have a history. They were special to someone before they were special to us. 

Unfortunately, these beautiful reminders of the past are not good for the books, so when we do find pressed objects among the pages, we encapsulate them in a clear plastic called mylar. Not only does the mylar protect the paper from from the object, it also helps preserve the delicate item itself. Once encapsulated, the flower or leaf can return to the page where it was found and we can continue to enjoy them for years to come.

this is so eminently practical but also so dear