Conservation Technician

Newberry Library•Chicago, IL

3d•$21 - $25•Onsite

About The Position

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. Reporting to the Director of Conservation Services, the Conservation Technician supports ongoing preservation of the Newberry’s collection by creating custom housing for a variety of materials, promoting safe storage and handling of the collection and conducting basic stabilization of general collection items, as assigned and supervised by the Director of Conservation. This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Formal study or on-the-job training in book and/or paper arts and/or preservation.
Experience working in a library or museum setting, and handling library collection material and/or artworks.
Demonstrated ability and experience with designing and constructing a variety of protective enclosures.
Excellent hand skills and attention to detail.
Ability to think critically and problem-solve.
Ability to communicate clearly and to adapt communication styles to different groups or situations.
Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to work within established priorities and timelines to complete deadline-driven work.
Ability to follow directions and work both independently and collaboratively.
Ability to manage varied work responsibilities and adapt to changing priorities as necessary.
Excellent computer and software skills and ability to use an online library catalog.

Responsibilities

Designs and constructs custom-made preservation housing for a range of 2D and 3D collections items by hand using a variety of materials, adhesives and tools; housing formats include but are not limited to traditional phase boxes, corrugated boxes, wrappers, portfolios and Mylar encapsulation, as well as original housing tailored to unique items;
Creates labels for housing that specify item content and handling information to aid librarians;
Maintains housing and preservation supplies and assists with ordering relevant materials;
Supports volunteer housing projects by collecting items for their workflow and guiding housing decisions in collaboration with conservators;
Rehouses new acquisitions that may include unframing or removing items from former housing;
Performs basic stabilization and repair of general collection items, as assigned by the Director of Conservation;
Contributes to written and photographic documentation as required for repair and stabilization;
Carries out specialized tasks and improves collection care, adapting best preservation practices to varied situations and staying abreast of current professional standards;
Participates in tracking collection material for rehousing as items enter and leave conservation;
Contributes to exhibition activities relating to preparation, such as cutting mats and hinging works into mats; and assisting with installation and deinstallation as needed;
Participates in updating the library’s preventative conservation practices and policies;
Contributes to training new library staff in the care and handling of collection materials;
Participates in environmental monitoring and integrated pest monitoring as needed;
Participates in disaster preparation, training, and, as needed, implementation and recovery;
Contributes to outreach activities, such as writing blog posts and participating in tours;
Contributes to general lab maintenance and housekeeping;
All other tasks or activities needed for the achievement of departmental goals.