Volume 19, Number 8
Dec 1995

Positions

Rare Books Conservator
Princeton University

Position has temporary funding for five years. It is anticipated that permanent funding will be established. Responsible for physical care and conservation treatment of rare books and bound manuscripts in the special collections of Princeton University Libraies. Performs all aspects of book conservation: disbinding; aqueous and non-aqueous treatments; mending; sewing; board attachment and endband construction; covering and repairing all styles including paper, cloth, leather, vellum, and alum-tawed materials; enclosure fabrication; examination, specification, and written/photographic documentation of treatments. Establishes preservation and conservation priorities and treatment strategies with others; carries out condition surveys and needs assessments; develops and manages large-scale treatment projects of rare book, manuscript and visual materials collections; participates in exhibit preparation; monitors environments of rare book storage areas. Reports to Special Collections Conservation unit head.

Required: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience through employment. Advanced training in rare book conservation through accredited graduate degree or equivalent certificate program, or formal apprenticeship. Additionally, minimum of five years professional experience in rare book conservation in a special collections, archives, rare books, or research library setting. Understanding of principles of book conservation, history of book structure, binding techniques, and materials science. Demonstrated knowledge of western binding before 1600 as well as Coptic and Islamic binding techniques. Demonstrated ability to work on wide range of rare book collections in a complex organization and communicate effectively. Ability to work in a team; ability to work independently and structure one's time.

Desirable: Supervisory experience. Familiarity with operating Macintosh computers. Applicants chosen for interview must present portfolio of rare book conservation treatments, including documentation materials. Salary and rank depend upon qualifications/experience. To ensure full consideration, send application (resume and names, titles, addresses, phone numbers of 3 references) postmarked by May 1, 1996 to: Search Committee: Rare Books Conservator, c/o Human Resources Librarian, Princeton University Libraries, One Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544. AA/EOE

Kress Internship in Paper Conservation
New York Botanical Garden Library

The New York Botanical Garden Library announces a six-month internship in paper conservation beginning July 1, 1996. This position, the Kress Internship in Paper Conservation, will provide experience working with the Library's Lord & Burnham Architectural Drawing Collection. Working under the supervision of the Garden's Conservation Librarian, the intern will assist with a conservation survey of the collection, stabilization and rehousing procedures, and will carry out a research project, and prepare a final report on the project.

Candidates must be currently enrolled in, or a graduate of, a recognized program in book, art, or paper conservation. This six-month, full-time position (35 hours per week) offers a stipend of $447 per week. There are no fringe benefits, but there will be an allowance of $250 to be used during the period of the internship for appropriate outside professional development. On-site interview preferred. Interested applicants should send a detailed letter or application, a current resume, and three letters of recommendation to: Judith Reed, Conservation Librarian, The New York Botanical Garden Library, Bronx, NY 10458.

Deadline for receipt of a complete application is Friday, May 3, 1996. Notification of the successful applicant will be sent by May 31, 1996.

Paper Conservation Internship
Commonwealth Conservation Center, Harrisburg

A paid summer internship in archival conservation will be offered at the Commonwealth Conservation Center in Harrisburg, PA. The intern will participate in the mass treatment of early land records. For more information, contact Linda Ries, Project Director, Division of Archives and Manuscripts, Box 1026, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1026 (717/787-3023, fax 787-4822).

Jobs Announced Elsewhere

• Courtland Benson, in Victoria, BC, announced in the CBBAG Newsletter that he was looking for a bookbinder to carry out a variety of conservation, restoration and rebinding treatments on old and modern books. Call 604/472-2238.
• The Free Library of Philadelphia wants a temporary part-time conservation technician. Call 215/686-5416 and ask for Karen Lightner.
• Texas Tech University Libraries in Lubbock are seeking applicants for Head of Preservation Department. Salary: $32,916-$39,452. Call Cindy Martin, 806/742-3749.
• The National Library of Medicine is looking for a contractor for book and paper conservation to work onsite for 17 to 100 hours a month. Phone and fax inquiries will not be honored. (The announcement, dated Feb. 2, ran in the Cons DistList.)