Position at Northwestern University Library

Conservation Fellowship Program
Northwestern University Library

Northwestern University Library is offering an advanced
post-graduate conservation fellowship for a two year appointment,
September 1, 2012 - August 31, 2014. 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.

Program Description: 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.

Recent Conservation Fellowship projects have included the treatment
and rehousing of a collection of 10th century parchment documents,
the repair of a 19th century atlas, and the rebinding of a set of
early 20th century photo albums from western Africa.  The current
Conservation Fellow's research project focuses on identification and
treatment of photoreprographic processes and will be presented at
the American Institute for Conservation's 2012 Annual Meeting.
Anticipated projects for the 2012 Conservation Fellow will include
repair of a collection of early 20th century scrapbooks related to
the Brazilian coffee trade, a book illustrated by Joan Miro, and
board reattachments on a 1669 volume of Katherine Philips' poetry.

Position Description: Working in the Preservation Department 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 $45,000. 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, Illinois 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 2012 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


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