The University of Miami Libraries (UML) and Lowe Art Museum offer a post-graduate fellowship in paper conservation for a 2-year term available as of June 1, 2019. Reporting to the Head of Preservation Strategies (UML) with a matrix reporting relationship to the Assistant Director for Collections and Exhibitions in the Lowe Art Museum, the Andrew W. Mellon Conservation Fellow will provide conservation services for the rich paper- based collections held in UML and the Lowe Art Museum. The Fellow will design and conduct condition surveys across library and art collections. The Fellow will plan and implement appropriate conservation treatment and housing solutions using institutional and outsourced resources as appropriate. The Fellow will conduct document examination, analysis, and treatments for rare books, other distinctive collections materials, or works of art on paper. The Fellow will collaborate with conservation staff, curators and digital program team members from the Libraries and Museum in preparing collections for digitization, exhibitions, loans, and outreach events. The Fellow will conduct preservation assessments of material being considered for addition to the Lowe Art Museum and UM Libraries collections, facilitating separate and joint (multi-format) acquisitions between the Lowe and Libraries.
The Andrew W. Mellon Conservation Fellow will have opportunities to engage in research, condition surveys, item-level treatment in the conservation laboratory, preventive conservation activities, exhibit and loan preparation, as well as conservation outreach. To further enhance training opportunities, inter-departmental collaboration is encouraged between conservators, digitization specialists, digital humanities researchers, curators, preparators, and other library and museum staff. The Fellow is expected to conduct an annual public lecture and carry out a publishable capstone research project.
This Fellowship is made possible thanks to a generous grant awarded to the University of Miami by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The grant is dedicated to fostering collaboration between the Lowe Art Museum and University of Miami Libraries through their shared effort to further faculty engagement with historical and artistic collections. In addition to supporting postgraduate fellowships in campus engagement and the conservation of art and archival works on paper, it establishes a programming fund to incentivize faculty to engage with University collections and enable the development of joint public programs that highlight these collections.
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Graduate degree in conservation from a recognized program OR a Master’s degree plus work or apprenticeship experience equivalent to that provided by a graduate degree in conservation
- A minimum of one year of practical experience beyond graduation
- Relevant experience with data collection and
CONTEXT: The
University of Miami (
www.miami.edu) is one of the nation’s leading research universities in a community of extraordinary diversity and international vitality. The University is a privately supported, non-sectarian institution located in Coral Gables, Florida, on a 260-acre subtropical campus with operations at three additional locations throughout the greater Miami region: Medical campus (downtown Miami); Marine and Atmospheric Science campus (Virginia Key); and South Campus (Richmond Facility). The University comprises eleven degree granting schools and colleges, including Architecture, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Communication, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Music, Nursing, and Marine and Atmospheric Science.
The University of Miami Libraries (UML) rank among the top 50 research libraries in North America with a collection of nearly 4 million volumes and more than 100,000 current serial subscriptions. UML comprises six libraries across the University’s three campuses. UML locations on the Coral Gables campus include: the Otto G. Richter Library (the central, interdisciplinary library); the Paul Buisson Architecture Library; the Judi Prokop Newman Business Information Resource Center; and the Marta and Austin Weeks Music Library. The downtown Miami campus hosts the Louis Calder Memorial Library. The Virginia Key campus hosts the Rosenstiel Marine and Atmospheric Science Library. Libraries at the School of Law and the Department of Ophthalmology in the Medical School are administered independently. The University of Miami Libraries provide support and services for 11,117 undergraduates, 6,214 graduate students, and 16,174 full and part time faculty and staff. UML employs 85 professionals (including 64 librarian faculty), 97 support staff and 56 FTE student employees. UML is a member of and contributor to the Association of Research Libraries, Association of Southeast Research Libraries, Association of Academic Health Science Libraries, Council on Library and Information Resources, OCLC Research Library Partners, International Federation of Library Associations, Center for Research Libraries, International Association of University Libraries, Library Publishing Coalition, Digital Library Federation, Hathi Trust, Academic Preservation Trust, Consortium of Southern Biomedical Libraries, Florida Collaboration of Academic Libraries of Medicine and Southeast Florida Library and Information Network. UML licenses electronic resources through the Northeast Research Libraries (NERL) and Lyrasis consortia. UML is a member of the Rosemont Shared Print Alliance, Scholars Trust and Florida Academic Repository (FLARE).
THE LOWE ART MUSEUM: The Lowe Art Museum (www.miami.edu/lowe) is located on the campus of the University of Miami at 1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables, Florida. With a permanent collection of 19,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of world culture, the Lowe is committed to serving as a vital resource for education and enrichment through art. Its dynamic permanent and temporary exhibitions establish the Lowe as a keeper of memories, a showcase for masterworks, an igniter of awe and wonder, and a bridge between yesterday and today.
SALARY AND BENEFITS: Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is a non-tenure track faculty appointment at the Librarian Assistant or Associate Professor rank. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package including: TIAA-CREF; medical and dental insurance; life, disability, and long-term care insurance available; tuition remission; 13 paid holidays; and 22 days annual vacation. Additional employment benefits available include credit union; Employee Assistance Program; bookstore, and sporting event discounts; optional fee-based membership in a state-of-the-art wellness center, and no state or local income taxes.
APPLICATIONS: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. On-line applications should be submitted here and must include a letter of interest, curriculum vitae and the names of three references.
The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer. The University has a strong commitment to diversity and encourages applications from candidates of diverse cultural backgrounds.
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