Position at North Bennet Street School

Head Instructor, Bookbinding Department
North Bennet Street School

North Bennet Street School, Boston, MA seeks a head instructor for
its Bookbinding Department, including North America's only two-year,
full-time bench bookbinding program and a complementary program of
short-term courses and bookbinding workshops. Teaching duties will
begin in September, 2007.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished bookbinder,
established in the field; an organized, inspiring teacher and a
flexible, creative leader, able to communicate effectively with
groups and with individuals.  Prior teaching experience is a
necessity.

The current full-time course consists of two years, with six
students in each year.  Classes meet from 8am-3pm, Monday through
Friday, September to May, in a newly refurbished and well equipped
bindery with an extensive library on bookbinding.

First-year students learn basic bookbinding techniques which
include: tool use and modification, non-adhesive bindings, cloth
bindings of various styles, the production of limited editions and
an introduction to book repair and conservation. Approximately 20
different binding structures are made during the first year.
Conservation and repair projects include repair of cloth and paper
bindings, paper repair, making boxes and enclosures, and
documentation. At the end of the first year leather bindings are
introduced.

The second-year curriculum provides a comprehensive understanding of
18th, 19th and 20th century leather bindings, decorative tooling and
finishing, and re-backing and repair of leather bindings. Second
year students make approximately 15 leather bindings from the
English, German and Northern European bookbinding traditions. They
conserve at least three leather bindings and have the opportunity to
repair several more if they plan to emphasize repair and
conservation.  Students take twelve field trips to binderies and
conservation labs over the two years of the course. The visits
include the North East Document Conservation Center, Harcourt
Bindery, Boston Athenaeum, several Harvard University conservation
facilities, Acme Bindery and Boston College.

The complementary workshop program includes introductory short
courses in adhesive and non adhesive bindings as well as advanced
classes given by accomplished bookbinders.  To meet the needs of
current students as well as graduates, North Bennet Street School is
creating linkages with other educational institutions and programs
to broaden the course offerings in the fields of art books and book
preservation.

North Bennet Street School's mission is to train students for
careers in traditional trades that use hand skills in concert with
evolving technology, to preserve and advance craft traditions, and
to promote greater appreciation of craftsmanship.  The school was
established in 1885, and trains adults in fields as diverse as
cabinet and furniture making, violin making, locksmithing and
preservation carpentry.  North Bennet Street School has a reputation
for excellence and a commitment to traditional craftsmanship and the
highest quality work.  Additional information is available at
<URL:http://www.nbss.org/>

North Bennet Street School is an equal opportunity employer.
Salaries are competitive, with health insurance, retirement and
other benefits included.  Letters of interest with a resume should
be sent to:

    Walter McDonald
    Associate Director
    North Bennet Street School
    39 North Bennet Street
    Boston MA  02113
    nbss [at] nbss__org>nbss [at] nbss__org


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 20:38
                Distributed: Wednesday, February 7, 2007
                       Message Id: cdl-20-38-034
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