The Book Restorer is a book restoration and book binding service based in Chestertown, MD. Ruth Scott Blackson began her book binding journey over 12 years ago when she moved to Philadelphia from England. She has worked at various establishments as a binder (bench trained), working as a volunteer in the conservation laboratory at The American Philosophical Society, as a book binder for 3 years at Dave Donahue Book Restorations, and most recently as an assistant conservator at the Library Company of Philadelphia between August 2023 and July 2024 . Ruth now operates her own bookbinding and book restoration service in Chestertown, MD where she performs work for a number of universities and institutions across the east coast, as well as working with private clients locally and nationally. Ruth is also a long- standing active member of The Delaware Valley Chapter Guild of Book Workers.

When Ruth is not restoring books she's working in her studio and is an established artist, exhibiting her work in Philadelphia and the UK. You can see more of her work here.

Institutional clients include: German Society of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Free Library of Philadelphia, Mennonite Heritage Center, Washington College, Joseph Krauskopf Memorial Library, Scott Memorial Library.