Senior Conservation Technician, Library

Duke University:

 

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

 

The Senior Conservation Technician repairs m aterials primarily from circulating collections, creates custom enclosur esfor general and special collections, and manages the work of student a ssistants. Responsibilities also include lab management tasks, disaster planning and recovery support, and environmental monitoring programsupp ort.

Responsibilit ies

Conservation and Custom Enclosures (75%)

·       </sp an>Performs basic, intermediate, and advanced repairs primarily on circulating collections materials.

·        Constructs custom enclosures for library materials from circulating and special collections.

·       Prepares items for the shelf including binding pamphlets, making pockets, inserting tip-ins,c reating and inserting replacement pages, ordering and applying shelf lab els, etc.

·       Recognizes that the use and value of objects from different region s,cultures, and religions vary, and issensitive to these issues when ma king treatment decisions and during handling. Acknowledges where gaps in understanding of these differences may exist, and strives to close those gaps through readings, workshops, classes, etc.

< p>·       Follows establish ed guidelines and procedures.

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Workflow Management (10%)

·     Retrieves andtri ages materials according to established guidelines; returns completed it ems.

·     M akes daily assignments and provides training and technical assistance fo r student assistants; conducts quality assurance of student work.

·    Provides technical assistance to interns and volunteers.

< span>·     Identifies materials f or replacement and/or potential transfer to special collections.< /p>

 

Lab Management (5%)< /strong>

·       Eq uipment and space management: Maintains specialized bookbinding and offi ce equipment; organizes quarterly lab maintenance activities; submits an d tracks facilities repair requests for the lab and vault spaces.

·       Laband saf ety documentation: Keeps lab documentation updated including labmanual, SDS notebook, chemical hygiene plan, etc.; understands and follows safe laboratory practices and  demonstrates safe practices to st affand student assistants; tracks chemical inventories, ensuresproper l abeling on chemicalcontainers,stays current on Duke University chemica l lab requirements and training schedules, and reports requiredchanges t o department; organizes respirator fit testing through OESO for current and new employees.

 

D isaster Planning and Recovery/Environmental Monitoring (5%)</stro ng>

·       Participates on disaster response team in the event of acollection s emergency.

·       </s pan>Helps inventory, restock, and maintain disaster recovery suppl ies and equipment.

·       </span >Assists the Department Head with environmentalmonitoring p rogram; responds to reported issues as needed.

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Departmental Support (5%)

·     Assists in present ing preservation education and outreach programs including in person and through our blog.

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