Preservation Binding Specialist

UWMSN University of Wisconsin Madison; United States; On-site; USD 39,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The Preservation Binding Specialist at University of Wisconsin–Madison Libraries coordinates preparation of library materials for binding, and manages binding workflows for both commercial and in-house binding, ensuring quality and accurate data entry.

The role trains student employees, supports preservation practices, and contributes to efficient workflows while upholding binding standards across library systems and processes.

Qualifications

• Hands-on work with library and archival materials in a preservation context.
• Ability to follow established procedures and standards while maintaining accuracy in production workflows.
• Experience using computer systems to retrieve, enter, and maintain information with accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Actively participate in an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful workplace (5%).
• Provides complex support to day-to-day library operations, guiding information resources use and preservation activities (50%).
• Contributes to development of policies and procedures (5%).
• Trains and guides student employees and monitors workflows (5%).
• Utilizes library systems and tools to locate, retrieve, and organize materials (15%).

Skills

Preservation context experience

Procedural discipline

Attention to detail

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category: University Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Library Assistant III

Job Summary: 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.

The successful candidate will perform a variety of duties, including, but not limited to:

• Organizing and preparing monographs and serials for commercial library binding and in-house pamphlet binding.
• Working with commercial library binder to resolve problems in fulfillment of binding contract.
• Maintaining knowledge of preservationally sound commercial binding methods as specified in the Library Binding Standard and the Guide to the Library Binding Standard.
• Maintaining knowledge of basic principles of preservation and collection maintenance.

It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. This position is full-time, 100%.

Key Job 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%)

Department: Libraries, Preservation Services

Compensation:

Starting salary will be based on experience and qualifications. Well-qualified applicants can anticipate earning between $39,335 - $45,000, with final salary based on experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/univstaff.pdf. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/).

Required Qualifications:

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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.

Education:

High School Diploma or equivalent required.

Contact Information:

Caitlin Milnthorpe, [e-mail], 608-263-4962 Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website. To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you. Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department. Work with purpose, make an impact, and grow your career. The University of Wisconsin–Madison is committed to equity, inclusion and employee well-being as we proudly work to improve the lives of people in Wisconsin and beyond. UW–Madison offers a wide range of professions that cover various interests and skill levels. We employ everything from accountants to arborists, chefs to custodians, editors to electricians, graphic designers to groundskeepers, HR associates to HVAC technicians, librarians to locksmiths, mechanics to medical assistants, painters to police officers, web designers to welders, and absolutely everything in between! No matter what you are looking for professionally, chances are you will not only find it but thrive at it while working at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.