Head, Book Conservation

Overview

The Head of Book Conservation contributes to the library’s mission by developing and overseeing the conservation of books, bound manuscripts for the Yale Library’s special collections. Working as a member of Conservation and Exhibition Strategies management team, he/she/they will act as an advocate for the care of collections in a large, dynamic, complex environment, working with a diverse group of stakeholders. Directs a variety of workflows generated through conservation review, reading room and classroom use, exhibitions/loans, and/or via cataloging and archival processing. Applies highly specialized knowledge to the treatment of a wide range of books and bound documents including, but not limited to incunabula, manuscripts, printed books, papyri, and parchment. Surveys materials, develops time and cost estimates, and contributes to project proposals. Recommends best practices for housing, storage, handling, exhibition, and loan of collections. Recruits, motivates, and retains a high-performing team of conservators, technicians, student assistants, and interns. Carries out treatment work independently and designs solutions to complex conservation problems for individual objects and collections of materials.

Consults on treatments carried out by outside vendors, selects and reviews vendor work. Carries out scientific research and technical examinations to facilitate treatments and/or support curator, faculty, and researcher needs. Contributes to management of laboratory spaces, supplies, and equipment. Upholds best practices for hazardous materials handling, lab safety and collection security. Ensures that all work is documented in accordance with conservation ethics, professional standards, as well as departmental and University requirements. Maintains professional affiliations in appropriate organizations and keeps abreast of the latest developments in conservation principles, techniques, and procedures. Assists with collections emergency response efforts as needed. Performs other duties as required.

This position will be assigned a rank of Librarian 3 to Librarian 5 based on a combination of professional experience and accomplishments. Librarian ranking information can be found at: http://bit.ly/YULRanksPromotions.

The budgeted salary for this position is $90,000-$130,000.

Applications submitted by Sunday, May 3 will receive first consideration. We will hold two virtual information sessions in advance of the first consideration date. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend. Link to the sessions: http://bit.ly/4cB5ZYd

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Master’s degree in Art/Museum Conservation or MLS with Advanced Certification in Conservation is required in place of MLS.
2. Five years professional post-graduate experience.
3. Excellent conservation treatment skills and decision-making ability for a wide variety of historical bound materials as demonstrated by a portfolio of treatments and documentation.
4. Strong conservation documentation skills, including computing and digital photography. Ability to work in a full range of applications including word processing, collection management systems, spreadsheets, and databases.
5. Demonstrated knowledge of chemistry and material science research related to conservation.
6. Proven ability to plan, organize and prioritize projects to meet deadlines and clear objectives. Good time management skills. Strong research and documentation skills.
7. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; demonstrated effectiveness in influencing and crafting recommendations and training for audiences with a wide range of conservation knowledge.
8. Strong management skills to motivate staff and create a positive and productive work environment.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Experience in library and archives settings.
2. Experience training and supervising conservators, technicians, students and/or volunteers.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Plans, researches, implements conservation treatments for rare books, manuscripts, and other related materials from the Library’s special collections and archives.
2. Examines the materials composition and deterioration of objects in order to develop and execute successful conservation treatments.
3. Engages cooperatively with curators, librarians, archivists, and collection managers to provide information regarding condition, potential risks, and options for acquisition, treatment, loan and exhibit for individual objects and groups of objects and the advisability of acquiring, loaning or exhibiting such material as well as the preservation options for long-term retention of such materials.
4. Makes recommendations and devises or adapts treatment methods, with respect to an object’s value, meaning, collection context and anticipated use.
5. Creates accurate written and photographic documentation for examinations, treatments and other activities.
6. Undertakes item-level condition surveys and assists with planning strategies for improvements to collection care.
7. Advances knowledge, skills, and develops specialization through professional development opportunities such as conferences and workshops.
8. Keeps current with changes in the field.
9. May supervise and/or train staff.
10. Handles hazardous materials used in treatment in accordance with current federal, state, and local regulations and policies.
11. Participates in library system-wide planning, committees, and work groups, and engages in campus, regional and national professional organizations and collaborative activities.
12. Monitors developments and best practices elsewhere to help ensure the excellence of Yale’s collections and research support services.
13. Assists with disaster recovery efforts.
14. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

1. Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school. In selected instances, a post-graduate degree in a related discipline may be required or substituted for a master’s degree in library science.
2. Demonstrated excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications and analytical ability.
3. Demonstrated record of designing projects and bringing them to a conclusion in a timely fashion.
4. Experience working collaboratively and independently with varied groups within a complex organization and rapidly changing, team environment.