Position at Penn State University

Senior Book Conservator
The Pennsylvania State University Libraries

The Pennsylvania State University Libraries seeks an experienced and
talented Senior Book Conservator to expand its conservation program,
first initiated in 2005. The Libraries has received a $1.25 million
challenge grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support this
program and fund the position. The funding received from the Mellon
Foundation includes $1 million in permanent endowment funds and
$250,000 to establish the new position while the University
Libraries raises matching funds for the endowment, which will
support the position permanently.

Reporting to the Head of the Digitization and Preservation
Department, the conservator will provide leadership for the
conservation unit in item-level treatment of paper-based rare and
special collection materials in consultation with curators,
archivists, and collection managers. We seek a conservator with
professional expertise in bound materials with additional expertise
in related areas such as maps, prints, drawings, manuscripts on
paper, photographs, and other library and archival materials. This
is a senior-level position requiring extensive professional
experience, preferably in a research library environment. The Senior
Book Conservator will be located at Penn State University Park in
State College, PA, but will care for collections residing at all
Libraries locations. The position will be filled either as a
tenure-line or fixed-term faculty librarian position, depending upon
the interests and qualifications of the successful candidate.

Responsibilities: Conservation Treatment:  Plans, documents, and
executes complex and intermediate conservation treatments on rare
and special collection materials held throughout the University
Libraries on all campuses in accordance with accepted standards and
the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Code of Ethics and
Guidelines for Practice. Examines and creates full written and
photographic treatment documentation. Coordinates workflow of
treatments to the conservation unit. Manages and plans upgrades of
the conservation facilities. Selects, tests, orders, and maintains
specialized equipment and tools. Participates in disaster response,
recovery, and salvaging operations.

Management:  Develops policies and procedures in the conservation of
materials based on careful consideration of resources, collection
context, and use patterns. May train, supervise, or coordinate the
work of others whether project-based or permanent staff. Works
closely with curators, archivists, and collection managers in the
selection and treatment of collections. Conducts condition surveys
of collections including conservation aspects of exhibits or
digitization. Manages outsourcing of conservation treatments that
cannot be performed in-house. Collaborates with librarians and
administrators in fund-raising efforts to support the conservation
program.

Outreach:  Contributes to the conservation profession in the areas
of specialization through service, research, and presentations.
Stays current with conservation issues and practices through
research, professional conferences, workshops, or similar
activities. Serves as a technical expert and educational resource
for library staff, to the University, to other institutions and
regional cultural heritage communities, and to the public. Organizes
and presents workshops for library staff or external audiences.
Answers conservation-related questions; hosts tours of the
conservation labs.

Required Qualifications:

    MLS from an ALA-accredited program (or equivalent), a master's
    degree in conservation, or completed equivalent apprenticeship
    training with an established conservator.

    Extensive professional experience with demonstrated knowledge of
    the materiality and history of books, paper, and related library
    materials. Detailed understanding and high-level experience of
    relevant conservation theory and practice as well as knowledge
    of chemistry as it applies to the conservation of library
    collections. Understanding of and adherence to professional
    ethical practice in conservation.

    Demonstrated ability to perform complex and intermediate
    conservation on a broad range of library materials.

    Demonstrated ability to train, provide instruction, and
    supervise staff; plan, organize and direct workflow; plan and
    organize physical space.

    Demonstrated ability to contribute of the profession through
    service, research, and presentations.

    Commitment to foster teamwork and diversity in the workplace.

Preferred:

    5 or more years of professional experience.
    Experience in grant writing and/or fund-raising.

Environment: The Pennsylvania State University serves as the land
grant institution for Pennsylvania, incorporating a strong outreach
mission into its instructional and research activities. The Penn
State University Libraries advances intellectual discovery,
information literacy, and lifelong learning, all in support of the
University's 96,000 students and 6,000 faculty. Penn State ranks
among the top ten research libraries in North America according to
the Association of Research Libraries Expenditure Index.

In fiscal year 2011-12 the Libraries annual budget totaled
approximately $51 million and the market value of our endowment
stands at $36.1million. Penn State Libraries actively participates
in the initiatives of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation
(CIC) and our librarians are national leaders in their respective
fields. As the largest public mission Library in the northeastern
region of the United States, we are also the most geographically
dispersed, with physical collections at each of Penn State's 24
campuses found in all regions of Pennsylvania. For many citizens of
Pennsylvania their regional Penn State campus houses their nearest
library.

Established 153 years ago, the Penn State University Libraries and
its librarians have endeavored to build rich collections in all
disciplines. Our users have access to 5.8 million volumes, 117,000
electronic journals, and 200,000 e-books. The Eberly Family Special
Collections Library holds 200,000 printed volumes, 25 million
archival records and manuscripts, and a million non-book items.
Significant special collections include German literature and
manuscripts, Pennsylvania- German broadsides, fraktur, and religion
materials, fragile prints by the graphical artist Lynd Ward, and
letters of Ernest Hemingway, among many others. In addition,
collections of distinction are found throughout the Libraries on all
campuses. As one of four Resource Libraries for the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, the Libraries receive funding from the Commonwealth to
support the acquisition of and statewide access to our collections.
This status, as well as our land grant history, drives us to give
special attention to outreach and sharing of our expertise around
the state, especially in the area of preservation. Preservation was
formally recognized as a library unit by the University Libraries in
July 1990 and services to safeguard and treat library collections in
all formats. By July 2006 the department name was changed to
Digitization and Preservation in recognition of the technological
changes affecting libraries and the need to digitize collections for
enhanced access and preservation. For more on the Digitization and
Preservation Department see:

    <URL:http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/digipres.html>

Compensation and Rank: This position will be filled as either
tenure-line or fixed-term faculty appointment dependent upon
experience and interests of the successful candidate. Salary and
rank commensurate with experience. Excellent fringe benefits include
liberal vacation, excellent insurance, state or TIAA/CREF retirement
options, and educational privileges.

To Apply: Send a letter of application, resume, and the names and
contact information of three professional references to

     Search Committee
     The Pennsylvania State University
     Box CONSR-CONS
     511 Paterno Library
     University Park PA 16802

Applications and nominations may also be sent to lap225<-at->psu<.>edu

Please reference Box CONSR-CONS in the email subject line. Review of
candidates will begin on June 28, 2013 and continue until the
position is filled. Employment will require successful completion of
background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and
diversity of its workforce.

Lindsey A. Harter
Faculty Services and Training Coordinator, Libraries Human Resources
The Pennsylvania State University - University Libraries
511 Paterno Library
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-4949
Fax: 814-863-5592


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 26:51
                   Distributed: Tuesday, May 28, 2013
                       Message Id: cdl-26-51-032
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