Position at University of Kansas

Conservation Assistant/Internship
University of Kansas Libraries

The University of Kansas Libraries invites applications for a
three-year appointment as Conservation Assistant/Intern to perform
advanced collections conservation treatments on the Libraries'
circulating collection.  The University of Kansas Libraries have
partnered with Emporia State University Graduate School in Library
and Information Management (ESU/SLIM), located approximately 90
minutes from Lawrence, in Emporia, Kansas, to create this three-year
assistantship.  Enrollment in the ESU/SLIM program will be required
upon appointment to this position.    Many of the courses are
offered on weekends.  The internship itself will provide between 9
and 12 hours of course credit toward the graduate degree.

The Conservation Unit is a major segment of the Libraries'
preservation program.  The unit is responsible for the repairing and
restoring all materials that cannot effectively or efficiently be
treated by commercial vendors.

Responsibilities:  Performs advanced collections conservation
treatments on circulating library materials sent to the Conservation
Unit for treatment. Treats damaged materials with treatment needs
that are too specialized or too advanced for student assistance, but
below the level of expertise requiring the conservator.  Organizes
the workflow of large or special projects including task supervision
of student assistants.

Works on special conservation in-sourcing projects assigned by the
Conservator or the Preservation Librarian.  Works with KU museums to
identify, organize, and carryout conservation projects as needed.
Works with the Conservator and the Preservation Librarian on
conducting research related to conservation treatments carried out
in the conservation laboratory.  Assists supervisor in exhibition
preparation for Spencer Research Library.

Responsibilities may include supervision of student employees in the
conservation lab who are assigned to assist with in-sourcing
conservation projects or other special conservation projects.

Required Qualifications:  Bachelor's degree.  Willingness to enroll
in (or current enrollment in) and successfully complete the Emporia
State University graduate program in Library and Information
Management (accredited by the American Library Association).
Demonstrated ability to set priorities, organize work and meet
deadlines.  Ability to work independently.  Ability to communicate
effectively and interact successfully with a variety of people.
Ability to organize, interpret, and work successfully with detailed
information.

Preferred Qualifications:  Knowledge of book binding and
preservation technologies and practices.  Familiarity with computer
technology as applied to libraries.  Ability to assess the needs of
damaged materials and supply the appropriate treatment in accordance
to criteria established by the conservator.  Ability to adapt
treatment techniques to meet the needs of each individual item.
Demonstrated supervisory ability.

Salary and Benefits:  Annual salary is dependent upon
qualifications. Benefits include 22 days vacation and 12 days sick
leave per year; several paid holidays; group health and life
insurance options; choice of four retirement programs.

Terms of Appointment:  This is a three-year, full-time unclassified
professional staff appointment. Unclassified Professional Staff
positions are eligible for annual reappointment contingent upon
satisfactory performance and funding availability.  Unclassified
Professional Staff are evaluated annually on their performance of
professional responsibilities. By accepting an offer of employment,
and as a condition of employment, it is expected that the
Conservation Assistant will enroll in the graduate program in
Library and Information Science with Emporia State University,
Emporia, Kansas.  Failure to enroll in, or complete, the graduate
degree program will result in termination of the
internship/employment.  (See Environment statement for additional
information about ESU.)  By the end of the three-year appointment it
is expected that the Conservation Assistant will have completed a
library degree and have sufficient conservation training and
experience to become a professional library conservator.

Application Deadline and Procedures:  Review of applications will
begin September 2, 2003.  Applications will be accepted until the
position is filled.  Candidates selected for interviews will be
asked to provide a portfolio (or examples) of conservation or
bookbinding work, if available.

For full consideration, applicants must provide a letter indicating
how their experience relates to each of the required and preferred
qualifications.  In addition, please provide a current resume and
the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of
three professional references.  Please send this material to:

    Sandra K. Gilliland
    Asst. to the Dean
    University of Kansas Libraries
    502 Watson Library
    1425 Jayhawk Boulevard
    Lawrence, KS 66045-7544
    785-864-8922
    Fax: 785-864-5311
    sgilliland [at] ku__edu

Environment:  The University Libraries <URL:http://www.lib.ku.edu>
constitute a major academic and research resource supporting
approximately 26,000 students and 1,300 faculty. The Libraries'
collections comprise approximately 3.3 million volumes and 27,000
current serial titles, housed in six library facilities in Lawrence
and one library in suburban Kansas City.  The Libraries have a
budget of $14 million and a staff of 71 library faculty and
professional staff, 76 paraprofessionals, and 80 FTE of student
workers.

The University of Kansas is a leader in national efforts to reform
and improve the scholarly communications system.  The University of
Kansas is a founding member of the Association of Research
Libraries, the Center for Research Libraries, the Greater Western
Library Alliance, and is a member of OCLC.  The Libraries seek
creative staff committed to active academic outreach and liaison,
cooperative and collaborative collection development, and critical
experimentation with new technologies.  Additional information about
the University Libraries can be found at <URL:http://www.lib.ku.edu>
<URL:http://www.lib.ku.edu>.

The University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, a diverse community
of approximately 90,000 set in the rolling hills of northeast
Kansas, 40 miles from Kansas City.   Lawrence is also home to
Haskell Indian Nations University.  Lawrence, KU and Haskell offer a
wide range of cultural and recreational activities, and the
Libraries play a vital role in the intellectual life of the
community.  Lawrence is a college town with a vitality and diversity
uniquely its own.  It offers the convenience and culture of a
college town but is less than an hour's drive from Kansas City to
the east, and Topeka (the State capital) to the west.    There are
excellent schools and daycare.   More information about Lawrence,
Kansas is available at <URL:http://www.visitlawrence.com>.

School of Library and Information Science, Emporia State University
<URL:http://slim.emporia.edu/>: Founded in 1902, the School of
Library and Information Management, better known as SLIM, serves a
twelve state area from Kansas to North Dakota to Oregon to New
Mexico and back to Kansas. Tradition and innovation form the
foundation of a friendly and supportive learning environment with a
reputation for graduating outstanding library leaders and
information professionals. This graduate degree program is fully
accredited by the American Library Association. Classes are held on
weekends. The typical student is in class four to six weekends per
semester.  New MLS students may start in fall, spring, or summer
semesters.  The typical student completes the MLS program in less
than three years and takes just two or three courses per semester.
Nearly 3,000 alumni in 48 states makes for a great job search
network.  For additional information about the ESU/SLIM program,
please consult the web site or call 800-552-4770.

The University of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
Employer. The University encourages applications from
underrepresented group members. Federal and state legislation
prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color,
national origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, and veteran status.
In addition, University policies prohibit discrimination on the
basis of sexual orientation, marital status, and parental status.

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 17:19
                  Distributed: Friday, August 8, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-17-19-015
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