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-AIC
    511 Paterno Library
    University Park PA 16802

Applications and nominations may also be sent to lap225<-at->psu<.>edu.
Please reference Box CONSR-AIC 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.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 27:3
                 Distributed: Wednesday, June 26, 2013
                        Message Id: cdl-27-3-032
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