The New York Public Library

Public library offering research resources

Book Conservator

Art, Graphics & AnimationPosted on Nov 10

Full-timeLong Island City, Queens, NY, USA$80.1k /yr

About the Job

Requirements

A graduate degree in Conservation with a focus on bound paper-based materials is required.
Demonstrated experience in the conservation treatment of bound library materials is required.
Demonstrated experience in conservation considerations for typical research library use of special collections, especially conservation workflows and project management supporting exhibitions, is required.
Experience with collections emergency response for bound and loose paper-based materials is required.
Experience working in a conservation lab after graduate school is required.
Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and decision-making skills within and beyond the conservation lab are required.
Ability to carry out efficient conservation treatment of bound paper-based special collections in accordance with the AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice is required.
Basic knowledge of object, textile, and painting conservation, as well as photograph conservation, is required.
Experience, knowledge, and judgment in conservation work supporting exhibitions of library special collections are required.
Experience with, or the discipline to gain proficiency in, the computer systems and software used by a conservation lab and by library and cultural heritage institutions is required.
Fluency with Google Suite is required.

Responsibilities

Perform multi-item batch and single-item conservation assessment, treatment, and research in accordance with the AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice.
Collaborate with colleagues within and beyond Conservation to preserve the collections, especially for Schomburg Center exhibitions and the Library’s commitment to access.
Maintain a regular on-site visiting schedule at the Schomburg Center to help determine conservation priorities and meet basic book and paper needs while minimizing unnecessary movement of collections; coordinate the schedule with monthly Office Hours of the Senior Photograph Conservator and Collections Care Manager as appropriate.
Contribute to the development and refinement of the lab’s processes, assets, and capabilities.
Participate in training conservation interns and technicians.
Promote professional and public community participation in preservation through outreach.
Contribute to oversight of the Conservation Division’s hourly students and interns.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Overview
For more than 125 years, The New York Public Library (NYPL) has been an essential provider of books, information, ideas, and education. With collections numbering more than 56 million items and serving more than 16 million patrons in person each year and millions more online, NYPL’s reach is both local and global. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities.

At our world-class research centers–including the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Library at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the Library for the Performing Arts, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture–expert staff facilitate the work of our diverse communities, offering inspiring reading rooms, exhibitions, fellowships, and a dynamic range of research services. Their work is supported by dedicated staff on the Collections and Research Services teams. We are proud to be the most public and widely used research library in the world.

The Book Conservator position is located in the Library’s Conservation Division and is part of a team of conservation staff specializing in bound, flat, or photographic materials. The Division supports the collections of NYPL’s three research centers and provides conservation assessment, treatment, research, and training to advance the preservation of the collections and meet the conservation needs of the Library’s active acquisitions, exhibition, loan, and digitization programs. This position focuses especially on the paper-based collections – including manuscripts and archives, books, scrapbooks, ephemera, posters, and other works on paper – of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, one of NYPL’s three dedicated research centers. Founded in 1925 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of materials focused on African American, African, and African Diaspora experiences.

Conservation at NYPL consists of two units -- the Goldsmith Conservation Lab and Collections Care, both located at the Library Services Center in Long Island City, Queens -- headed by the Shelby White and Leon Levy Associate Director of Conservation. Conservation at NYPL is a unit of Preservation under Collections and Research Services.

Responsibilities

Performs multi-item (batch) and single-item conservation assessment, treatment, and research in accordance with the AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice
Collaborates with colleagues both within and beyond Conservation to achieve the preservation of the collections, especially in the context of exhibitions at the Schomburg Center and the Library’s commitment to access
Maintains a regular on-site visiting schedule at the Schomburg Center to help determine conservation priorities and meet basic book and paper needs, while minimizing unnecessary movement of collections; as appropriate, coordinates the regular visiting schedule with the monthly Office Hours of the Senior Photograph Conservator and the Collections Care Manager
Contributes to the development and refinement of the lab’s processes, assets, and capabilities
Participates in the training of conservation interns and technicians
Promotes professional and public community participation in preservation through outreach
Performs other related duties as assigned

Required Education & Certifications

Graduate degree in Conservation with a focus on bound paper-based materials

Required Experience

Demonstrated experience in the conservation treatment of bound library materials
Demonstrated experience in conservation considerations for the typical research library use of special collections, especially conservation workflows/project management in support of exhibitions
Experience with collections emergency response for bound and loose paper-based materials
Experience working in a conservation lab after graduate school

Required Skills

Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and decision-making skills both within and beyond the conservation lab
Demonstrated ability to carry out efficient conservation treatment of bound paper-based special collections in accordance with the AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice
Basic knowledge of objects, textiles, paintings (i.e., not usual library materials), and photograph conservation
Experience, knowledge, and judgment in conservation work supporting the exhibition of library special collections
Experience or discipline to gain proficiency with the expected computer systems and software used by a conservation lab and by library and cultural heritage institutions
Fluency with Google Suite

Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities

Contributes to the oversight of the Conservation Division’s hourly students and interns

About the Company

The New York Public Library

Public library offering research resources

NYPL provides free access to books, digital resources, research facilities, and educational programs across its branches and research centers. People can get a library card, use the online catalogs, access digital resources, attend events, and visit library buildings to study or research. It distinguishes itself with a large urban library system that combines extensive special collections, in-person and digital resources, and public programs at scale, all accessible at no cost. Its goal is universal access to information and culture and to support lifelong learning and literacy for NYC residents and visitors.

Company size: Not listed
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: New York City, New York
Founded: 1895

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