Conservation Technician for Special Collections, Harvard University, Cambridge MA

Posted July 18, 2014

Auto req ID: 33089BR
School/Unit: Harvard Library
Department: Harvard Library Preservation Services

Duties & Responsibilities:
The conservation laboratory located within the Weissman Preservation Center is an active facility where treatment of diverse rare book, paper, and photograph collections throughout Harvard libraries is carried out. Survey, rehousing work, and occasional conservation treatment is done on-site at one of the Harvard libraries.

Working under the supervision of the Senior Conservators in the Weissman Preservation Center, the Conservation Technician for Special Collections helps to preserve books, unbound paper materials, and photographs from Harvard Library’s special collections.

Evaluates damaged and deteriorated special collection library materials, develops treatment proposals, and prepares reports that may include photo documentation. Performs conservation treatments from routine and basic to moderately complex. May work on more complex conservation projects under the direct supervision of a conservator. Works in collaboration with other staff on larger projects involving multiple objects. Please note that this is full time term appointment ending on December 31, 2015.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Constructs custom enclosures, measures materials for boxing, and performs other collection rehousing.
Constructs exhibition mats, mounts, cradles, and fabricates display packages for flat materials
Contributes to general lab maintenance and tracking of supplies and tools.
May participate in library disaster recovery. May assist in carrying out condition surveys and environmental monitoring
May work at satellite labs or at repositories under the general supervision of a conservator

Basic Qualifications:

High school diploma or equivalent education or work experience required
Training in book, paper, or photograph conservation through a formal training program or on-the-job training. Experience in a recognized conservation facility is required
Special collections experience preferred

Additional Qualifications:

College degree preferred
Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential; Keyboard/computing skills including e-mail, time recording, and short reports
Superior manual dexterity and demonstrated ability to work with a high degree of accuracy and precision
Ability to follow directions and work independently with sustained concentration, particularly when working on-site at a library
Strong organizational skills, including the ability to work within established priorities and to achieve goals
Ability to adapt to change, to analyze and solve problems, and to be flexible and work collaboratively
Ability to handle sharp tools and small instruments, work in a fume hood, climb step stools and small ladders, and operate heavy equipment (board shears, book presses, power cutters, etc.)
Using appropriate safety measures, tasks may involve exposure to dust and mold or the use of light solvents
Some tasks involve standing for extended periods and/or bending, walking, and sitting
Job requires ability in close vision and color vision

Additional Information:
Founded in 1636, Harvard University is preeminent among the world’s research universities. Harvard has grown from nine students with a single master to an enrollment of more than 6,600 undergraduate students, over 14,000 graduate students, and an additional 2,000 part-time students. Over 16,000 people work at Harvard, including approximately 2,100 faculty members. An additional 10,000 individuals have faculty appointments in Harvard-affiliated teaching hospitals.

In the course of 375 years, Harvard’s Library has grown from a single collection of 400 volumes to a 73-unit library system whose holdings include nearly 17 million volumes, more than 21 million digital files, 10 million microforms, 8 million photographs, and an estimated 400 million manuscript items.

For additional information visit the Harvard Library web site at: http://lib.harvard.edu/about-us

Pre-Employment Screening:
Criminal
Education
Identity

Appointment End Date:
31-Dec-2015

EEO Statement:
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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