Cornell University Library (CUL), an innovative top 10 research library, advances the university’s mission of teaching, learning, research, and outreach. The primary audiences are Cornell students, faculty, administrators, and broad external audiences with a special emphasis on Cornell alumni. Expanding their understanding of the fast-changing and multi-faceted 21st-century research library is a major part of the mission.
Cornell University Library welcomes motivated and collaborative applicants for Assistant Conservator for Special Collections to join our established conservation program within an active academic research library. Emerging conservation professionals and candidates with a variety of educational, work, and/or professional experiences are encouraged to apply. Applicants invited for an interview will be asked to present a portfolio of recent conservation treatments.
Reporting to the Head Conservator, the Assistant Conservator for Special Collections will contribute to the preventive care and conservation treatment of the special collection holdings of Cornell University Library, primarily the Rare and Manuscripts Collection, Kroch Library, the Albert R. Mann Library for Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Kheel Center for Labor Management Documentation and Archives. The Assistant Conservator for Special Collections will plan and execute a wide range of conservation treatments and construct protective enclosures for rare library and archives collections, with a focus on bound materials. The Assistant Conservator will also participate in digitization projects, housing initiatives, the exhibition program, condition surveying and collection assessment, and occasional instruction. The Assistant Conservator for Special Collections will join the team of conservators, senior conservation technicians, and student assistants, and work collaboratively with digitization staff, librarians, curators, archivists, and technical services staff.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- With the Head Conservator, recommend, develop, and prioritize treatment, preventive, and housing solutions for individual items and collections as part of collection management, digitization, exhibition, and instruction.
- Treat and house a broad range of rare library and archives materials, with a full-range of condition concerns, using a variety of techniques and materials, with a focus on, but not limited to, bound materials.
- Participate in digitization projects including assessment of treatment, handling, and equipment needs. Prep collection material for digitization including full and stabilization treatments.
- Participate in the exhibition program (assessment, treatment, and mount construction); plan and conduct enclosure projects as needed.
- Participate in environmental monitoring; disaster preparedness and response; and instruction, research and outreach activities as needed.
- Provide functional supervision for student employees and conservation technicians as needed.
- Assist with conservation planning and program development; maintain statistics and documentation.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree or other formal training program of four years
- Advanced knowledge of current conservation principles and practices
- Advanced knowledge of the history, fabrication, and conservation treatment of library/archives collections, including knowledge of historic and modern book structures, sewing styles, and bookbinding; knowledge of a variety of conservation treatments for bound materials, including leather; familiarity with the wide-ranging material formats and concerns of archives collections
- Advanced knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of library/archives collections; advanced understanding of causes of deterioration
- Excellent manual dexterity and attention to detail
- Excellent oral and written communication
- Excellent interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
- Creative and flexible problem-solving skills; ability to adapt to changing priorities; excellent time and workflow management; ability to meet deadlines
- Proficiency in digital photography, databases, and Microsoft programs.
- Active engagement in professional development, seeking relevant training and education
- No relocation assistance is available for this position.
- No visa sponsorship is available for this position.
Preferred Education and Experience
- Advanced certificate, Master’s degree in library/archives conservation, or equivalent training and education, gained through a combination of formal studies, apprenticeship, advanced courses, and/or internships
- 2-3 years of professional experience working in library/archives conservation
- Advanced progression in independence, complexity, and mastery of conservation tasks
- Workflow management experience
- Supervisory experience of student employees, interns, and/or Conservation and Library staff
- Ability to apply and adapt knowledge and skills to a variety of tasks
- Experience in collection management; survey projects; large scale enclosure projects; grant-funded projects; digitization projects
- Paper and photograph conservation experience (including oversize materials, art on paper, photograph albums, scrapbooks, and A/V)
The Cornell University Library Conservation Lab, founded in 1985, supports the Library’s mission to preserve knowledge and creative expression. The Conservation Lab conserves physical materials in their original format and ensures that library materials are safe during research use, instruction, exhibition, and digitization. The Conservation Lab, well-equipped for rare book, paper, and photograph conservation, circulating book repair, and film assessment, is located in Olin Library on the Arts Quad of the Ithaca campus. The Conservation Lab works closely with unit libraries across campus, digitization and AV preservation staff, curators, archivists, and technical services staff, supporting the lifecycle of collections at Cornell University Library. Conservation staff reach out to both the local and international communities to train and to advise others about a wide range of conservation topics, including safe handling of collections, basic book repair and disaster preparedness and response. To learn more about the Conservation Lab, please visit our website, Facebook page, and our Conservation Blog. The Conservation Lab follows the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice.
APPLICATION DETAILS & DEADLINE
To apply please upload with your application 1 PDF document that includes:
- cover letter/letter of interest
- resume/CV
- contact information with e-mail address for three professional references
- images, descriptions or external link of 2 or 3 significant treatments or projects
Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on 02/14/2019.
Working Conditions:
Essential Physical Requirements: Typically lifts 10 to 20 lbs
Visual: Acute concentration/eye-hand coordination
Hazards: Chemicals/careful use
University Job Title:
Preservation Asst V
Level:
E
Pay Rate Type:
Hourly
Company:
Endowed
Contact Name:
Jose Delgado
Number of Openings:
1
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