Sharon Oldale ACR
Projects
About Me
Sharon Oldale is a highly experienced book, paper and archive conservator. Sharon began her career in 1998 working as a Documentation Assistant for the National Trust. Once qualified, she took a Conservator position at the National Library of Wales in 1999, and then at Cheshire Record Office in 2000. In 2006 she became Senior Conservator at Liverpool Record Office. Sharon Oldale Conservation was established in 2015.
Commissioning work: All work undertaken follows a diagnostic examination of an object or collection. The client’s needs and the intended future use of the item/s are discussed and a detailed report is provided outlining the pre-treatment condition, treatment options, materials and costs. This service is offered free of charge and without obligation. Once a treatment path has been agreed, collection is arranged and work begins. Full consultation is offered throughout a project to final reporting and advice on aftercare. A collection and delivery service is available upon request.
Work is carried out in fully insured secure premises, and all treatments are in accordance with:
• ICON Professional Standards
• ICON Code of Conduct
• BS4971:2002 Repair and allied processes for the conservation of documents
• PD5454:2012 Guide for the storage and exhibition of archival materials
Sharon is also insured to work on site, so if your project demands she brings the conservation to you, she is happy to do so.
Collection Care: Sharon offers advice and assistance for all areas of collection care including:
• The safe handling of objects
• Preservation packaging, boxing and protection; including the use and sourcing of suitable storage materials
• Cleaning of collections and establishing good housekeeping regimes
• Environmental control and monitoring
• Integrated pest management
• Condition assessment surveys
• The development and implementation of conservation plans
• Writing policies to manage the care and preservation of collections
Loans & Exhibitions: Sharon can provide detailed condition assessments for items leaving an institution for loan. She offers advice and assistance regarding the care of objects in transit; including appropriate packaging and handling. She can also advise on the correct support and display of items and assist in their installation.
Emergency Response & Salvage: Sharon offers a range of emergency response services: On-site emergency planning training includes writing a disaster plan, disaster prevention, emergency response, salvage procedures and disaster recovery. Should a client require professional services in the event of a disaster, Sharon is willing to work on site, assisting with leading or coordinating salvage teams, participating in the salvage of collections and providing general conservation support.
Project Management: Sharon offers an on-site project management service. This includes the planning, organisation and management of resources and staff to a budget and timescale set by the client. Previous projects include:
• The packaging of a major UK archive’s collections in preparation for a move
• Designing and equipping a new conservation facility within a new build
Training: Sharon provides training sessions, seminars and lectures on a variety of conservation and preservation related topics. She has experience of speaking to a range of audiences from school children and students to local history groups and women’s societies to professional staff and fellow conservators.
Client Testimonials
I was delighted to locate Sharon through the Conservation Register and remain deeply impressed with the analysis she provided for my book restoration. The finished result ensures that the book will last for the centuries to come.
J. Fagan
Private clientSharon Oldale has carried out numerous conservation projects for the Susan Williams-Ellis Foundation, and for Portmeirion. She carefully follows the brief, and requests clarification where needed. In terms of timescale, she is clear from the outset how long each conservation job will take. We have been delighted with all the work she has completed for us, and her reports are concise and comprehensive. In all ways, she is a pleasure (and easy) to work with, which is why we keep returning to her with new projects.
Rachel Hunt
Collections Manager (Portmeirion Village, and the Susan Williams-Ellis Foundation)The Innholders are delighted with the restoration of our Company Record Book and a formal Dedication acknowledging Sharon's work is to be inscribed in the Book to record this important event in our history.
Jennifer Maddock
Company Steward. The Innholders, Cooks and Victuallers Company of the City of ChesterIt is an absolute pleasure to work with Sharon. Throughout the process of arranging conservation for severely water-damaged material, she has provided an incredibly thorough and clear service. Sharon is extremely efficient and prompt in her work and her informative reports have been very useful to the project more widely. She has kept us updated throughout with a comprehensive treatment plan and timeframe and is easy to work with in every aspect.
Fiona Doran
National TrustSharon has been carrying out book conservation for Chatsworth for many years. She is always more than happy to discuss our requirements and concerns, and to offer her own expert advice, in order to determine the best treatment approach in each case. She executes her work to the highest standards – and always on time, which is important when working to an annual budget. I would have no hesitation in recommending Sharon’s work to other librarians and archivists.
Fran Baker
Archivist & Librarian. ChatsworthSharon has carried out a number of projects for the University of Liverpool Library's Special Collections & Archives covering a range of historical periods and conservation techniques, and we are always delighted with the results. The thoroughness and care with which Sharon assesses each item, and the written and photographic reports she provides, mean we are always informed about what is being undertaken (and why). Sharon is clear about timescales, consultative in her approach, and her work is of a really high standard. I would recommend without hesitation!
Jenny Higham
Head of Special Collections & Archives, University of Liverpool LibraryTraining
MA Conservation specialising in Book, Paper and Archive Conservation. Camberwell College of Art
BA Fine Art specialising in works on paper and bookbinding Kent Institute of Art and Design
Conservation of Globes - On line distance learning course Hornemann Institute
Establishing a Conservation Practice - On line distance learning course American Institute of Conservation
Introduction to Craft Bookbinding (evening course) London College of Printing & Distributive Trades
