Position at New York Public Library

Assistant Conservator (Specialist II)
Barbara Goldsmith Preservation Division
New York Public Library

Under the direction of the Head of Conservation Treatment, performs
structural and aesthetic conservation treatment on a wide range of
paper-based formats, including books, manuscripts, archives, art on
paper, photographs, or other artifactual materials from the NYPL's
diverse collections. Must be skilled at performing both single-item
and collection care treatments.  Provides full written and
photographic documentation in accordance with the AIC Code of Ethics
(including examination, condition reports, treatment proposals,
final treatment reports, and full photographic documentation). Uses
computer hardware and software in recording treatments and
performing collection surveys, including database and digital
imaging software.  Applies appropriate research techniques and uses
advanced technology and equipment in the scientific examination of
materials.  Works with library and conservation staff to develop and
manage treatment strategies for discreet collections.  Participates
in training conservation staff.  Plans and conducts library staff
training.  Assists in the general maintenance and organization of
the conservation laboratory. Participates in disaster response and
recovery activities.  Maintains Associate level membership in AIC.
Keeps abreast of current developments in the conservation field.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements:  Master's degree from an accredited graduate training
program in conservation or a related field.  Demonstrated thorough
working knowledge of conservation theory and practice, with
satisfactory completion of courses in organic, paper, and
conservation chemistry.  Professional experience in the conservation
of paper-based materials, as demonstrated by a portfolio.
Demonstrated computer and related technology skills. Demonstrated
mastery of written and oral communication. Demonstrated success in a
wide range of conservation treatment procedures. Demonstrated
successful managerial and organizational skills, including the
ability to train, supervise, and assess work.  Knowledge of the
diverse preservation problems of a large research library or other
major cultural institution. Ability to work collegially across a
large, complex, and dynamic organizational setting.

The New York Public Library comprises simultaneously a set of
scholarly research collections and a network of community libraries,
and its intellectual and cultural range is both global and local,
while singularly attuned to New York City. That combination lends to
the Library an extraordinary richness. It is special also in being
historically a privately managed, nonprofit corporation with a
public mission, operating with both private and public financing in
a century-old, still evolving private-public partnership. The
research collections of over forty-four million items resemble the
holdings of the great national and university libraries, and the
community circulating libraries with over seven million items
resemble classic American municipal libraries.

The Barbara Goldsmith Preservation Division supports the mission of
The New York Public Library by preserving both the artifacts that
comprise its rich collections and the intellectual record that they
contain. A wide variety of preservation activities are performed in
the Division's five program areas: Binding and Shelf Preparation,
Collection Care, Field Services, Conservation Treatment, and
Reformatting. These areas oversee binding and labeling of the
Library's books and periodicals; mass deacidification of books,
journals and archival collections; construction of protective
housings; general collection repair; surveys of the overall
condition of the collections; training staff and the public about
preservation issues; project planning; environmental monitoring;
disaster preparedness and recovery; integrated pest management;
reformatting and creating facsimiles of materials; and special
collections conservation treatment.

The NYPL preservation program is among the oldest, most
comprehensive and significant programs of its kind, working to
further develop and strengthen the program to meet the increasing
preservation needs of the diverse NYPL collections so that the
public--both local and global, present and future--can readily
access these vast and diverse resources.

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to
lsresumes<-a t->nypl< . >org with reference to job code LL-SII-PTM in the
subject line.  Cover letters and resumes should be sent as
attachments.  Attachments may be in a Microsoft Word or RTF (Rich
Text Format).

E/O/E.

For additional information, please contact:

    Shelly Smith
    Head of Conservation Treatment
    The New York Public Library
    Barbara Goldsmith Preservation Division
    Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, Room 60
    New York, NY 10018
    212-930-0649
    Fax: 212-302-5328
    sksmith<-a t->nypl< . >org

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:46
                  Distributed: Thursday, March 6, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-21-46-039
                                  ***