Temporary (2yrs) Collections Assistant - Rare Books & Fine Arts

Cleveland Museum of Natural History • Cleveland, OH

8d

About The Position

The Museum’s Fine Arts Collection consists of over 7,000 objects including paintings, sculptures, prints, textiles, and photographs spanning the 15th through the late 20th century. Our Rare Books Collection, comprised of 1,829 volumes, includes illustrated works valued for their historic and aesthetic value, including first edition natural history plates from the Description de l’Égypte commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte and a bound first edition set of John James Audubon’s Birds of America. The Rare Books and Fine Arts collections have not had a comprehensive, wall-to-wall inventory since the 1970s, and current storage facilities are aging and insufficient to accommodate the size of the collections and their conservation needs.
The collections are also underutilized and inaccessible to the public, as they are housed in our collections storage area in 50-year old compactors and art racks that are difficult and inefficient for staff to access.

The proposed project will allow us to improve stewardship of these collections by undertaking a wall-to-wall inventory, cataloging items in a new collections management system, replacing aging art racking, and rehousing rare books. A portion of the Rare Books Collection will be rehoused in new, climate-controlled shelving in the Museum’s Library, where they will be more readily accessible for public exhibits and programming. The remaining rare books will be redistributed within the existing compactors in the collections storage area and rehoused in archival boxes and micro-climates to ensure that each item is stored under ideal conditions. This project will ensure that we not only continue to hold these valuable items in public trust, but that we make them available and accessible for the public to enjoy and appreciate.

About the Role:
The Temporary Collections Assistant for Rare Books plays a crucial role in supporting the management, preservation, and accessibility of a specialized collection of rare books and fine art. This position involves hands-on work with delicate materials, ensuring their proper handling, cataloging, and storage to maintain their condition and historical significance. The assistant will collaborate closely with the archivists and Director of Collections to update cataloguing, housing, and conservation assessments as part of an IMLS funded grant project for 2 years.
Attention to detail and adherence to preservation standards are essential to safeguard these irreplaceable items. Ultimately, this role supports the institution’s mission to preserve cultural heritage and promote knowledge through the stewardship of the rare book and fine art collections.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in museum studies or related field; at least 1 year of demonstrable experience working in museum collections; or equivalent combination of education and experience working in museum collections.
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently, stay on task, and meet project deadlines and goals.
• Strong knowledge of collections management methods, best practices, and database management.
• Familiarity with collections management systems and/or relational databases (EMu preferred).
• Ability to handle collection objects carefully and safely to not cause damage.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to react quickly to emergency situations when necessary.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with works on paper, rare books and/or fine arts collections preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee tasks associated with collections, including object handling, rehousing, labeling, sorting, and identification.
• Maintain accurate reports on the condition of items and update database records.
• Carefully handle and monitor collections to ensure their safety and mitigate damage.
• Order supplies and equipment as needed.
• Adhere to the CMNH Collections Management Policy.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level