Position at University of Chicago

Head of Conservation
University of Chicago Library

The University of Chicago Library is seeking candidates with energy
and vision for the newly created position of Head of Conservation in
the Preservation Department, which is part of the Special
Collections Division.  The Preservation Department, established in
1985, manages a Library-wide preservation program, including library
binding, in-house conservation treatment and repair, outsourcing
conservation treatment services, brittle book replacement
activities, digital reformatting of library materials for
preservation, management of Library-supported and grant-funded
preservation projects, and consultation on a wide range of
preservation concerns. The Library is committed to preservation of
materials in all formats represented in the collection. A recently
established Andrew W. Mellon Conservation Endowment provides ongoing
support for the Library's conservation activities.  Preservation
Department staff participate in regional groups and contribute to
national initiatives in the field.

The University of Chicago Library is a world-renowned collection
with more than 7 million printed works.  Thirty million manuscripts
and archival items, 420,000 maps and aerial photographs, and large
sets of microform materials complement the printed works.  A variety
of electronic resources, web pages, indexes and abstracting tools,
digital maps, and images can be accessed in the Library and
remotely.  The collection is housed in the Joseph Regenstein
Library, the John Crerar Library, the D'Angelo Law Library and 4
departmental libraries.  The Library employs a staff of over 300 FTE
and has a centralized organizational structure.  The University of
Chicago is an active member of regional and national groups
including the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), the
Research Libraries Group (RLG), and the Digital Library Federation
(DLF).  For more information on the Library's collections and
services, please see <URL:http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/>.

Responsibilities: Reporting to the Preservation Librarian, the Head
of Conservation will be responsible for planning, developing and
directing a conservation treatment program for both general and
special collections at the University of Chicago.  The initial
stages of program development will focus on assessing the
conservation needs of collections library-wide and preparing a
5-year plan. The plan will specify the size and scope of
conservation activities appropriate for Chicago's collection and the
level of funding required to meet program needs.  The Head of
Conservation will participate in planning a conservation lab as part
of the Preservation Department, which will be located in the
Library's new onsite shelving facility to open in 2009.  The Head of
Conservation will also have an active role with other members of the
Preservation Team planning workflow for the preparation and
treatment of materials to be transferred to the new facility.

The Head of Conservation will work in close collaboration with staff
across the Library including subject bibliographers and curators,
the Preservation Manager in the Special Collections Research Center,
and Preservation Department managers to evaluate collections needs,
set priorities, develop short and long-range conservation proposals,
identify grant opportunities, and work on grant projects.  The Head
of Conservation will serve as the Library's lead expert on the
conservation of library collections, advise Library staff on
preservation principles and practices, and provide leadership
Library-wide on conservation issues.

The Head of Conservation will manage the existing collections care
program for the circulating and non-circulating materials in the
general collection.  This involves supervising and training 1 FTE
support staff currently assigned to the treatment of a wide range of
library materials, managing the outsourcing of conservation
treatment services, establishing specifications and procedures for
work performed, establishing workflow patterns, and ensuring the
quality of completed work.  The Head of Conservation will
participate in grant-writing and development activities.

The Head of Conservation will maintain professional affiliations in
appropriate organizations, keep abreast of current and new
developments in conservation principles, treatments, and procedures,
and be encouraged to actively participate in Library activities and
serve on Library committees.  The Head of Conservation will have
opportunities to represent the Library at professional conferences
and meetings.

Qualifications:

Education and training: An MLIS or MLS degree from an ALA-accredited
program with relevant coursework in conservation chemistry is
required.  A graduate degree in conservation or an advanced
certificate in conservation or an equivalent combination of
education and experience is also required.

Experience: A minimum of two years professional post internship
conservation experience, budget and project management
responsibilities, and experience in a library setting are required

Knowledge and skills: Ability to conceptualize and apply practical
skills to develop and implement a program, flexibility and
creativity, knowledge of preservation issues in large research
libraries, knowledge of book and printing history, advanced
knowledge of conservation treatment procedures, demonstrated
planning, organizational and analytic skills and excellent oral and
written communication skills are all required.

Salary and Benefits: Appointment salary based on qualifications and
experience.  Salary range begins at $47,625.  Benefits include
retirement plan, insurance, and paid time off.  There is a tuition
benefit plan for college age and younger children.

Application:  Should include resume and names, addresses, e-mail
addresses, and telephone numbers of three references.  Review of
application will begin upon receipt and continue until the position
is filled. Candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a
portfolio representative of recent conservation treatment work in
the area of library and archival materials.  Applications received
by August 15, 2005, will be assured consideration.  Application by
e-mail is strongly encouraged; please send to
chicagoconservation<-a t->lib< . >uchicago< . >edu.  Note in header "attention of
Denise Weintraub."  Applications may also be mailed to the

    Personnel Office
    The University of Chicago Library
    1100 East 57th Street
    Chicago, Illinois 60637

AA/EOE

Sherry Byrne
Preservation Librarian
University of Chicago Library
1100 E. 57th Street, Room 150
Chicago, IL  60637
sbyr<-a t->uchicago< . >edu
773-702-9313
Fax: 773-702-6623

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 19:2
                 Distributed: Wednesday, June 22, 2005
                        Message Id: cdl-19-2-022
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