Position at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Senior Book Conservation Associate (Grade 17)
The Watson Library of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Position Summary: Under the supervision of the Preservation
Librarian, the Senior Book Conservation Associate is responsible for
the repair and conservation treatment of the materials in
departmental libraries. Must have knowledge of hand bookbinding,
basic book and paper conservation, box-making and other related
skills. The Senior Book Conservation Associate has administrative
responsibilities which involve basic word processing skills, the
supervision of volunteers and interns, record keeping, the
maintenance of the book conservation facility, and assistance with
special preservation projects, including condition surveys,
emergency planning and response, and staff education.

Responsibilities: Conservation treatments: This position provides
bookbinding and conservation treatment services to the Museum's
libraries. 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.

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.

Administrative and Other Responsibilities: Coordinate work flow with
Preservation Librarian and related staff. Maintain the book
conservation facility--including organizing tools and materials,
cleaning and maintaining; equipment and work areas.  Assist
Preservation Librarian with Watson Library projects as needed
(emergency planning, staff education); keep statistics of the work
accomplished on a monthly basis and prepare treatment reports for
selected books.

Qualifications: The Book Conservation Associate should have
approximately 3-5 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.

Salary range: $28,500-$32,500

If you are interested in this position, send a letter of application
and resume to Mary Webb in the Human Resources Dept. at the address
below and/or contact me. Thank you.

Mindell Dubansky
Associate Museum Librarian - Preservation
Thomas J. Watson Library
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028
212-650-2890
Fax: 212-570-3847


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:82
                  Distributed: Thursday, June 6, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-15-82-016
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