THE THOMAS Plume Library in Maldon has received a cash windfall from an arts group to help safeguard some of its rare and historic 17th century books.
The library, based on Market Hill, accepted a cheque for £590.40 towards a conservation project that will hopefully keep the spines of the books in good condition for generations to come.
Sue Roache, the chairman of Blackwater Decorative & Fine Arts (BDFAS), presented Erica Wylie, librarian of the Thomas Plume Library, with the cheque.
Mrs Roache said: "As a committee we try to help arts groups in the area and we know that the Thomas Plume Library had some very old books that need conserving so we we're happy to help.
"Maldon is very vibrant for the arts with drama plays and small arts galleries and it's something that the young and the old are interested in here."
As well as a cash donation, a number of local heritage volunteers from BDAFAS joined the project to construct polyester "book shoes" which will support the text-block and prevent it dropping away from the spine of the book.
Erica Wylie said: "We are very grateful for all the time and effort the volunteers have put in and the money donated by BDFAS and the friends of Thomas Plume library.
"This is a pilot project so if it works well then we'll hopefully expand it – it's a less invasive procedure of conservation than others. It's important for us that we keep them in good condition and Maldon is lucky to have such an asset like the Thomas Plume Library."
The BDFAS volunteers were taught how to make the "book shoes" by Tony King and Diane Taylor from the Essex Records Office and will continue to make them at the library after buying the raw materials.
This type of book shoe has been designed to suit the style of bookbinding used in publications prior to 1700.
The grant has been made jointly by the National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS) and BDFAS with The Friends of Thomas Plume Library also supporting the project with a donation.
The library was started by the vicar of Greenwich and Archdeacon of Rochester Thomas Plume in 1704, under the terms of his will.
He bequeathed his collection of some 8,100 books and pamphlets, to be kept in the building that he had constructed from the ruins of the old St Peter's Church.