Preservation Binding Specialist

Universities of Wisconsin • Madison, WI

1d • $39,335 - $45,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Preservation Department supports the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries' mission by ensuring the long-term preservation and accessibility of physical collections. Through preservation assessment, conservation, commercial library binding, and collection maintenance, the department works to extend the usable life of research materials and maintain their availability for current and future users. The department collaborates with units across the Libraries to preserve a wide range of circulating and special collections materials using established preservation standards and best practices. The Preservation Binding Specialist supports these efforts by coordinating and performing the preparation of library materials for commercial library binding and in-house pamphlet binding. This position coordinates binding workflows, performs quality control, enters and maintains binding data in library and vendor systems, and communicates with the commercial bindery to resolve production issues. The position also trains and guides student employees, serves as a resource for library staff on binding procedures and preservation practices, and contributes to the development of workflows and procedures that support efficient, high-quality preservation services.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience performing detailed, hands-on work with library and archival materials in a preservation context.
• Demonstrated ability to follow established procedures and standards while exercising sound judgment, resolving routine problems, and maintaining accuracy in a production-oriented workflow.
• Experience using computer systems and software applications to retrieve, enter, and maintain information with accuracy and attention to detail.
• High School Diploma or equivalent required.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience with commercial library binding processes, book repair, pamphlet binding, or other library preservation workflows.
• Experience training, guiding, or providing direction to student employees or other staff in a work setting.
• Knowledge of preservation principles, library binding standards, and best practices for the care and maintenance of physical collections, including the ability to assess damaged materials and assign appropriate treatment options.

Responsibilities

• Actively participate in an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful workplace (5%)
• Provides complex support to the day-to-day operations of library services to provide guidance in the use of library information resources, operations, and policies; or to acquire, prepare, and preserve library information resources for use (50%)
• Contributes to the development of policies and procedures (5%)
• May create invoices, process complex orders, and resolve any purchasing discrepancies (5%)
• Participates in committee work within the library and the university (0%)
• Provides complex library services support in absence of a supervisory authority. Acts as a resource to other library staff (5%)
• May assist and educate both face-to-face and remote customers in the use of technologies and tools to create, seek, use, and manage information (0%)
• Conducts reference searches to locate relevant materials and answer questions as needed (0%)
• Interprets policies and procedures to answer non-routine questions and resolve complex issues (5%)
• Hires, trains, and guides student employees and monitors student workflows (5%)
• Utilizes designated library systems, tools, standards, and practices to locate, retrieve, and organize; or describe, edit, preserve, and reformat a variety of library information resources (15%)
• Utilizes library software and systems to retrieve, enter, and report on data using a wide variety of applications (5%)

Benefits

• generous paid time off
• competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance
• tax-advantaged savings accounts
• participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund
• generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave
• competitive insurances and savings accounts
• retirement benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED