Volunteer Voice – Valentina de Riso

In this week’s blog we bring you another edition of our volunteer voice, this time from Valentina de Riso, who volunteers in the conservation studio every week….

Valentina in the conservation studio

What is your name?

I’m Valentina de Riso.

Where are you from?

I’m from Italy and I’ve come to Scotland to study for an MSc in Comparative Literature at the University of Edinburgh.

What do you do when you are not volunteering?

I am a book lover and I have a passion for literature. When I’m not volunteering I love reading, writing short-stories and exploring the city of Edinburgh. I am also keen on old and used books, so I often happen to be in some second-hand bookshop, sniffing between pages and looking for rare books!

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Volunteer Voice – Laura Keizer

In this week’s blog, we interview a conservation volunteer to find out what they do in the studio and the benefits of volunteering….

Laura Keizer surface cleaning a bound volume in the conservation studio

Laura Keizer surface cleaning a bound volume in the conservation studio

1.What is your name?

Laura Keizer

2. Where are you from?

I’m originally from the Netherlands, but – following a short stint in Reykjavík – have been an Edinburgh resident for over three years now

3. What do you do when you are not volunteering?

Despite currently being swamped in dissertation research for the MSc in Book History and Material Culture, I love to go hiking in the Scottish hills and highlands, hunting for castles or other medieval vestiges on my bike, or simply reading a book or knitting.

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