Position at Huntington Library

The Lloyd E. Cotsen Chief Preservation Officer
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Located 12 miles from Los Angeles in San Marino, California, The
Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens is a
collections-based research and educational institution established
in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington.  The Huntington Library
enjoys an international reputation for its collections of rare
books, manuscripts, photographs, and other primary materials
supporting original scholarly research in Anglo-American history,
literature, and art, the history of science and technology, the
history of the book, and the history of  exploration and
cartography. The Library building complex shares a campus with
extensive botanical gardens and three art galleries, and includes
three dedicated exhibition halls, two reading rooms, and
state-of-the-art conservation and imaging labs. Over 1400 scholars
from around the world use the Library collections onsite each year,
and many more make use of surrogates in all formats.

The Library's holdings of original research materials, including
about 7,000,000 manuscripts, 1,000,000 printed books, 600,000
historical photographs, and over 500,000 prints and ephemera,
comprise one of the most heavily-used research collections in the
country. Since its founding in 1919, the Huntington has pursued
policies which attempt to reconcile preservation of rare and
valuable cultural objects with support for a vigorous onsite program
of research, education, exhibitions, and publication, while
recognizing its obligation to provide wider access to collections
via the creation and dissemination of surrogates. The Lloyd E.
Cotsen Chief Preservation Officer, through various advisory and
leadership roles, will play a key role in finding the appropriate
balance among sometimes conflicting priorities and articulating the
role of the Huntington's conservation and preservation efforts.

The successful candidate will be responsible for bringing
preservation and conservation expertise to library-wide planning and
decision-making.  As a department head reporting to the Avery
Associate Director of the Library, the successful candidate will
work as a peer with the heads of Technical Services, Reader
Services, and Imaging Services, and in collaboration with the
curatorial staff, to build a comprehensive preservation program and
to plan and implement Library services and operations.

Responsibilities: Oversees a comprehensive program to ensure
long-term access to all Library collection materials, in both
original and digital form. Supervises operations and staff of
Conservation Department, including conservators, an exhibition
preparator, and interns. Prepares budgets and reports, works with
vendors, handles preservation-related contracts, ensures appropriate
documentation, creates and implements policies and procedures.
Responsible for management of preventative preservation,
conservation treatment of materials in all formats, book repair and
housing, commercial library binding, and environmental monitoring.
Works closely with Imaging Department and other Library staff on
issues of digital reformatting and archiving of digital information;
works with curators to plan and manage digital projects.  Prepares
grant proposals and oversees projects. Responsible for Library
disaster preparedness planning.  Manages preservation issues
relating to a large and active exhibition program.   Participates in
outreach to Huntington community of readers, staff, volunteers,
docents, members, and donors. Represents Huntington with
professional associations and institutions at local and national
level.

Qualifications and Experience: Master's degree in library science
from an ALA-accredited library school or equivalent professional
degree and experience in the conservation and preservation fields.
Awareness of current research and ethical issues in conservation
treatment and preservation administration, and substantial knowledge
of current best practices in the field.  Excellent organizational,
interpersonal, and communication skills.  Record of participation in
relevant professional and educational activities. Five years'
professional experience in special collections, research library, or
museum setting. At least two years' experience managing preservation
or conservation staff.

Interested and qualified individuals are encouraged to visit
<URL:http://www.huntington.org> for more information about the
position responsibilities. First consideration will be given to
applications received by February 1, 2009. Please submit a letter of
introduction and resume to:

    The Huntington Library
    Human Resources Department - Job #045-09
    1151 Oxford Road
    San Marino, CA 91108

The Huntington is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Holly Moore
Conservator, Rare Books and Bound Manuscripts
Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108
626-405-2100 ext 2522
Fax: 626-405-3444


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:36
                 Distributed: Monday, December 15, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-22-36-030
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