Position at Harvard

Preservation Librarian
Countway Library of Medicine
Harvard Medical School

Duties and Responsibilities: The Francis A. Countway Library of
Medicine invites applications for a new position working with a
dynamic and dedicated community in the Harvard Medical School to
ensure the sustainability of our extraordinary information
resources. Reporting to the Collection and Knowledge Management
Librarian for the Countway Library of Medicine, the Preservation
Librarian is fully responsible for the development, implementation,
and daily management of preservation, conservation, digital
reformatting, and digital archiving for the Countway Library
collections with the goal of ensuring the longevity and usability of
the library's holdings. Manages library operations relating to the
care and sustainability of the digital and physical collections,
including digital preservation, conservation/preservation of
physical volumes, digital reformatting, binding, and shelving;
supervises 5 FTE staff; is responsible for identifying and applying
for appropriate funding resources in order to optimize efforts in
this area; serves as the lead in creating and maintaining a disaster
recovery plan for the library. Builds expertise in the library on
issues related to digital preservation; recommends infrastructure
and policies; develops funding sources. Has overall responsibility
for the physical care and treatment of a wide range of library
materials, including special collections, archives, and general
collections holdings. In consultation with the Collection and
Knowledge Management Librarian and the Director of the Center for
the History of Medicine, recommends collection conservation
priorities for all collections. Is responsible for hiring, training,
and supervising 5 FTE in library assistant positions including .75
FTE conservation technician, 2.75 FTE stacks maintenance and
clerical staff, 1 FTE bindery assistant, and .5 FTE stacks
maintenance and clerical staff supervisor; other project and
contract staff who work on a wide range of materials in the general
collections and, in consultation with the Center for the History of
Medicine staff, the historical collections. Supervises all contracts
for out-sourced conservation services on a project-related, as
needed basis for special projects. Plans and directs work flow and
monitors quality and productivity. Works with stacks supervisor to
monitor shelving and storage of the physical collections, to plan
and execute shifts of materials and projects to move books to
offsite storage. Develops and implements collections care and
preservation policies and guidelines for the Countway Library; is
responsible for the management of conservation projects. Monitors
the care, handling, and tracking of Countway Library materials used
in special programs such as the Open Collections Program.
Collaborates with conservators in Harvard University Library's
Weissman Preservation Center (WPC) to survey and identify special
collections material for treatment in the WPC Laboratory. Maintains
and analyzes conservation statistics and treatment records, and
prepares reports. Maintains communication with staff throughout
Countway Library to determine priorities, solve problems, and ensure
that the preservation efforts support library objectives.

Basic Qualifications: ALA-accredited MLS with advanced training in
conservation acquired through formal graduate studies or a
combination of apprenticeship, advanced courses, and internships. A
minimum of four years of library conservation experience.

Additional Qualifications: Experience working with digital library
collections and willingness to expand his/her knowledge of emerging
digital archiving and preservation tools and techniques;
demonstrated ability to manage conservation/preservation related
projects involving a broad range of research library materials;
strong knowledge of the nature and causes of book and paper
deterioration; strong organizational and management skills,
including demonstrated ability to establish priorities and achieve
goals, train, supervise, motivate, and evaluate staff, encourage and
support team work and staff development, and plan, organize, and
direct work flow; ability to initiate and adapt to change, to
analyze and solve complex problems, and to be flexible and work
collaboratively; excellent people skills; excellent oral and written
communication skills, including demonstrated ability to prepare
reports and procedural documentation. To apply online, go to the job
posting on the Harvard University Employment web site,
<URL:http://jobs.harvard.edu/jobs/summ_req?in_post_id=38958> and use
the Apply for this Position button in the bottom of the page.

Susan Tournas
Conservation
Frances Countway Library of Medicine

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:17
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