This position is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing the Penn Libraries’ preservation and conservation program. The incumbent will revise and maintain a comprehensive preservation plan for the libraries covering all formats, physical and digital, in all locations. The position is responsible for investigating new strategies and technologies to address the current challenges to long-term preservation and access to Penn’s heterogeneous collections, including responsibility for developing effective policies and coordinating them across library departments. The incumbent is expected to bring expertise in print-based and digital preservation to Penn Libraries to ensure perpetual access to its assets for current and future generations of scholars.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee and implement a comprehensive preservation plan for the Penn Libraries, including a systematic program for digital preservation, print management, and conservation.
• Manage a team of 11 professional and support staff in preservation, conservation, and physical processing.
• Effectively prioritize initiatives, manage a budget, and pursue funding through grants, donors, and other means.
• Provide leadership and advocacy across the libraries in the continuing assessment of values, risks, and costs of various preservation and conservation strategies.
• Set policies, standards and best practices for preservation, conservation, and disaster recovery.
• Serve as a key stakeholder on the libraries' Emergency Management Planning Taskforce.
• Represent the libraries on various national and consortial committees related to preservation.
• Gather and analyze data about preservation and conservation services for local and national planning and compliance.

Qualifications:

A Master's Degree and five to seven years of experience, or the equivalent in theory and practice, is required; an additional graduate degree or formal training and/or experience in library and archives preservation/conservation is preferred. The successful candidate will have a track record of progressively responsible and productive experience working in preservation/conservation in research libraries or other cultural heritage institutions. There should be a demonstrable record of collegial leadership, effective management, and deep expertise in print-based and digital preservation to ensure perpetual access to Penn's assets for current and future generations of scholars, as well as effectiveness in system-wide planning and administration. The incumbent should also have deep knowledge of national technical standards, conversion and reformatting methods, various storage environments, conservation and binding, as well as disaster recovery procedures and policies.

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Brigitte Weinsteiger

Associate University Librarian for Collections

University of Pennsylvania Libraries

Rm 220, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center

3420 Walnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206

215-746-3863