Job Posting: MIT Libraries

Thomas F. Peterson (1957) Conservator (Librarian II)
Curation and Preservation Services (CPS), MIT Libraries

MIT Libraries seek an experienced and forward-thinking professional to manage MIT’s special collections conservation program and to contribute knowledge and expertise to the Libraries’ overall preservation strategy. Working in a state-of-the-art conservation lab, this is an exciting opportunity to work with the rich collections of a world renowned institution ensuring long-term access for current and future scholars.

Reporting to the Head, Curation and Preservation Services, the Conservator develops and manages MIT’s special collections conservation program, planning and executing conservation treatments for the physical maintenance of rare books, archives, and manuscripts. S/he conducts condition assessments and utilizes data to inform planning and evaluate outcomes of services and projects. S/he provides expertise and guidance to collections curators and other library and facilities staff regarding collections care, treatment, and storage. S/he also keeps current on standards and best practice, documents procedures and workflows, and develops outreach and training programs.

The Conservator collaborates with the Department Head and Preservation Librarian to provide a comprehensive preservation program that leverages emerging and evolving technology and tools. S/he manages projects to maintain or expand access to paper-based materials and media through various reformatting methods, primarily digitization and, s/he develops preservation plans and priorities in consultation with managers of collections, user services, and digital repositories. S/he shares management responsibility of lab operations with the Preservation Librarian which includes budget development and administration, oversight of compliance issues, vendor relationship management, and supervision of one support staff and occasional interns.

Additional responsibilities of the Conservator include exhibition support for the Maihaugen Gallery, environmental monitoring and disaster preparedness and response, participation in stewardship of donors and fundraising, developing projects and funding proposals, and serving as the Libraries’ representative to MIT Environmental Health and Safety.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Graduate degree in conservation or comparable education and training
• Minimum of 3-5 years of professional conservation experience with demonstrated ability to perform complex treatments for rare books and paper-based materials
• Working knowledge of chemistry and materials science as applied in the field of conservation; demonstrated knowledge of current conservation theory and practice
• Ability to identify, adapt, and utilize relevant technologies and emerging techniques
• Ability to plan, organize, and set priorities
• Strong training skills; excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience supervising staff and managing a laboratory that meets OSHA requirements for health and safety

Preferred 
• Masters in Library Science or substantial experience working collaboratively in a research library setting
• Familiarity with relevant technology and tools
• Experience with exhibition production and support

SALARY AND BENEFITS: $58,500 minimum salary. Actual salary based on qualification and experience. MIT offers excellent benefits including a choice of health and retirement plans, a dental plan, tuition assistance and a relocation allowance. The MIT Libraries afford a flexible and collegial working environment and foster professional growth of staff with management training and travel funding for professional meetings.

APPLICATION PROCESS : Apply online at: http://hrweb.mit.edu/staffing/. Please include cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin March 4, 2013 and will continue until position is filled.MIT is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community and particularly encourages applications from qualified women and minority candidates.

Job Posting: Indiana University Bloomington

Head, General Preservation and Conservation Services
E. Lingle Craig Preservation Lab, Indiana University Bloomington Libraries

The majority of the work of the General Preservation and Conservation Services unit is high production focusing on treating materials from the circulating collections held in the Wells Library and the thirteen branch libraries of the Bloomington campus.  The staff work on a wide range of materials, including items published from the seventeenth century to the present.  The individual will be expected to lend his/her skills, knowledge, and abilities in the preservation of library materials to items that are rare and valuable when requested or as such items are identified through condition surveys from the various libraries of Indiana University Bloomington.

Job Summary: Manages the day-to-day activities of the preservation services related to the bound volumes received by the E. Lingle Craig Preservation Lab.  Hires, trains, supervises, evaluates, and provides leadership to two full-time conservation technicians, one full-time Kasemake enclosures operator, and hourly employees.  Analyzes workflow and establishes procedures to maximize efficiency and cost effectiveness of the lab; develops and expands the preservation and conservation program as necessary; and performs a broad range of preservation and conservation treatments, including constructing enclosures, developing and introducing new treatments to address specific needs, and teaching staff how to perform various treatments. Responsible for the department’s disaster response, determining the best treatment for materials exposed to environmental or biological hazards, and treating materials that may be housing insects.

Qualifications: Master’s degree in Library Science, Archives, Preservation/Conservation, or related field; two years professional experience in evaluating materials for preservation/conservation treatments and performing a wide variety of such treatments, including bindings, construction of enclosures, book repair and treatment of items that have water, mold, or other disaster-related damage; and two years of supervisory experience required.

Knowledge of current preservation principles, practices, and procedures is essential.  Excellent interpersonal, collaborative, and consultative skills; and ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.  Must have knowledge of computers and software applications, including Microsoft Word and Excel, and the ability to generate statistical and general reports as necessary.

Ability to lift and carry 30-40 pounds; capable of effectively use a fork-lift and dolly; skilled at using a variety of hand-tools; and able to use these tools on a regular basis. A current, valid driver’s license is required.

To Apply:  To apply for this position please go to Indiana University’s Human Resources website (https://jobs.iu.edu – Job # 7755) to submit an online application.  A cover letter and resume with the contact information for three professional references is required.

Applications will be accepted until February 7, 2013 or until the position is filled.

Job Posting: University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)

 

PROJECT MANAGER

PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM

Visiting Academic Professional (2 year grant position)

University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign

Deadline:  In order to ensure full consideration, applications and nominations must be received by February 19, 2013

Position Available:  This position is available as soon as possible.  This is a 100% time, two year visiting Academic Professional position in the University Library.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of Preservation and Conservation, the Project Manager will develop and oversee the testing of an IMLS grant funded self-assessment program (the Preservation Self-Assessment Program – PSAP) focusing on book, paper, and photographic materials and incorporating previous assessment materials already developed for audiovisual content (the AvSAP http://www.library.illinois.edu/prescons/projects_grants/grants/avsap/index.html). The two-year project will involve extensive research into current preservation issues including identification, storage, housing and potential treatment options, as well as the development of a computer-based self-assessment program, and the testing of that program to aid in the development of preservation priorities of those materials.  The Project Coordinator will directly oversee two part-time staff positions who will assist with research, testing, and coding.

The Project Manager is responsible for:

• Researching and developing the assessment structure for leading non-specialists through the preservation evaluation of book, paper, and photographic materials
• Developing functional specifications and interface designs for the application in consultation with the programming staff
• Developing and maintaining the project Web site
• Initiating, guiding, and summarizing discussions among the project partners to achieve consensus on goals and objectives
• Organizing partners’ meetings
• Writing regular project reports for the funding agency
• Writing news and magazine articles as required for the project, and working with the appropriate campus and University Library units to publicize the project and its goals
• Conducting, with the PI and co-PI’s, outcome-based evaluative research and producing reports and publications that inform the funding agency and the various professional communities represented by the project
• Collaborating with Library and other University of Illinois faculty, development staff, and others to identify ways in which the project can benefit or partner with current campus programs and outreach activities

Qualifications

Required:  Bachelor’s degree; Demonstrated knowledge of archival, book, paper, and photographic preservation and/or conservation principles and practices as evidenced by coursework or work experience; Prior professional or pre-professional experience in a library or archives environment; See https://jobs.illinois.edu for preferred.

Salary.   Salary will be commensurate with candidate’s experience and qualifications, but the upper limit is fixed by the terms of our grant.

To Apply: To ensure full consideration, please complete your candidate profile at https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload a letter of interest, resume, and contact information including email addresses for three professional references.  Applications not submitted through this website will not be considered. For questions, please call: 217-333-8169.

Lennox Foundation Internship: Get your apps in!

Iowa State University is accepting applications for the 2013 Lennox Foundation Preservation and Conservation Internship.  This twelve (12) week internship is intended to give current graduate students and recent graduates of preservation and/or conservation programs the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge of care and treatment of library and archives materials in an academic library.  Interns will learn about the overall functioning and organization of the Preservation Department and will undertake and complete a project based on their interests and skills, and the needs and capabilities of the Department.

 

Eligibility and requirements:

• Applicants must currently be graduate students, in good standing, in a program of library and archives preservation administration or conservation; or a recent graduate of such a program;
• Applicants must have completed at least four preservation or conservation courses before the anticipated start date of this internship;
• Applicants must commit to 12 consecutive weeks of full-time employment as interns;
• Internship must be completed within the calendar year;
• At the end of the internship, the intern will be required to submit a final report or project;
• Applicants must have student or working visas if not U.S. citizens.

 

The 2013 Lennox Foundation Internship provides a $3,200 stipend, travel expenses to and from Ames, and housing expenses.

 

For more information see:

http://parkslibrarypreservation.wordpress.com/lennox-foundation-internship/

 

To apply for the Lennox Foundation Preservation and Conservation Internship please submit the following items: cover letter; current resume; contact information for two professional references (include address, phone number and e-mail address); statement of interest (include projects of interest); graduate program description including requirements and course descriptions (indicate the classes you have completed).

 

Deadline for application is January 17, 2013

 

Submit these items to:

Melissa Tedone

Lennox Foundation Internship

Iowa State University

441 Parks Library

Ames, IA  50011-2140

 

Send electronic applications to:  tedone@iastate.edu

Call for Proposals: Preservation Administration Interest Group

The Preservation Administration Interest Group (PAIG) is seeking proposals for presentations at ALA Midwinter 2013, in Seattle, WA. PAIG will meet from 8:30-11:30 Saturday, January 26^th.

All topics related to Preservation Administration are welcome, and presenters will be allotted 20-30 minutes.

If you are interested in presenting, please contact Annie Peterson or Roger Smith (epeters5@tulane.eduor ros001@ucsd.edu) by December 1, 2012, with a topic and brief description of your presentation.  

Cornell University Library: From Beijing to Ithaca, Extending the Lives of Vulnerable Books

Thanks to a $180,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation, the Cornell University Library is beginning an internship program that will allow representatives from four libraries in China come to Ithaca to study with experts in our Department of Preservation and Conservation.

For more information, see the press release.

 

Job Posting: University of Washington Libraries

The University of Washington Libraries has a new Senior Conservator position supported through a generous grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation:

Reporting to the Head of Preservation Services, the Senior Conservator will plan, document and perform complex item-level conservation treatments on both bound and unbound special collection materials, including rare books, manuscripts, prints, maps and drawings on paper or parchment.  In consultation with collection managers and preservation staff, establish priorities for treatment and coordinate the workflow of treatments through the conservation unit. The Senior Conservator will work on unique and diverse collections from special collections and international studies and will provide professional advice and education to staff, interns, and other libraries and cultural heritage institutions in the region, as needed.

For additional information, or to apply, see: http://goo.gl/awWCF
Application deadline for priority consideration is Sunday, 4 November, 2012.