Fellowship at Northwestern

Conservation Fellowship
Northwestern University Library

Northwestern University Library is offering an advanced
post-graduate conservation fellowship for one year, with the
possibility of funding for a second year. The conservation
fellowship allows a conservation professional the opportunity to
work on diverse special collections, including rare books, paper,
and parchment documents.  The conservation fellowship includes a
research component ideally leading to publication or presentation at
a national conference.  The fellowship also offers the unique
opportunity to visit and interact with conservators at other
Chicago-area conservation labs that work with a broad range of
material including paintings, works of art on paper, objects,
textiles, and natural history specimens.

The conservation fellowship provides practical experience in a busy
academic library conservation lab balancing treatment
responsibilities with professional research activities.  The
Conservation Fellow will develop an understanding of the functions
and responsibilities of a research library conservation lab working
with special collections materials.  There will be the opportunity
to gain bench experience, develop skills in treatment decision
making, and participate in the management of a complex workflow. In
addition, Northwestern's unique holdings allow the possibility to
gain experience in assessing and evaluating a variety of library and
museum objects including paintings, ethnographic objects, textiles,
and realia. Research topics will be developed in consultation with
the Special Collections Conservator at the beginning of the
fellowship and could include treatment techniques, materials
identification, or historical studies. In addition, there is the
potential for project work including needs assessment surveys and
other preventive preservation activities.

Institution Description: Northwestern University, established in
1851, is one of the leading private research universities in the
United States with an enrollment of approximately 15,800 students.
The University is located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Evanston
and Chicago, Illinois.  Northwestern University's libraries hold
over 5 million volumes.  With collections of international standing
in Music, Transportation, and African Studies, Northwestern's
libraries have also been at the forefront of innovation in library
technology and advanced user services.  One of the top-ranked
universities in the country, Northwestern University combines
innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly
collaborative environment that transcends traditional academic
boundaries. Northwestern provides students, faculty and staff with
exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal, and
professional growth.

Established in 1984, the Preservation Department oversees all
aspects of the care, treatment and reformatting of the collections
on the Evanston and Chicago campuses. The Preservation Department
consists of 12 full-time staff members responsible for a broad range
of preservation activities, including shelf preparation,
vendor-based operations such as binding and mass deacidification,
preventive programs such as pest management and environmental
monitoring, and the conservation treatment of both general and
special collections materials.  Recent special collections
conservation projects have included the treatment and rehousing of
14th century parchment documents, lining replacement on a mid-19th
century oversize wall map, and the repair of a 17th century vellum
over wooden boards binding.  Upcoming projects will include repair
of a collection of early 19th century scrapbooks, treatment of a
large collection of Arabic manuscripts, and the repair and rehousing
of a collection of William Blake prints.

Position Description:

    Working under the supervision of the Special Collections
    Conservator, the Conservation Fellow evaluates and treats
    special collections materials.

    In consultation with librarians, curators, and archivists, the
    Conservation Fellow examines and develops treatment
    specifications for special collections materials. The
    Conservation Fellow performs a broad range of conservation
    treatments on rare books, manuscripts, prints, drawings, maps,
    and other unbound archival and special collections materials on
    paper and vellum.  Treatment includes the preparation of
    condition and treatment reports with an appropriate level of
    photo documentation.

    The Conservation Fellow conducts condition surveys and assists
    in the development of action plans for special collections.

    The Conservation Fellow stays current with new developments in
    the field of library conservation and conducts research related
    to an area of interest identified at the beginning of the
    fellowship.  Research should be of a quality that would result
    in a publishable paper or presentation at a national conference
    and would ideally include collaboration within Northwestern or
    with staff at one or more of the many Chicago-area conservation
    labs.

    The Conservation Fellow may assist other professional staff in
    the department, including the Department Head, Preservation
    Librarian, and Conservation Librarian, with additional surveys,
    preservation education and outreach initiatives,
    exhibits-related projects, and disaster response initiatives.

Qualifications

    Required:  Master's degree in library science or associated
    field, with an emphasis on conservation training, or equivalent
    combination of education and relevant experience.  Knowledge of
    current conservation principles and practices, materials
    science, and the history of bookbinding and conservation.
    Demonstrated ability to perform high quality conservation
    treatments on special collections materials, primarily book and
    paper, and to communicate effectively about treatment options
    and decisions. Applicants will be asked to submit a portfolio of
    recent conservation treatments.

    Preferred:  Work experience in a recognized research library
    conservation program.

Salary:  Annual stipend of $43,000. Position available September 1,
2010. Northwestern University offers a comprehensive benefits plan,
including health care and tuition benefits.

To Apply: Send letter of application including current research
interests and resume, including names of three references, to

    Scott W. Devine
    Head of Preservation
    Northwestern University Library
    1970 Campus Drive
    Evanston IL 60208-2300
    s-devine<-at->northwestern<.>edu

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until
position is filled. Interviews may be scheduled at the AIC 2010
Annual Conference.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
Employer. Employment eligibility verification required upon hire.

Scott W. Devine
Head of Preservation
Northwestern University Library
1970 Campus Drive
Evanston, Illinois 60208
847-491-4672
Fax: 847-491-8306


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 23:37
                  Distributed: Monday, March 29, 2010
                       Message Id: cdl-23-37-031
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