Student Assistant, Heavy Metals in Bookbinding Project

Center for Public Partnerships & Research; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 17,000 - 24,000; Part time

Job summary

KU Libraries in Kansas seeks a student assistant to support conservation research on 19th-century bookbindings. You will learn about attributes, catalog searching, digital imaging, colorimetry, and XRF testing while contributing to data collection and reporting.

The role emphasizes 12–15 hours per week in 2-hour shifts, with opportunities to work on blog posts and public-facing events related to the project. Enrolled students preferred.

Qualifications

• Enrollment in no fewer than 6 credit hours during the semester.
• Ability to work 12-15 hours/week in 2-hour shifts between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail evidenced by materials.
• Excellent communication skills as evidenced by application materials.

Responsibilities

• Record bookbinding attributes, scientific data, and colorimetry readings in a custom database.
• Prepare reports from the recorded data.
• Measure books for boxes and creating custom housings.
• Manage shelving and workflows.
• Digital imaging of bookbindings.

Skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Time management

Education

Undergraduate or graduate student (enrolled 6+ credits)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

Word

Outlook

Job description

Position Overview

Staff in Conservation Services, KU Libraries, are working on a project to identify heavy metals in 19th-century bookbindings using analytical techniques. We seek a KU student to help us with the work. This position would be ideal for an advanced undergraduate or graduate student interested in cultural heritage conservation, libraries, collection management, materials science, and/or chemistry. The student assistant will learn about 19th century bookbinding attributes, library catalog searching, digital imaging, color measuring (colorimetry), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) testing.

Job Description

55% - Record bookbinding attributes, scientific data, and colorimetry readings in a custom database. Prepare reports from the recorded data.

20% - Measure books for boxes and creating custom housings.

10% - Manage shelving and workflows.

10% - Digital imaging of bookbindings.

5% - Complete other duties as required, including writing blog posts and participating in public-facing events about the project.

Required Qualifications

• Work experience which required excellent organizational skills, accuracy, and attention to detail, as evidenced by application materials.
• Excellent communication skills, as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience in Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.), as evidenced by application materials.
• Ability to work 12-15 hours/week between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM M-F in at least 2-hour shifts, as evidenced by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working with databases and data entry, as evidenced by application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently on complex tasks with little direct supervision, as evidenced by application materials.
• Previous experience with historic or archival research or working or volunteering in a library, archives, or museum, as evidenced by application materials.

Position Requirements

During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).

Must work 12-15 hours/week between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM M-F in at least 2-hour shifts.

Employment Conditions

• Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
• This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.

Additional Candidate Instructions

• Cover letter addressing how required and preferred qualifications are met and confirming availability to work during the proposed time period. Please explain how your interests might overlap with this position’s duties.
• Current resume
• Schedule of time available to work between the hours of 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Monday through Friday

To ensure consideration, apply before the application review starts on Tuesday, 9/1/2026. A review of applications will continue and is ongoing until a pool of qualified candidates is identified.

Contact Information to Applicants

• Whitney Baker
• [e-mail]
• 785-864-3568

Advertised Salary Range

$15.00 per hour

Anticipated Start Date

Tuesday September 8, 2026