Internship at Library of Congress

Getty Grant Program/Library of Congress
Internship in Preventive Conservation
Conservation Division
Preservation Directorate

The Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. invites applications for a
one year, paid internship in preventive conservation with the
support of the Getty Grant Program.

The purpose of the internship is to provide an opportunity for
conservators to gain knowledge in the theory and skills in the
practice of preventive conservation in a large and complex cultural
institution and research library.

Objectives: Interns will be immersed in activities of the Preventive
Conservation Section within the Conservation Division and follow a
comprehensive course of training that includes the core elements of
preventive conservation, including collection needs assessment for
materials in the custodial divisions, emergency preparedness,
response and recovery, staff education and user awareness,
collection re-housing, environmental monitoring and control,
off-site facility planning, exhibition case design and maintenance,
and integrated pest management. Interns will also visit select
cultural institutions to survey and report on the state of
preventive practice in these institutions.  The interns will train
under the direction of one or more senior conservators in the
Conservation Division.  Applicants selected for an internship, will
report back to the Conservation Division one year after their
training at the Library of Congress on how the information they
learned has been used.

Description of the Program: The Conservation Division at the Library
of Congress is responsible for the preventive and remedial care of
the more than 121 million items that reside in the Library's general
and special collections in all formats, including books,
manuscripts, photographs, sound and moving image materials, and
works of art on paper. The Conservation Division consists of
approximately 30 staff trained in a variety of conservation areas of
specialization. Eight of the Conservation staff devote their time to
preventive conservation activities including collection rehousings,
environmental monitoring and control, collection needs assessment,
exhibition case design and maintenance, emergency preparedness,
response and recovery, staff education and user awareness, off-site
facility planning, and integrated pest management.

The conservation laboratories at the Library of Congress are fully
equipped to accommodate both preventive and remedial work. A digital
imaging work station and traditional photography laboratory and
studio are available for documentation and reporting. Several
computer workstations are also located throughout the laboratory
which are networked to the Library's various information resources.
In addition, the Conservation Division works alongside a Research
and Testing Division which carries out analytical and investigative
work in areas which impact preventive conservation including
quality-control of materials used in re-housing and primary research
into the mechanisms of deterioration of library and archival
materials.

Criteria for Selection: This internship is intended for conservators
who wish to immerse themselves in the theory and practice of
preventive conservation. Candidates will be selected on the basis of
conservation knowledge, skills and abilities, an active commitment
to professional ethics and standards, effective communication skills
and an understanding of library and archival collections.

Candidates with academic training in the technology and chemistry of
library and archival materials and experience in conservation
treatment of paper, books and photography will be given preference.

In addition, first consideration will be given to applicants:

    a.  who are presently employed in the conservation/preservation
        field in a library, archive or museum to which they will
        return following completion of the internship,

    b.  from institutions where no training opportunities in
        preventive conservation exist,

    c.  who demonstrate potential to gain from the experience and
        who indicate an interest and possibilities for disseminating
        the information gained.

Applicants must be proficient in English so that they understand
technical issues as applied to preventive conservation. English
proficiency will be verified through interviews with application
finalists.

Applicants should submit:

    a.  a resume listing educational and conservation-related work
        experience,

    b.  written documentation for up to three conservation
        treatments,

    c.  a selection of no more than 20 accompanying slides.

    d.  a brief (up to two pages) cover letter that describes prior
        preservation/conservation experience and what the applicant
        hopes to gain from the internship,

    e.  the names of and contact information for three references.

There will be one internship each year as determined by the Library.
The length of the internship is 12 months following the U.S.
academic year (beginning September ending August).

Whenever possible, a personal interview will be scheduled to review
and discuss the application.  In the case of foreign applicants, an
application may be submitted by mail and a telephone interview may
be conducted as an alternative.

Please be sure to include your complete mailing address including
your and Fax numbers, with email, if applicable, with your
application.

Schedule:

For September, 2002 to August, 2003:
    Application due end of February, 2002
Announcement of selection will be made by early April, 2002
    Internship will begin September 1, 2002.

Compensation: A stipend at the GS 9 level ($ 36,656 for 2001) will
be provided for the 12 month period.  No funding for relocation is
available with this stipend.

To apply please direct letters of application to:

    Mark S. Roosa
    Director for Preservation
    Preservation Directorate, LMG-21
    Library of Congress
    101 Independence Avenue, SE
    Washington DC 20540-4530
    202-707-5213
    mroo [at] loc__gov


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:49
                Distributed: Saturday, January 12, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-15-49-024
                                  ***