This guide offers an introduction to the Conservation resources at Tate Library.
These materials support the work of Tate's conservation departments including Paintings and Frames, Paper and Photographs, Sculpture and Installation Art, Conservation Science and Preventative Conservation, and Time-Based Media.
For more information about Tate Library, to search our catalogue, and to book an appointment, please visit our website.
Paper Conservation team in the Tate Britain studio, 2022. Photo © Tate (Reece Straw)
Tate holds the national collection of British art from 1500 to the present day and international modern and contemporary art. For more information, see the Collection pages on our website.
Tate is unable to authenticate or value works of art owned by private individuals. For advice regarding the identification of works of art, contact a reputable art dealer or auction house.
Search or browse the Tate Library's online catalogue to discover over 1,800 books and 50 serial titles related to conservation.
Tate Library collections include over 115,000 books and monographs, 175,000 recent and historic exhibition catalogues, over 10,000 artists’ books, zines and serials, 3,000 print and online journals, printed ephemera, audio and video recordings, as well as microfilm and microfiche collections and half a million press cuttings.
Tate staff can request and borrow conservation books, recommend titles for purchase, transfer conservation books and serials to the Library, request an inter-library loan and access specialist online resources. Please see: Using Tate Library FAQs for more information, or contact the Conservation Liaison Librarian directly.
External researchers who would like to consult conservation publications can book an appointment to access these materials (reference only) in the Tate Library Reading Room.