Lying at the heart of the World Heritage Site between the Castle and the Cathedral, Palace Green Library and its collections have represented the best of humanity’s thirst for knowledge and understanding.
UNESCO inscribed the site on the World Heritage List in 1986 for its significance to the whole of humanity.
Palace Green Library cares for a wide range of historical collections including manuscripts that pre-date the Norman conquest, early and rare printed books, parchment documents and a huge breadth of museum objects held at the Oriental Museum and Durham Castle. From Ancient Egypt to modern China, the Oriental Museum is devoted entirely to the art and archaeology of the great cultures of Northern Africa and Asia.
In the early months of 2023, the collections department at Palace Green Library undertook a comprehensive review of their conservation processes, seeking more efficient methods that balance flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Tony King, Senior Collections Care and Conservation Manager at Durham University, emphasised the integral role of protective packaging in collections care.
While recognising the time-intensive nature of handcrafting custom boxes and the expense associated with purchasing specialised ones, Tony researched digital cutting techniques adopted by fellow universities and museums, the research led them to Zünd Digital Cutters. Tony said “We were aware of digital cutting techniques used by other universities and museums, so we did some research and came across Zünd Digital Cutters. We found the Zünd appealing for our low volume box making requirements”.
With Tony’s lead, Palace Green Library proactively engaged with Zund UK, to organise a product demonstration with the support of Arden Software, a leading developer specialising in packaging design CAD software. Reflecting on the experience, Tony remarked, “During the demonstration, we were introduced to the Zünd G3 and S3 digital cutters, but quickly concluded that the S3 stood out as the optimal choice for our needs.
I was thoroughly impressed by the design and build quality of the Zünd. We conducted rigorous tests on a variety of materials, including archivable box, dense millboard, protective cloth and foam.” Following the successful demonstration, Tony secured university approval to acquire a Zünd S3 M-1600, equipped with PackZ by Arden Software.
Since acquiring their new Zünd cutter in late 2023, Palace Green Library recruited Isabelle Morse as the Zünd operator. Isabelle expressed her excitement, stating, “As someone with a background in laser machinery, the Zünd is a dream come true. Having an array of tools at my disposal for working with various materials allows me to explore beyond my comfort zone when crafting customised packaging.
Additionally, I can provide support to other departments within the group for their cutting needs. For instance, just last week, we used the Zünd for digitally cutting protective materials used to cover ancient books before they are placed in an archive box.” Isabelle’s experience highlights the versatility and collaborative potential of the Zünd cutter in enhancing the library’s conservation efforts
