Emily MacMillan

Which course/s did you study?
The Graduate Diploma in Conservation: Books & Library Materials (2022-23) and the MA Conservation Studies: Books and Library Materials (2023-24)

What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?
I’d have to say that getting a permanent job after finishing my MA is my biggest achievement; I have never lived in a city before moving to London, so a lot of change has come from being given this position. I am well aware of the challenges of the job market and the number of new graduates vs the number of jobs available, and the process of applying and interviewing for jobs is so tiring, so I feel very lucky to be where I am now.

Talk us through your career path since graduating.
After completing my MA in September 2024, I lived with my parents while I applied for jobs within my field. I had 3 interviews in late November, and was lucky to be offered my current permanent and full-time job as a book conservator at the British Library from one of those interviews. As of August 2025, I have been in London for just over 6 months and recently passed my probation period.

What projects are you currently working on?
Currently we are preparing for an upcoming exhibition at the British Library, and one object I have worked on is a large unfolding map of north-east Scotland which I was recently filmed talking about for some promotional material for the exhibition. My biggest projects at the moment are a pigment consolidation project of a 16th century Persian manuscript which has a variety of flaking pigments that require consolidation to prevent losses, and two Islamic manuscripts which were rebound in Western style bindings some time ago; my job is to repair and rebind them, one of which I have already completed. The second of these manuscripts will be quite an intensive project with an estimate of almost 200 hours as it has been poorly rebound and majorly altered in order to do so, though its original boards have been saved, so it will be an incredibly satisfying job to return it to its original format.

Do you have any tips for recent graduates?
When preparing for an interview, don’t be afraid to ask if the interviewer will provide their questions ahead of time if they have not already. Being able to prepare prompts for responses to certain questions is very valuable and can really help to keep the conversation on track, and knowing which projects and/or skills you can talk about in the interview is important to prepare. Brush up your portfolio when you have time, find ways to highlight certain skills/experience in your CV to draw attention to what matters most for each job you apply for. Additionally, try not to doubt yourself; whether you had practical experience before you began your studies or not, you can only do your best to show off the skills & knowledge you have and being able to confidently discuss those makes a huge difference. It can be difficult not to compare yourself to your peers and others, but sharing resources like books & articles and information from workshops with your friends in the field and maintaining those connections after finishing studies can be such a boost for morale. You’re worth no less than anyone else; experience varies a great deal with all of us, and everyone has to start somewhere. Stay in touch with your peers, support each other and trust your abilities.

How do you think studying at West Dean College prepared you for what you do now?
My studies at West Dean were my first time learning about assignment structuring, including citations, referencing, and compiling a bibliography, as I had not been to university before starting my bookbinding & conservation career, so being taught how to conduct my research effectively and present it was immensely helpful. I have a lot of topics I would like to research in my career, and my studies at West Dean have helped me feel confident in my ability to carry out whatever further research I do in the coming years.

What's your favourite memory from your time at the College?
My favourite memories from West Dean stem from time spent with my friends, some of whom I knew before studying and lived with through both my first and second year, and engaging with open mic nights in the student bar, along with studying together for moral support. The community of fellow students and the ease with which so many of us connected made my studies at West Dean incredibly memorable, and I am grateful to have had such great experiences to look back on fondly.

Did you receive any form of funding to study at West Dean?
I received funding support from the Edward James Foundation for both years of my study at West Dean, along with external funding from a foundation local to where I grew up.

Did you receive any form of funding after you left West Dean, that is linked to West Dean. i.e. the Mercers’ Arts Award?
Yes, I was awarded the Mercers’ Fine Art and Conservation Award.

Did you have a different career before coming to West Dean? If so, why did you change career paths?
No, prior to my studies at West Dean, I was a bookbinding apprentice before working as a book conservator and binder until I began my studies at West Dean in 2022 to gain my official qualifications as a conservator.

What has been the achievement you are proudest of either during study at West Dean or since leaving West Dean?
There’s a lot that has happened since I left West Dean, which I am very lucky to be able to say, though the moment I actually handed in my thesis with my friends was a particularly poignant moment for me. Having never been to university before and having been worried that I wouldn’t do well academically, the fact that I wrote a thesis and conducted research on a topic I am fiercely interested in was a moment I had not thought myself capable of when I first started my career in bookbinding at 19 years old. After my apprenticeship ended in late 2020 as a result of the pandemic, I struggled to imagine how things could pan out well for me since the early end left me with less qualifications than if it had run its full course, so looking back at how anxious I was about my career I feel especially proud to have achieved a Master’s degree without prior university experience and proving to myself what I am capable of.

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