Position at Yale

Chief Conservator
Preservation Department/Conservation Laboratory
Sterling Memorial Library
Yale University Library
Rank: Librarian III/IV or Conservator IV

Yale University Library's Preservation Department is conducting a
search to fill the position of Chief Conservator, Head of the
Conservation Lab. We are instituting an international search for an
experienced professional interested in the continued development of
the Preservation Department's Conservation Laboratory.  We believe
we are entering an exciting period for the Preservation Department.
We have been identified as two (preservation and conservation) of
the four foci for fundraising as part of the Library's program
within Yale University's $3 billion capital campaign.

Please feel free to contact me if you are interested or if you know
of someone we may want to recruit.

Responsibilities: Under the direction of the Head of the
Preservation Department and Chief Preservation Officer, the Chief
Conservator plans and directs the activities of the Conservation
Laboratory including the conservation of the Yale University
Library's special collections.  S/he serves as a member of the
Preservation Management Team (PMT) comprising of the Chief
Preservation Officer, Head of Reformatting and Media Preservation
(RaMP), Head of Collection Care, and the Field Service Librarian.

The Chief Conservator will work closely with PMT members, as
appropriate, in the development, implementation and/or
administration of policies and procedures governing the preservation
and conservation of all paper-based special collections materials;
e.g. rare books, manuscripts, maps, atlases, photographs, posters,
art on paper, prints and drawings. Working with librarians and
curators, the Chief Conservator establishes treatment priorities for
special collections materials and facilitates access and long-term
preservation of special collections by managing the flow of
materials through the Conservation Laboratory.  The Chief
Conservator supervises a staff of three conservators, three
conservation assistants, and student workers and oversees the
planning and performing of conservation treatments on the full range
of special collections materials.  The Chief Conservator provides
recommendations to collections specialists and curators on whether
objects should be acquired, loaned and/or exhibited.  S/he assists
with and oversees the planning and installation of exhibits
throughout the library system and advises on the handling and
shipping of materials.  The Chief Conservator is expected to create
and maintain a complex network of professional relationships inside
the library and throughout the conservation and library professions
to identify and perfect appropriate conservation treatments to
increase the capability of the library system to care for its
special collections.  As part of PMT, s/he advises on problems
associated with environmental control, climate control and light
levels in storage, exhibit, reading areas and materials used in the
processing and storage of library and archival collections; advises
special collections staff on preservation principles and practices
and the preservation of other cultural properties such as furniture
and art work; and assists in maintaining the emergency response plan
and responds to emergencies as needed.  The Chief Conservator
manages the Conservation Lab budget.

Qualifications: For consideration at the Librarian III level:
Master's degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited program
and minimum five years professional conservation experience; or an
equivalent combination of education and experience; a Librarian IV
requires eight years professional conservation experience; an
Advance Certificate in Conservation may substitute for one year
professional experience.  For consideration at the Conservator IV
level: Master's degree in Conservation, Materials Science, or
related field, and six years professional conservation experience;
or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience
should include a record of professional membership, participation
and contribution.

Candidates are required to have a comprehensive knowledge of the
organization and administrative policies and procedures of libraries
and archives, as well as substantial supervisory experience with
technical and/or professional staff demonstrating increasing
management and supervisory responsibilities.  Candidates should have
advanced knowledge of conservation ethics, principles, techniques
and procedures relating to library materials, as well as advanced
knowledge of chemistry, the mechanism of deterioration of library
materials, book and printing history, and descriptive bibliography.
In addition, candidates should have well developed organizational,
research, oral and written communication, analytical, teaching and
supervisory skill and demonstrated ability to work collegially with
a wide range of staff.

Candidates asked to interview will be expected to present a
portfolio of work.

Offer is contingent on the successful completion of a background
check.

Salary and Benefits: Rank and competitive salary will be based upon
the successful candidate's qualifications and experience. Full
benefits package including 22 vacation days; 18 holiday, recess and
personal days; comprehensive health care; TIAA/CREF or Yale
retirement plan; and relocation assistance. Applications will be
accepted until the position is filled.  To be considered, complete
Yale's on-line application and provide a cover letter and resume
including the names of three references from professionals in the
field, at

    <URL:https://apps.business.yale.edu/oja/index.jsp>

The University Library, which is a highly valued partner in teaching
and research at the University, has more than 12.5 million volumes
housed in the Sterling Memorial Library and 22 school and
departmental libraries. It employs a dynamic and innovative staff of
nearly 600 FTE who have the opportunity to work with the highest
caliber of faculty and students, participate on committees and are
involved in other areas of staff development. A full spectrum of
library resources, from rare books and manuscripts to rapidly
expanding network of electronic resources, constitutes one of Yale's
distinctive strengths. The Library is engaged in numerous digital
initiatives designed to provide access to a full array of scholarly
information. Yale is a member of the Program for Cooperative
Cataloging and contributes to the NACO and BIBCO Programs. For
additional information on the Yale University Library, please see
<URL:http://www.library.yale.edu/>

The Preservation Department: Yale University Library's Preservation
Department <URL:http://www.library.yale.edu/preservation/>, started
in 1971, is one of the oldest in the country.

It has strong administrative support and has played a major role in
the development of the preservation field.  The department consists
of units covering special collections conservation, collections care
and reformatting with system wide responsibilities for the treatment
of rare and special collections materials and circulating materials,
mass deacidification, staff and user-education and consultation on
wide variety of preservation concerns.

Conservation Laboratory: The Yale University Library's Conservation
Laboratory is one unit within the Preservation Department and is
responsible for item level treatment and housing of rare and special
materials throughout the Library system including the Beinecke Rare
Book and Manuscript Library, one of the world's largest buildings
devoted entirely to rare books and manuscripts.  In addition to
treatment, the Lab provides support for exhibits and consults and
provides assistance Library-wide on conservation issues such as the
safe care and handling of non-circulating collections, emergency
response and recovery, and provides information on Yale University
Library conservation practices to the public.

Questions regarding application and/or job description may be
directed via email to hrlibrary [at] yale__edu. Please be sure to include
Source Code: LDTB15002

Yale University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

Bobbie Pilette
Head, Preservation Dept
Yale University Library

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