Conservation & Book Arts Librarian, Weslyn University, Middletown, CT

Posted March 12, 2024

Position Overview

Position title: Conservation & Book Arts Librarian

Salary range: $61,300-$72,300

Anticipated start: September 2024

Position is open until filled. For full consideration please apply by April 18, 2024 when first review of applications will begin.

Position Description

Located in Middletown, Connecticut, Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges with 3,000 undergraduates and 200 graduates. Established in 1831, Wesleyan is known for its rich, open, and interdisciplinary curriculum. We have a long-standing commitment to creating a dynamically diverse campus comprised of students from all racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.  

Within this intellectually stimulating environment, the Wesleyan University Libraries are privileged to play an important role in the educational, research, and creative endeavors of Wesleyan faculty and students. Wesleyan’s Book Conservation Lab is part of the newly formed Unique Collections department that includes the: Archaeology & Anthropology Collections, Center for East Asian Studies Art & Archival Collections, Special Collections, University Archives and the World Music Archives & Music Library. These collections and their managers work across Wesleyan’s curriculum teaching over 120 class sessions a year working with students to curate exhibits, and creating programming and events.

Reporting to the Dietrich Family Associate University Librarian for Unique Collections, the Conservation and Book Arts Librarian is responsible for overseeing conservation and preservation activities for the Libraries’ unique and circulating collections. This role will also work to build upon existing foundations of working with faculty, classes, and individual students on ideas and sessions related to book construction and various topics on book culture and arts. The ideal candidate brings a mix of technical expertise and program management, and will be excited about the unique opportunity to engage in traditional conservation work, while expanding our capacity for teaching.

Responsibilities include:

Manage the book conservation lab; hire, train, and supervise student employees performing book conservation work; coordinate conservation and preservation treatment for the collections by book conservation lab staff and by outside vendors
Oversee preservation activities for the Wesleyan library, including leading the Library Emergency Response Team to develop and oversee disaster and emergency preparedness and response plans, and liaise with campus facilities staff on environmental controls
Collaborate with faculty to design and provide experiential learning activities and demonstrations in support of the curriculum; provide instruction on an individual basis with advanced and beginning students in the creation of book arts objects of their own design and interest; create and conduct workshop offerings and create interest in events through advertising and outreach
Perform conservation treatments on a variety of primarily paper-based special collections and general collections materials, including bound materials, archival items, and photographs; consult on artifacts, textiles, and other formats
Create a teaching environment open to various cultural approaches to design and interpretation; encourage a diverse student population to utilize the conservation lab; develop creative approaches to encourage use by students of all abilities
Train library staff and students to perform less complex treatments/repairs and/or preservation housings for shelf preparation
Collaborate with other campus entities relevant to book arts and design, including the Shapiro Writing Center, the IDEAS Lab, Digital Design Studio, and Center for the Arts, to provide experiential learning opportunities and workshops; promote awareness of and connection between these groups
Design and execute preservation assessments and surveys as needed
Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Graduate degree in a fine arts discipline or library/information science, and/or certification from an institution specializing in conservation and two years’ related experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
Demonstrated experience executing conservation treatments for paper-based special collections, archival, and general collections items
In-depth knowledge of the history of printing, book construction, and current and emerging trends in the conservation and preservation fields
Experience providing instruction in one-on-one or group settings in conducting conservation treatments and/or book construction
Knowledge of preservation program management within a library setting; familiarity with best practices for emergency response/recovery and disaster management as they pertain to collections
Ability to present publicly and articulate technical concepts to a general audience
Effective communication and problem-solving skills
Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks effectively and respond fluidly to newly emerging priorities
Ability to work effectively and influence across all levels of the organization, plan and delegate tasks within a team-based environment
Demonstrated commitment to work within a diverse learning environment and interact collegially with individuals of different backgrounds
Proven time management and task prioritization skills
Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-based environment
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends

Preferred Qualifications

Supervisory experience
Experience developing collaborative outreach programming and teaching workshops and classes related to book arts topics
Demonstrated experience running a preservation program for a library across multiple collections and locations

Application Requirements

Cover Letter
Resume

Benefits

Wesleyan offers a broad range of employee benefits and development opportunities, including comprehensive group insurance plans, wellness programs and incentives, generous paid time off and retirement plans. We also offer flexible work schedules, employee and dependent tuition programs, as well as access to Wesleyan’s BLS & GLS programs for those who qualify (tuition is waived for up to 2 courses a term; some fees and taxes may apply). Detailed information on the benefits of working at Wesleyan is located at: https://wesleyan.edu/hr/careers/prospective-resources.html.

To learn more, please see the full job description and application information here: https://careers.wesleyan.edu/postings/10365