Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library seeks a Book and Library Conservator at the associate to full conservator level to care for its research library collections and teach in the Winterthur/University of Delaware Art Conservation Program. Responsibilities include preservation administration and conservation of rare and circulating library collections, loan and exhibit preparation, collaboration with Library and Conservation staff to achieve institutional preservation goals, and supervision of staff and volunteers as needed. The Book and Library conservator also holds an appointment as affiliated faculty at the University of Delaware, providing instruction and mentoring of students in the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation. The hours devoted to teaching for this position may vary from year to year, but the educational setting builds vital links to other conservation faculty, and links to graduate students from all the specialties.
The conservation department at Winterthur provides unique opportunities for a book and library conservator to design treatments and complete research in collaboration with conservators from many different specialties as well as with conservation scientists on site. The Winterthur Museum is also an extraordinary teaching collection which includes bound materials and documents in many of its historic rooms. The Winterthur Library is open to the public and is a member of the Independent Research Libraries Association, the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries, and the Association of Research Institutes in Art History; its collections encompass a wide variety of printed, manuscript, and visual materials that promote the interdisciplinary study of American art, architecture, decorative arts, material culture and everyday life. The collections support visiting and residential research fellowships as well as the research and exhibition needs of the Winterthur Museum and two graduate programs. Its resources include over 100,000 volumes of printed books and serials, 3,000 record groups of manuscripts, design and architectural drawings, photographs, and printed ephemera, a large collection of modern photographs, and 5,000 linear feet of institutional archives.
In addition to a thorough knowledge of the history and technology of bound structures, manuscripts and photographs, the candidate should demonstrate superior hand skills, familiarity with a wide variety of treatment options, an understanding of conservation science and analytical techniques as they relate to library materials, and knowledge of library preservation standards and practices. Applicants should also have superior organizational, written and oral communication skills and be able to work in a creative, energetic and collaborative environment. Teaching experience, a research/publication record, evidence of professional engagement, and familiarity with non-print media and library digital imaging programs is desirable.
Qulifications: The applicant must hold a Master’s degree in conservation or a Bachelor’s degree and equivalent experience. Applicants should have 7 years of conservation experience with at least 5 of those years post degree or training and be a member of AIC preferably at the PA or Fellow level. An MLIS and significant experience in a research library is desirable.
Interested candidates should forward a cover letter and resume to Human resources, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE 19735 or email jobs@winterthur.org. EOE
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AIC Blog Archives: Conservators Converse
Former Blog of the American Institute for Conservation