Position at University of Maryland

Collections Conservator - Conservation Team Leader
University of Maryland Libraries

Division: Technical Services
Classification: Manager
Reports to: Preservation Production Team Leader
Department: Preservation Production Group
Number of Staff Supervised: Direct: 2 FTE
Number of Students Supervised: Direct: 5 FTE

Within a team environment, responsible for the planning,
implementation, and administration of the conservation program for
the UMD Libraries' general and special collections. Manages the work
of the Conservation Team. Provides professional expertise in
determining the proper course of treatment for library and archival
materials in need of conservation. Trains and supervises staff and
students involved in collections conservation activities. Executes a
wide range of conservation treatments on paper-based library and
archival materials, and arranges for other professional conservation
services that cannot be accomplished in-house. Serves as a resource
to the College Park Campus. Achieves goals and objectives within an
environment of shared responsibility, and in support of strategic
plans and vision. Coordinates and facilitates inter and intra
production team activities, facilitates team communications, fosters
an environment of shared responsibility, and develops and promotes
team plans and vision. As team leader, works directly with team
members to plan, develop and implement ongoing activities and
special projects and establish team goals and objectives. Provides
leadership through active participation on teams and committees at
the production group, division, and Library level and within the
profession.

Organizational characteristics: Responsible for the administration
of the collections conservation program. Serves on the Preservation
Production Group Leadership Team and serves as a member of TSD
coordinating teams and Library functional and program teams as
appropriate. Reports to the Preservation Production Team Leader. The
University of Maryland Libraries promotes a team based,
collaborative, continuous learning environment. Librarians hold
faculty status and contribute to the teaching, service and research
mission of the University.

Principal accountabilities:

    1.  Develops and implements (in consultation with Production
        Group Leader) a conservation program designed to meet the
        conservation/preservation needs of UM's libraries and
        archival collections. Working closely with team members and
        collection management colleagues, plans, prioritizes, and
        accomplishes treatment goals. As a member of the
        Preservation Production Group, contributes to the planning,
        development, coordination, and implementation of initiatives
        within the production group.

    2.  Provides condition assessment for individual collection
        items from both general and special collections. Develops
        set of treatment options and specification guidelines in
        careful consideration of available resources, collection
        context, and use patterns.

    3.  Provides collection-level condition assessments: performs
        condition surveys of general and special library collections
        in cooperation with other library staff; documents survey
        results; and develops broad treatment plans based on size,
        nature, condition, and use patterns of the collections.

    4.  Manages in-house conservation laboratory. Responsible for
        the selection of appropriate conservation supplies, tools,
        and equipment; maintenance of tools/equipment and
        establishment of quality control procedures to verify the
        adherence of products to standards. Evaluates and improves
        efficiencies of workflow while ensuring accepted
        conservation-sound practices and safe lab protocols.

    5.  In collaboration with the Preservation Production Group
        Leader, manages outsourcing of conservation treatments that
        cannot be performed in house. Responsible for coordination
        of projects with curators and collection managers, selection
        of professional services, and authorization of treatment. In
        collaboration with Preservation Production Group Leader,
        maintains the budget and treatment documentation files.

    6.  Participates in the creation and evaluation of outsourcing
        RFPs, bids, and memos of understanding, such as the
        commercial library bindery RFP.

    7.  Trains staff in specialized conservation procedures, quality
        standards, and lab protocols. Evaluates training needs and
        assists staff in acquiring the skills, knowledge and
        competencies needed to improve job performance.

    8.  Participates in the evaluation of preservation technologies
        and in assessment of their appropriateness for UM Libraries.
        Maintains a current awareness of conservation principles and
        practices as they apply to library and archival materials,
        and develops and tests new treatment procedures and
        approaches to problem solving.

    9.  Participates in the development of outreach initiatives for
        care of collections and conservation for branch libraries
        and public services and address staff training needs. Sets
        goals and priorities; develops training tools, plans and
        directs workflow, and evaluates progress. Along with others
        in the Preservation Production Group, serves as a resource
        to all library staff regarding any activities that may have
        a preservation/conservation impact.

    10. Performs a wide variety of conservation treatments.

    11. Performs all required personnel activities such as preparing
        job descriptions, interviewing and selecting staff,
        performance review and development, merit assessments,
        discipline etc. Determines performance deficiencies and
        designs interventions.

    12. Collaborates with other units and colleagues to improve
        service and serves on Library teams, committees, and other
        groups. Is a member of the Preservation Committee and
        Salvage Squad.

    13. Participates in Library and divisional planning activities.

    14. Fulfills "Technical Services' Common Expectations of Staff"
        and performs other duties as requested.

Formal Leadership: Supervisor: participates in the selection process
of new employees; assists with performance appraisals; disciplinary
problems are referred to a higher level. Performs similar and higher
level tasks.

Complexity of Work: Complex: Functions differ significantly from
each other or a major function is broad and requires integration of
differing complicated bodies of knowledge. Analytical ability is
clearly required.

Autonomy (Freedom of Action): Little Guidance: Performs complex
functions, establishes priorities, resolves issues, rarely refers to
supervisors.

Interactions: Primary interactions include all levels of staff
within the Production Group, throughout the division. Outside of the
TSD, primary interactions include subject selectors, collection
managers and curators, leaders, committees, team members and
colleagues from other divisions. Other interactions include members
of faculty and staff in other academic institutions and libraries
and in professional associations, outside vendors and suppliers,
students, faculty and staff of the University, and University
officials responsible for occupational health and safety issues.

Fiscal Responsibility: Collaborates with Preservation Production
Group Leader in tracking outsourced work and supplies and equipment
expenditures, and in monitoring a Labor and Assistance budget for
the Conservation Team.

Physical Working Conditions: Normal office environment which also
involves the regular use of heavy equipment, cutting tools, and
adhesives. Limited use of solvents. Occasional library water salvage
situations. Exposure to mold and dust.

Minimum qualifications:

    Academic Level: Advanced degree in conservation of library and
    archival materials; or equivalent combination of degrees and
    experience, with formal training in conservation and
    preservation.

    Practical Experience: A minimum of two years of
    experience/training as a conservator in a recognized
    conservation facility.

    Technical Qualifications or Specialized Certifications:
    Demonstrated knowledge of the physical and chemical nature of
    library and archival materials; the history of the book and
    paper making; conservation ethics, principles and practices and
    their appropriate application; and conservation supplies, tools,
    equipment, vendors, and current technical standards and
    specifications.

    Other Knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies: Ability to
    train and supervise staff, assess their work, plan, organize,
    and direct work flow, and plan and organize physical space.
    Demonstrated management, supervisory, and leadership skills.
    Must have ability to manage a broad variety of tasks in response
    to varying time pressures with shifting priorities and changing
    constraints. Must have the ability to take direction as well as
    provide direction and motivation to staff. Evidence of ability
    to interact collaboratively and work effectively with teams.
    Evidence of strong service orientation; an ability to anticipate
    customer needs and seek ways of providing satisfactory
    solutions. Ability to interact effectively with a broad variety
    of staff within and outside of Technical Services. Excellent
    interpersonal skills; ability to communicate clearly,
    knowledgeably, and personably, orally and in writing with all
    persons potentially affected by the scope of the work.
    Demonstrated record of professional contribution.

Applications:  For full consideration, submit cover letter, resume
and names/addresses of three references by October 30, 2006.
Applications accepted until position is filled.  Send to:

    Johnnie Love
    Library Human Resources Office
    McKeldin Library
    University of Maryland
    College Park MD 20742-7011
    Fax: 301-314-9960
    jlove1 [at] umd__edu

Full job description at:
<URL:http://www.lib.umd.edu/PASD/LPO/LibJobs/222.html>

Kate Murray
Audiovisual Archivist
Nonprint Media Services Library
University of Maryland
0300 Hornbake Library
College Park, MD 20742-7011
301-314-3287
Fax: 301-314-9419


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 20:18
                  Distributed: Friday, October 6, 2006
                       Message Id: cdl-20-18-008
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