Jobs

Associate Conservator at The Newberry Library, Chicago

Listing Start Date: February 5, 2025
Expires: April 5, 2025

The Newberry Library, an independent library free and open to the public, is excited to announce a new position of Associate Paper Conservator. The Newberry has a long and distinguished history as a leader in the field of conservation. Paul Banks, the first permanent conservator at the Newberry starting in 1963, was on the cutting edge of conservation science and documentation at the time. He began training staff and publishing leaflets on bookbinding and conservation at the library, before moving on to establish a conservation program at Columbia University School of Library Science (later moving to UT Austin). Paul’s contributions continue to guide and inspire conservation at the Newberry today. 

The Conservation Lab at the Newberry works across the institution with curators; exhibition, reading room, and research center staff; and students and scholars, to safeguard use of the collection for exhibitions, research, teaching, and outreach. This position will support the Director of Conservation in overseeing and contributing to the care and preservation of the library’s diverse collections, which include incunabula, early modern and contemporary rare and artist’s books; early and modern manuscripts on paper and parchment; and archives, maps, prints, photographs, postcards, and broadsides. The Associate Conservator will have the opportunity to help the department develop its analytical capabilities, initially with implementation of its portable XRF spectrometer and then with expanding upon its capabilities for future research. The Newberry nurtures a scholarly and professional community, which provides research and educational opportunities, engaging library staff, visiting fellows, and scholars alike, as seen here.

Detailed information about position responsibilities is below; to apply, click here.

Associate Conservator

Regular Full Time Professional

US

Salary Range: $65,000.00 Annually

 

TO APPLY: Interested candidates should attach a cover letter and resume, both as PDF documents, to their application in the Newberry Career Center. Applications sent without both a resume and cover letter will not be considered. To be considered for this role, applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable to apply for a job on this site because of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodation by contacting us through the Jobs email link listed on the Newberry Career Center page.

 

ABOUT THE NEWBERRY: The Newberry collection-some 1.6 million books, 600,000 maps, and 5 million manuscript pages-is a portal to more than six centuries of human history, from the Middle Ages to the present. We connect researchers and visitors with our collection in the Newberry’s reading rooms, exhibition galleries, program spaces, classrooms, and online digital resources. 

Since its founding in 1887, the Newberry has remained dedicated to deepening our collective understanding of ourselves and the world around us. As individuals engage with Newberry collections and staff, they discover stories that bridge the past and present and illuminate the human condition. 

The Newberry’s community of discovery is driven by a shared commitment to promoting research, inspiring learning, and using inquiry across the humanities as a tool to engage critically in a vibrant democratic society.

 

SUMMARY: Reporting to the Director of Conservation Services, the Associate Conservator assists with identifying preservation priorities and performing treatment and rehousing of Newberry Library collection materials and assists the Director with coordinating general and special collections conservation workflows, implementation of conservation initiatives and other departmental activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • In consultation with Director of Conservation Services, curators, and Reader Services staff, identifies conservation needs and performs and documents treatments on Newberry Library collection materials, which include a broad range of materials, such as books, archival documents, maps, manuscripts on paper and parchment, photographs and other materials.

  • Assists in planning and coordinating treatment workflows and preservation priorities;

  • Assists with implementing preservation initiatives and maintaining established professional standards relating to storage, exhibition display and transportation;

  • Supports exhibition related work, assisting with preservation display, conservation treatment and installation and de-installation;

  • Participates in loan activities, including preparing condition reports and serving as a courier;

  • Supports and guides department staff, as well as interns and fellows, in conservation and preservation activities;

  • Participates in training department volunteers in rehousing projects;

  • Assesses new acquisitions and collections for rehousing and treatment needs;

  • Trains and educates Newberry staff in the care and handling of materials;

  • Assists with surveying materials for grant proposals and conservation projects;

  • Assists Director with developing protocols and workflow for technical analysis of library material, including use of XRF.

  • Supports environmental and pest monitoring programs and assists in responding to concerns with the environment;

  • Assists with managing conservation documentation records;

  • Participates in producing reports and statistics, and database management;

  • Maintains disaster preparedness materials and information, and coordinates disaster preparedness training programs;

  • Assists in monitoring conservation equipment and material supply needs;

  • Participates in tours of the department and other forms of conservation outreach;

  • Stays informed of current research and developments in conservation, preservation, and related fields, and;

  • Performs other tasks or activities needed for the achievement of departmental goals

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Graduate degree in the conservation of books and paper, or equivalent combination of training and experience.

  • Minimum five years of conservation experience in a museum or rare book library setting.

  • Extensive knowledge of paper-based works, including book history and structure.

  • Excellent hand skills and understanding of conservation theory, practice, and treatments for library and archival materials including books, paper, maps, bound manuscripts on paper and parchment, and photographs.

  • Demonstrated ability to work independently, collaboratively, and productively in a dynamic environment.

  • Demonstrated record of continued education in the field.

  • Demonstrated ability using productivity software including spreadsheets and databases.

  • Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.

  • Excellent organizational skills and the ability to meet strict deadlines.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to manipulate complex and delicate equipment with precision and accuracy. Physical ability to stand for multiple hours per day and to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally.

SCHEDULE: This is a full-time, exempt position, working 35 hours per week, with normal hours generally from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. The incumbent will work onsite.

BENEFITS: For more information, please see the “What We Offer” section on the Newberry Careers page.