Job Posting: Conservation Librarian/Conservator, Kislak Center, University of Pennsylvania

If you're local, you can skip some of the fluff about the wonderfulness of life in Philly, and possibly even even the hype for U Penn. 

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Job Posting

Conservation Librarian/Conservator
Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
University of Pennsylvania Libraries
https://jobs.hr.upenn.edu/postings/36686  

The University of Pennsylvania Libraries seeks a Conservation Librarian/Conservator to join our dynamic new conservation program within a
vibrant and innovative academic library setting.

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. 

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play. The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

The Penn Libraries serve the world-class faculty and students of Penn's 12 schools. The Libraries' collections comprise more than 7 million volumes, over 100,000 journals, some 2 million digitized images, and extraordinary rare and unique materials that document the intellectual and cultural experience of ancient and modern civilizations. Today, the Libraries play an instrumental role in developing new technologies for information discovery and dissemination and are noted for groundbreaking work in digital library design. To learn more about the Penn Libraries, visit http://www.library.upenn.edu

Position Description

Reporting to the Margy E. Meyerson Head of Conservation and joining a state-of-the-art conservation facility, the Conservator will contribute to the long-term preventive care and conservation treatment of the holdings of the University of Pennsylvania Libraries, including but not limited to the collections materials in the
Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts (http://www.library.upenn.edu/kislak). The Conservator will plan and perform simple to complex structural and aesthetic conservation treatment on a wide range of materials including books, manuscripts, art-on-paper, maps, ephemera, and parchments. The Conservator will be a core member of the Steven Miller Conservation Laboratory staff and will be expected to work closely with senior conservation technicians, curators, librarians, liaisons, reading room staff, catalogers, exhibition designers, art handlers, registrarial staff, student assistants, and other library staff.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plan and perform simple to complex structural and aesthetic conservation treatment on a wide range of special collections library materials including books, manuscripts, art-on-paper, maps, ephemera, and parchments.
• Apply knowledge of conservation theory and preventive conservation techniques to safeguard the long-term care of Penn Libraries collection materials.
• Implement and conduct treatment practices that are in keeping with the AIC Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.
• Contribute to and conduct condition surveys and collection assessments.
• Analyze and examine collection materials to identify, describe, and document their material composition.
• Collaborate in exhibition and loan activities including review of facilities reports and environmental specifications; conducting exhibition reviews and on-site installation as needed.
• Develop and implement new documentation procedures and systems with the Head of Conservation.
• Participate in and create research, training, and educational outreach to a broad audience within the Penn Libraries and Penn academic community as well as partnering cultural institutions at the regional and national scale.
• Under direction of Head of Conservation and as required, develop curricula and lead audience-appropriate training and outreach for staff, students, faculty, and researchers.
• Contribute to departmental efforts to support Penn Libraries social media and communications campaigns.
• Collaborate with and direct the work of other lab staff, technicians, interns, and student workers.
• Facilitate general maintenance and organization of the conservation laboratory by contributing to safety procedures, maintaining inventories, and selecting materials and supplies.
• Be an active member of the conservation and cultural heritage community through active participation, publication, research, and professional service.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Please see the official posting for more information and application instructions.
 https://jobs.hr.upenn.edu/postings/36686

If you have any questions about the position please contact:

Sarah Reidell
Margy E. Meyerson Head of Conservation
University of Pennsylvania Libraries
3420 Walnut Street, Room 504
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206
215.746.8370
sreidell@upenn.edu