Position at University of Chicago

Head of Conservation
Preservation Department
Special Collections and Preservation Division
The University of Chicago Library

The University of Chicago Library is seeking candidates with energy,
expertise and vision for the position of Head of Conservation.

The Head of Conservation is responsible for planning and managing a
comprehensive Conservation Program for the Library's general and
special collections.  The Program is undergoing an exciting period
of expansion and strategic planning to support and sustain
collection growth and the Head of Conservation will lead this
effort.  The Library is planning to construct a new facility, linked
to its largest location, the Joseph Regenstein Library, at the heart
of campus.  The new Joe and Rika Mansueto Library, to open in the
fall of 2010, will have a new conservation laboratory for the
treatment of general and special collections, and a digital
laboratory for the reformatting of collections.  The Head of
Conservation will be involved in the final planning and subsequent
construction phase for the new laboratory.

Responsibilities: Reporting to the Preservation Librarian, the Head
of Conservation sets program goals, and develops and implements
policies and procedures for the physical care of collections. He/she
manages the conservation laboratory, which involves supervising and
training 1.5 FTE staff and additional students performing a wide
range of conservation treatments and activities, establishing
specifications and procedures for work performed, establishing
workflow patterns, and ensuring the quality of completed work.  The
Head of Conservation executes complex conservation treatments on
paper-based library and archival materials and arranges for
professional conservation services to accomplish treatment goals
that fall outside the scope of the Program.  The Head of
Conservation works closely and collaboratively with subject
specialists, Special Collections Research Center staff and others to
establish treatment goals, select and prioritize materials, and
design and implement treatment plans.  He/she provides outreach and
training for staff, oversees the Library's emergency preparedness
and response efforts and environmental monitoring, and serves with
other Preservation Unit Heads as a resource for staff and the public
on a wide range of conservation and preservation issues.  The Head
of Conservation will also provide support to the Library's
fundraising activities by working with Library Development staff and
contributing to funding proposals for conservation.

For a fuller description of this position, please visit

    <URL:http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/jobs>

Qualifications: For consideration, candidates are required to have
an MLIS or MLS degree from an ALA-accredited program.  A master's
degree or advanced certificate in a recognized conservation training
program, or an equivalent combination of education and experience is
also required. A minimum of two years professional post-internship
conservation experience is required.  Candidates are required to
have extensive knowledge of conservation principles, practices and
procedures relating to library materials as well as a comprehensive
knowledge of the physical and chemical nature of books and paper,
the mechanisms of deterioration of library materials, history of the
printed book and book structures, and preservation issues in large
research libraries. Candidates must have the ability to perform high
level conservation treatments on paper-based general and special
collections materials as demonstrated by a portfolio.  Candidates
must have the ability to conceptualize and apply practical skills to
develop and implement programs, demonstrated supervisory experience,
flexibility and creativity, and strong organizational and analytic
skills.  In addition, candidates should have excellent interpersonal
skills, excellent oral and written communication skills, and the
ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of staff.

Salary and Benefits:  Appointment salary based on qualifications and
experience.  Full range of benefits included in total compensation
package, with retirement plan, health insurance, paid time off, and
tuition benefit plan for college age and younger children.

Application:  Applications should include letter of application;
resume; and names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and telephone
numbers of three references. Review of applications will begin upon
receipt and continue until the position is filled.  Applications
received by July 14, 2008 will be assured consideration.  Candidates
invited to interview will be asked to present a portfolio
representative of conservation treatment work in the area of library
and archival materials.  Applications should be emailed to
chicagoconservation<-a t->lib< . >uchicago< . >edu.

The Library and Preservation Department:  The University of Chicago
Library is home to one of the largest and richest research
collections in the world. Our resources are housed in six library
sites, all of which are located on the main campus.  The Library's
holdings include 7.6 million print volumes, 434,000 maps and
photographs, 265,000 rare books, 36,000 linear feet of archives and
manuscripts, and extensive online full-text resources, reference
databases and locally digitized collections.  The new Joe and Rika
Mansueto Library, designed by Chicago architect Helmut Jahn, will
have an elliptical glass dome to house a grand reading room and a
preservation facility, and underground high-density shelving with an
automated retrieval system to store more than 3 million volumes. For
information on the Library's collections, services, and the new
library, please see <URL:http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/>

The Preservation Department consists of three Units: Conservation,
Binding and Shelf-Preparation, and Digital Reformatting.  The
Department is engaged in the management of preservation projects,
provides emergency preparedness and response assistance, and
consults on a wide range of preservation concerns.  The Unit Heads
work together as a team of which the Head of Conservation is a
member.  Preservation Department staff members are active
participants in regional groups and contribute to national
initiatives in the field.

AA/EOE

Sherry Byrne
Preservation Librarian
University of Chicago Library
1100 E. 57th Street
Chicago, IL  60637
773-702-9313
Fax: 773-702-6623


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