Preservation Librarian at 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 & 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 & 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.