TITLE: Collections Conservator
INSTITUTION: Newberry Library
DEPARTMENT: Conservation Services
Summary: Reporting to the Director of Conservation Services, the Collections Conservator coordinates general and special collections conservation workflows, performs physical care and treatment of Newberry Library collection materials, and assists the Director with conservation initiatives and other departmental activities.
Responsibilities:
Conservation:
- Plan and coordinate treatment workflows for Newberry Library collection materials. These non-circulating collections include a broad range of materials, including books, archival documents, maps, manuscripts on paper and parchment, photographs and other materials.
- Work with the Director of Conservation Services, Conservator for Special Projects, curators, and Reader Services supervisors to identify conservation needs and survey materials for grant proposals and conservation projects.
- Work with Director of Conservation Services to determine institutional conservation and preservation priorities.
- Specify, perform and document treatments.
- Monitor statistics for conservation workflow.
Education and training:
- Assist in training conservation staff in conservation and preservation activities.
- Train and direct the work of volunteers and interns in conservation and preservation activities.
- Educate Newberry staff in the care and handling of materials.
Assistance to the Director in the overall work of the department:
- Assist in managing and implementing environmental monitoring and pest monitoring programs.
- Assist in disaster preparedness training programs.
- Assist in formulating and implementing departmental policy, producing reports and statistics, and database management.
- Participate in tours of the department and other forms of outreach.
- Assist in monitoring conservation equipment and supplies.
Other duties:
- Manage small-scale outside library binding.
- Participate in library committees.
- Keep abreast of current developments in conservation, preservation, and related fields.
- Contribute to conservation funding proposals.
- Supervises Conservation staff in the Director’s absence.
- Perform other tasks or activities needed for the achievement of departmental goals.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree and graduate degree in Conservation or equivalent combination of training and experience required.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in a research or rare book library setting.
- Extensive knowledge of book history and structure.
- Excellent hand skills and understanding of current conservation theory, practices, and treatments of library materials.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, collaboratively, and productively in a dynamic environment.
- Demonstrated record of continued education in the field.
- Experience managing workflows and supervising the work of staff, volunteers and/or interns.
- Demonstrated ability to use productivity software including spreadsheets and databases effectively.
- Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and the ability to meet strict deadlines.
Schedule: Full time exempt position. 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with occasional evening and weekend assignments.
Benefits: Group life, health, dental, and vision insurance; fifteen days of vacation the first year, twenty days thereafter; two personal days and six paid holidays annually; discount in bookstore and book purchasing service; long term disability, long term care and retirement plan available after one year of service.
Date Posted: February 4, 2016
Available: April 1, 2016
About the Newberry Library: The Newberry Library is an independent research library concentrating on the humanities, with an active educational and cultural presence in Chicago and well beyond. Free and open to the public, it houses an extensive non-circulating collection of rare books, maps, music, other printed materials, and manuscripts. These materials include more than 1.6 million books, 15,000 cubic feet of manuscript, and 500,000 historic maps; several collections rank among the best in the world. The Newberry serves more than 100,000 in-person users each year, in its reading rooms and with its public programs and scholarly events. Residential research fellowships support some 55 scholars each year. Areas of the collection’s special strengths include maps, travel, and exploration; North and South American Indians; the history of the book; the Renaissance and early modern world; American history and culture; Chicago and the Midwest; genealogy and local history; music and the performing arts; and the history of religion. Educational activities serving the intellectually curious public involve exhibitions, adult seminars, professional development programs for high school teachers, panel discussions, concerts, book talks, two semester-long undergraduate seminars, and other activities and events.
Email cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to the Director of Human Resources at hr@newberry.org.
Please visit our Web site at www.newberry.org.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER