Position at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Book Conservation Associate  (Grade 16)
Book Conservation, Thomas J. Watson Library
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Position Summary:  Under the supervision of the Preservation
Librarian, responsible for the physical processing, repair and
conservation treatment of the Watson Library collection. Must have
knowledge of basic book and paper conservation treatments--including
rebinding, rebacking, the cleaning and refurbishing of paper, cloth
and leather bindings, paper cleaning and repair, polyester
encapsulation, preservation photocopying, and other related skills.
In addition, the Book Conservation Associate is responsible for the
processing of commercial library binding shipments of monographs and
periodicals--proofreading spines, correcting mistakes, bookplating,
tipping in errata slips, etc.

The Book Conservation Associate also provides "rush" bookbinding
services for Museum exhibition catalogs, makes dust jacket covers
for selected books, and repairs old or damaged newly acquisition
materials. The Book Conservation Associate has administrative
responsibilities which involve basic word processing and database
management skills, the supervision of volunteers and interns, the
maintenance of the book conservation facility, and assistance with
special preservation projects, including condition surveys,
emergency planning and response, and staff education.

Responsibilities:

    1.  Conservation Treatment of the Watson collection:
        Conservation treatments include  rebinding, rebacking,
        cleaning and refurbishing of paper, cloth and leather
        bindings; cleaning and repair of paper; fabrication of
        custom boxes and enclosures; measure fragile books for boxes
        to be made by outside vendors.

    2.  Treatment and Reformatting of Brittle Books:  Treatment and
        reformatting of brittle books include the disbinding, repair
        and polyester encapsulation of brittle leaves and books;
        photocopying and binding  of small brittle books; selecting
        and fitting custom and commercial enclosures to brittle
        books.

    3.  Administrative and Other Responsibilities:  Coordinate work
        flow with Preservation Librarian; train and supervise
        volunteers; maintain the book conservation
        facility--including organizing tools and materials, cleaning
        and maintaining; equipment and work areas.  Assist
        Preservation Librarian with large preservation projects,
        including condition surveys, emergency planning, staff
        education, etc.  Keep statistics of the work accomplished on
        a monthly basis and treatment reports for selected books.

    4.  Processing new acquisitions:  Reviews commercial library
        shipments of monographs and periodicals, includes advising
        on appropriate binding treatment, proofreading spines,
        correcting mistakes, bookplating, tipping in errata slips,
        covers, etc. Performs "rush" bookbinding or other treatments
        in a timely manner. Makes boxes and protective enclosures
        for fragile books; fits dust jacket covers to books.

Qualifications: The Book Conservation Associate should have
approximately 2 years of bookbinding or library conservation
experience and be skilled in basic bookbinding and conservation
procedures, including rebacking, cleaning and refurbishing of paper,
cloth and leather bindings, basic paper repair, and boxmaking. Other
requirements include strong pc skills, the ability to communicate
efficiently both orally and in writing; basic office management; the
willingness to work in a team setting; the maintenance of the book
conservation facility and equipment (cleaning and basic repair and
maintenance of equipment and facility); and the ability to share
information and to participate in continuing education in
conservation and the book arts, for the benefit of the book
conservation department.  A portfolio will be requested.

For application information, contact the

    MMA Employment Office
    The Metropolitan Museum of Art
    1000 Fifth Avenue
    New York NY 10028
    212-570-3842

The job should be posted next Tuesday. Please email if
you have any other question and I can get back to you after July 27.
Thank you,

Mindell Dubansky
Book Conservation Dept.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Thomas J. Watson Library
1000 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10028
212-650-2891
Fax: 212-570-3847

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:6
                  Distributed: Wednesday, July 7, 1999
                        Message Id: cdl-13-6-019
                                  ***