Position at Margaret Herrick Library

Conservation Technician
Margaret Herrick Library

The Margaret Herrick Library is seeking a highly organized,
self-motivated, service-oriented individual to oversee the care and
condition of the library collection.  This is a full-time position
available August 2002.

Primary Duties:

    *   Repair material in library collection to ensure it is
        functioning and stable for patron use.

    *   Preventative conservation/collections maintenance: cleaning
        materials, making proper enclosures (book jackets, Mylar
        sleeves, custom boxes, etc.), surveying collection for
        problems, and overall problem solving.

    *   Determine storage conditions necessary for the materials
        within the various collections and make corrections where
        necessary.

    *   Maintain staff awareness of conservation issues facing the
        library and remedy any inconsistency between staff and/or
        patron usage by creating library policies.

    *   Coordinate/educate staff on emergency preparedness issues,
        help perform fire drills, and remain abreast of current
        emergency response procedures/practices. Coordinate with
        Office Manager to keep the staff emergency response handbook
        updated.

    *   Oversee any ongoing long-term preservation projects such as
        nitrate negative and copy negative re-housing projects.

Secondary Duties:

    *   Assist staff when doing in-house exhibitions to ensure
        conservation standards are met.

    *   Design and build mounts for books, photographs, and/or
        ephemera where applicable for in-house exhibition display.

    *   Write condition reports, perform conservation treatments,
        and help to coordinate transportation for materials on loan
        for exhibitions.

    *   Network with others in the conservation field for advice and
        professional development.

Requirements:

    *   Ability to make wheat starch paste and methyl cellulose.

    *   Knowledge of basic book and paper repair: mending, sewing,
        hinge tightening, spine hollow making, re-casing, rebacking,
        flattening and humidification techniques, etc. Understanding
        of modern book bindings.

    *   Knowledge of basic photographic repair: mending and cleaning
        primarily.  Some understanding of photographic processes and
        history of photographic materials.

    *   Knowledge of solvent usage in conservation treatments and
        the safety measures required when storing and using these
        chemicals.

    *   Ability to handle basic conservation lab equipment including
        a floor model board shear and tools needed to perform the
        above tasks.

    *   Knowledge of lighting, temperature and environmental
        conditions appropriate for materials on exhibition.

    *   Strong computer skills, including experience with the PC
        platform and databases.

    *   Ability to handle heavy and awkward-sized materials.

Send resume and three references to

    Linda Harris Mehr
    Director, Margaret Herrick Library
    333 S. La Cienega Blvd.
    Beverly Hills, CA 90211
    310-247-3000, ext. 201.
    Fax: 310-657-5193
    lmehr [at] oscars__org

Katie Taylor
Conservation Technician
Margaret Herrick Library
Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture Study


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:8
                 Distributed: Wednesday, July 24, 2002
                        Message Id: cdl-16-8-022
                                  ***