Preservation Technician
Department: Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Preservation Department
Location: Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Job Type: Regular, Continuing, Full-Time
Work Schedule: Eight hours per day, Monday through Friday
Classification: Non-Exempt
Job Level: Library Specialist 4
Pay bracket: $66,925 - $124,927
Work Arrangement: Fully on-site
The Hoover Institution at Stanford University is seeking a qualified candidates for the full-time position of Preservation Technician for the Hoover Institution Library & Archives. The position is a full-time career track position for an initial three-year limited term, with the possibility of continuation.
About Stanford University''s Hoover Institution: The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace is a public policy research center devoted to the advanced study of economics, politics, history, and political economy-both domestic and foreign-as well as international affairs.
Founded in 1919 by Herbert Hoover before he became the thirty-first president of the United States, the Institution began as a repository of historical material gathered at the end of World War I. The library and archives have grown to be among the largest private repositories of documents on twentieth-century political and economic history. Over time the Institution expanded its mission from collecting archival material to conducting advanced research on contemporary history and economics and applying this scholarship to current public policy challenges.
With its eminent scholars and world-renowned library and archives, the Hoover Institution seeks to improve the human condition by advancing ideas that promote economic opportunity and prosperity while securing and safeguarding peace for America and all humanity.
The Preservation Department supports the long-term preservation, responsible access, exhibition, digitization, transport, and use of these distinctive collections. The department provides preventive preservation, conservation treatment, housing, collection-care consultation, disaster preparedness and response, integrated pest management, and support for research services, digitization, exhibitions, acquisitions, and collection processing.
Position Summary
The Hoover Institution Library & Archives seeks a highly skilled, detail-oriented Preservation Technician to join its Preservation Department. This position is particularly well suited to an experienced preservation technician or an early-career/junior conservator seeking to develop and apply broad practical conservation skills in a major research library and archives.
Reporting to the Book & Paper Conservator, the Preservation Technician provides hands-on preservation and conservation support for a wide range of library and archives collections, including books, manuscripts, photographs, posters, maps, works of art on paper, ephemera, three-dimensional objects, and mixed-material collections. The position performs preservation assessment, collection stabilization, rehousing, custom enclosure construction, basic and intermediate book and paper conservation treatment, digitization preparation, exhibition support, researcher-access support, collections moves, preservation documentation, and promotion of good practice.
The successful candidate will work independently on established treatments and housing solutions after training; assess materials and recommend appropriate treatment or handling approaches for review by the Book & Paper Conservator; and collaborate closely with colleagues across the Hoover Institution Library & Archives. The incumbent must be comfortable shifting priorities in response to collection needs, researcher requests, digitization projects, acquisitions, exhibitions, preservation emergencies, and other departmental priorities.
Core Duties
Collection Care, Conservation, and Housing
- Assess the condition, format, stability, handling needs, and preservation risks of library, archival, and object collections; identify concerns and recommend appropriate housing, treatment, handling, access, or referral actions.
- Carry out basic and intermediate conservation treatments for books, paper-based materials, and mixed collections under the supervision of the Book & Paper Conservator, including surface cleaning, mending, stabilization, humidification and flattening, staple or fastener removal, de-encapsulation and re-encapsulation, simple repairs and other established procedures.
- Construct protective housings, including folders, enclosures, custom boxes, spacers, boards, supports, and other storage or access solutions.
- Rehouse and stabilize materials during accessioning, processing, extended processing, retrospective projects, and special preservation initiatives.
- Independently make routine determinations regarding standard housings, established minor stabilization treatments, assigned-work prioritization, and safe handling and access recommendations, consistent with departmental policies and under the guidance of the Book & Paper Conservator.
Archives and Library Workflows
- Consult with archival processors, catalogers, curators, librarians, and other colleagues regarding preservation needs, handling requirements, and appropriate workflows for collection materials.
- Support accessioning-to-access workflows by assessing, stabilizing, housing, and treating materials as needed.
- Review recently cataloged library materials and sort and prioritize items requiring housing, repair, treatment, or other preservation action.
- Support tracking and documentation workflows using spreadsheets, Smartsheet, integrated library systems, collection-management systems, and related tools.
- Assist with shelving, reshelving, paging, and other collection-maintenance activities in library vaults, stacks, and remote-storage locations.
- Participate in storage-area walkthroughs and report or address immediate preservation, environmental, facilities, lighting, or building-related concerns.
Digitization, Access, and Research Services
- Prepare materials for mass digitization, researcher imaging requests, and vendor digitization by assessing condition and completing needed foldering, housing, stabilization, mending, flattening, and safe transport.
- Support photographers and digitization staff with safe handling, imaging setup, collection preparation, and the design or use of appropriate supports and props.
- Prepare fragile, oversized, encapsulated, object-based, or otherwise challenging materials for imaging and researcher access.
- Provide preservation support for reading-room services, including paging, condition assessment and stabilization, special handling, access photography, and provision of boards, weights, cradles, supports, and other handling tools.
- Assist researchers and staff with the safe consultation of fragile, oversized, rare, or three-dimensional materials in reading rooms and other approved research settings.
Exhibitions, Outreach, and Loans
- Help assess and prepare collection materials selected for exhibitions, tours, media engagements, classes, and other outreach activities.
- Prepare, mount, support, and house books, archival materials, posters, objects, and other collection items for exhibition, digitization, display, and transport.
- Assist with exhibition installation and deinstallation, including preparation of mounts, supports, props, and protective materials.
- Prepare materials and spaces for tours and visits; supervise or advise on safe collection handling; and welcome visitors to the conservation laboratory as assigned.
Collections Transport, Receiving, and Off-Site Support
- Receive incoming collections and shipments from shippers, curators, vendors, and the loading dock; identify immediate preservation concerns and coordinate safe movement to appropriate locations.
- Prepare supplies and packing materials for incoming and outgoing collections, digitization vendors, loans, and off-site work.
- Assist with collection pickups, packing, loading, unloading, shipping, remote-storage activities, and collection moves.
- Travel locally as needed to support off-site storage, collection pickup, packing, transport, installation, and related activities.
Preventive Preservation, Emergency Preparedness, and Lab Operations
- Support integrated pest management activities, including trap placement, monitoring, documentation, and response.
- Assist with collection quarantine activities, including bagging, boxing, pest monitoring, and identification of mold, pest, or other condition concerns.
- Participate in disaster preparedness, building walkthroughs, emergency response, collection salvage, documentation, and maintenance of disaster-response supplies.
- Maintain conservation laboratory spaces, tools, equipment, supplies, and inventories; receive and organize shipments; and assist with equipment adjustment and basic upkeep.
- Produce and maintain commonly used preservation supplies, including folders, spacers, boards, envelopes, and other standard housings.
- Work with Stanford facilities personnel and other staff to protect collection materials during maintenance, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or building-related work.
- Maintain accurate treatment, housing, workflow, and production documentation.
- Participate actively in departmental meetings, training, safety activities, and continuous improvement of preservation procedures.
- May train, coordinate, or provide guidance to student assistants, interns, volunteers, or temporary staff, as departmental needs and the incumbent's experience permit.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in conservation, book arts, studio art, library or archival studies, museum studies, cultural heritage, or a related field, and two years of relevant preservation or conservation experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
- Demonstrated experience performing book and paper stabilization, repair, or conservation treatments using established methods and materials.
- Demonstrated experience constructing custom protective housings and enclosures for library, archival, or museum collections.
- Experience safely handling rare books, archival materials, special collections, and/or cultural heritage objects.
- Experience accurately measuring, cutting, folding, sewing, adhering, and assembling paper-, board-, cloth-, and other conservation or housing materials.
- Demonstrated fine hand skills and the ability to use conservation tools and equipment safely and accurately.
- Ability to assess routine preservation needs and make sound decisions regarding standard housings, basic stabilization, safe handling, and access support.
- Proficiency with PC-based applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, email, and internet-based tools.
- Ability to create clear written documentation and maintain accurate records.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple concurrent assignments.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, adjust to changing priorities, and maintain a high level of productivity and quality.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Valid driver's license and ability to meet Stanford driving requirements for university-related local travel.
Preferred Qualifications
- Graduate certificate or graduate degree in conservation, or comparable specialized training in book and paper conservation.
- Experience working in preservation or conservation within a research library, archives, special-collections repository, museum, or similar cultural heritage institution.
- Experience treating, housing, or preparing for access a broad range of formats, including books, manuscripts, archival collections, posters, maps, photographs, artwork, ephemera, and three-dimensional objects.
- Knowledge of preventive preservation and collection-care practices, including preservation surveys, archival processing workflows, environmental monitoring, integrated pest management, quarantine procedures, and disaster preparedness and response.
- Experience supporting digitization workflows, including collection assessment and preparation, safe handling, and use of mounts, cradles, and other supports.
- Experience preparing materials for exhibition, display, installation, deinstallation, or loans.
- Experience packing, shipping, moving, and transporting library, archival, or museum collections.
- Familiarity with ArchivesSpace, Aeon, Smartsheet, Microsoft Excel, integrated library systems, collection-management databases, or digital-imaging workflows.
- Master of Library Science or related degree.
- Reading, speaking, or working knowledge of Russian, Japanese, Chinese, or another language relevant to Hoover Institution collections.
- Experience training or supervising staff, assistants, or interns.
- Advanced knowledge of preservation issues in cultural institutions and/or demonstrated accomplishment in conservation research and writing.
Physical Requirements
The physical requirements described below represent the essential functions of the position. Stanford University will provide reasonable accommodation to employees with disabilities, consistent with applicable law, to enable them to perform the essential functions of their positions.
- Ability to perform detailed manual work requiring sustained fine motor coordination, including accurate measuring, cutting, folding, sewing, adhesive work, tool use, and manipulation of fragile materials.
- Ability to lift and carry boxes, books, bundles, artifacts, and other collection materials weighing up to 40 pounds.
- Ability to push, pull, and maneuver fully loaded carts and book trucks. This may include moving carts weighing up to 650 pounds and requiring an initial push force of up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods; sit and perform desk-based computer tasks; bend, twist, stoop, squat, kneel, reach, and work above shoulder height.
- Ability to use step stools, ladders, scaffolds, or similar equipment safely when retrieving, shelving, assessing, or moving collection materials.
- Ability to work safely with sharp hand tools, board shears, presses, adhesives, solvents, and other conservation materials and equipment.
- Ability to work with books and collection materials in locations that may be dusty, confined, or located at heights of approximately 4-10 feet.
Working Conditions
- This is a fully on-site position based at the Hoover Tower on the Stanford University campus.
- The standard work schedule is eight hours per day, Monday through Friday.
- Occasional early-morning, evening, weekend, extended-hour, or off-site work may be required to support collection moves, emergencies, disaster response, exhibitions, shipping and receiving, remote-storage work, or other operational needs.
- May work with dusty, mold-affected, quarantined, or pest-affected collection materials and may be required to use appropriate personal protective equipment.
- May work with adhesives, solvents, sharp tools, conservation equipment, pest-monitoring materials, and other supplies in accordance with departmental safety procedures and University policies.
Work Standards
Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work effectively and respectfully with Stanford colleagues, researchers, visitors, vendors, and external organizations.
Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates personal responsibility and a commitment to safety; identifies and communicates safety concerns; and uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training, procedures, and lessons learned.
Compliance: Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including Stanford personnel policies and policies in the University's Administrative Guide.
Compensation
The expected pay range for this position is $66,925 to $124,927. The final rate of pay will be based on the selected candidate's qualifications, experience, internal equity, and University policy.
Application Requirements
Applicants should submit:
- A resume or curriculum vitae;
- A cover letter describing their interest in the role and relevant preservation, conservation, collections-care, hand-skills, and cultural-heritage experience;
- A portfolio of treatment, housing, mounting, exhibition-preparation, or related work examples;
- Contact information for three professional references.
Finalists will be asked to complete a practical hand-skills exercise. A color-vision assessment may also be required.
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.