Fellowship at Northwestern University Library

Conservation Fellowship Program
Preservation Department
Special Libraries Division
Northwestern University Library

Reports to: Special Collections Conservator

Northwestern University Library is offering an advanced
post-graduate conservation fellowship for a two year appointment,
September 1, 2014 - August 31, 2016.  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.

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 14 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.

Project descriptions: Recent Conservation Fellowship projects have
included the treatment and rehousing of a collection of 10th century
parchment documents, the repair of an original autograph musical
score by Marcel Duchamp, and a full treatment of a 1669 volume of
the poetry of Katherine Philips.  The current Conservation Fellow's
research project focuses on the identification of early 20th century
commercial printing processes.  Anticipated projects for the
2014-2016 Conservation Fellow include treatment of materials related
to avant-garde artist Charlotte Moorman, the rebinding of a 17th
century English dictionary, and the repair of a Victorian scrapbook
filled with chromolithographic illustrations.  Position Description

Description of Duties

    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 Chief Conservator, 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 $42,000 plus benefits.  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

    Tonia Grafakos
    Chief Conservator
    Northwestern University Library
    1970 Campus Drive
    Evanston, Illinois 60208-2300
    t-grafakos<-a t->northwestern< . >edu

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until
position is filled.

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


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 27:34
                  Distributed: Tuesday, March 11, 2014
                       Message Id: cdl-27-34-023
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