Preservation Librarian, Texas A&M University Libraries, College Station, TX
Posted March 21, 2018
Position Announcement
Preservation Librarian
Texas A&M University Libraries seeks a creative and dynamic professional to join the Texas A&M University Libraries as a Preservation Librarian. This is an academic professional track appointment at the rank of Clinical Assistant or Clinical Associate Professor and carries full faculty status with responsibilities including professional service and working toward the Libraries’ and the University’s requirements for promotion.
Reporting to the Dean of Libraries through the Director of Preservation and Associate Dean for Information Services, the Preservation Librarian is responsible for overseeing key preservation activities for both general and special collections as well as working in a team with other faculty and staff in Preservation.
Responsibilities include: Preserve items in general collections, special collections, and archives; manage environmental monitoring and integrated pest management programs; manage preservation workflows for general collections items going to storage; manage enclosures program which may include future supervision of student employees and create enclosures; aid in condition assessments of general and special collections/archives;
Required Qualifications:
- American Library Association (ALA)-accredited Master’s degree (or international equivalent)
- Coursework, training, or experience focusing on cultural heritage preservation
- Demonstrated knowledge of library, special collections, and archives preservation and conservation issues, standards, trends, and best practices
- Demonstrated knowledge of preservation reformatting
- Coursework or general experience with care and handling of library, special collections, and/or archival materials
- Demonstrated knowledge of condition assessments and storage needs of library, special collections, and/or archival materials
- Demonstrated evidence of detail-oriented and organization skills
- Experience managing projects or operational activities
- Ability to work in a collaborative environment
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Demonstrated evidence of initiative and innovation
- Demonstrated commitment to providing customer service
- Commitment to diversity and to serving the needs of a diverse population
- Demonstrated interpersonal and teamwork skills complemented by the ability to take initiative
Desired Qualifications:
- Familiarity with audio/video/film preservation and reformatting
- Knowledge of disaster planning
- Experience creating and implementing policies and procedures
ENVIRONMENT:
The Preservation Unit:
Founded in 2013, the Preservation Unit is a strategic initiative for the University Libraries with significant funding and support through donors. The Preservation Unit provides centralized services to the Libraries’ five libraries; these services include general preservation, conservation, book repair, commercial bindery preparation, digitization, digital preservation, environmental monitoring, and disaster response and planning. In 2017, the Libraries completed renovations which resulted in a new large preservation space, conservation lab, and digitization lab. Preservation also manages and maintains a separate quarantine room and walk-in freezer for special collections and archival materials.
The Libraries:
In an effort to provide relevant customer service in an ever-changing environment, the Texas A&M University Libraries is developing a core culture representing flexibility, innovation and risk-taking. In addition, the Libraries recognize the value in creating a culture that draws from the richness and strength reflected in the diversity of our state and our nation and has created an actionable Diversity Plan.
The Libraries currently rank 8th in materials expenditures ($23.6 million) and 4th in ongoing expenditures ($16.6 million) among all ARL libraries. Additionally, the Libraries typically rank near the top 10 for starting librarian salaries among ARL U.S. Public Academic Libraries. Currently the staffing includes 242 individuals which includes 75 librarians holding faculty status
The University:
Founded in 1876 as a land-grant institution, Texas A&M University is the sixth largest university in the nation. The signature Aggie Spirit captures and embodies the university’s traditions and core values: Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, and Selfless Service. The university has an enrollment of more than 55,000 students and 2,800 instructional faculty. Based on Vision 2020, the institution’s goal is to become a premier, tier-one research university and to be ranked among the top 10 public universities nationwide by 2020.
The Community:
Texas A&M is located in Bryan-College Station, a friendly community where the ubiquitous “howdy” greets friends and newcomers alike. The community boasts excellent medical facilities, live entertainment and the arts, fine-to-casual dining, outdoor recreation, a local airport, and a low cost of living, as well as easy proximity to Austin and Houston. Additionally, Texas residents enjoy the benefit of having no state or local income tax.
Salary/Benefits/Rank: Faculty rank and salary are commensurate with qualifications and experience; minimum starting salary will be $50,500 Excellent benefits include health plan and paid life insurance; several retirement plans including TIAA-CREF; paid holidays and vacation; no state or local income tax. Funding is available for professional travel and development activities.
Applications: Applications received by April 20, 2018 will be given first consideration. The letter of application should address the responsibilities, qualifications, and experiences listed for the position. Use the following link to apply.
Pleas
An Equal Opportunity Employer, TAMU Libraries is committed to employing quality faculty who will enhance the rich diversity of our academic community. In that regard, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who are representative of the state’s diversity.
For more information about the library, see http://library.tamu.edu, about the university, http://www.tamu.ed