Frequently Asked Questions for the Conservation Division

Is there funding for the Fellowships and Internships?

The 12-month Multicultural Fellowship is funded. The funding is correlated to the experience level of the successful applicant. Funding is based on suggested pay scale by the United States Government Federal Pay Grade. Fellows with only an undergraduate degree will enter at a GS-5/7; with an MLS or equivalent funding is at a GS-7/9 level; for students who have a graduate degree, certificate or equivalent from a recognized conservation graduate program, funding is at a GS-9/11 level. The funding, depending on GS range, could be about $24,000 (5), $30,000 (7), $36,000 (9) or $43,000 (11) per year.

At this time there is limited funding available for the 3-month Summer Fellowships. No funding is available for the 12-month Internships.

How can I find out more about a career in Conservation/Preservation?

Consult the American Institute for Conservation, or Conservation Online. You can find a listing of Conservation Schools and websites at: http://aic.stanford.edu/

What are the requirements for the Preservation Fellowships and Internships?

Fluent spoken and written english is required for all Fellowships and Internships. For the Multi-Cultural Fellowship, US citizenship is required, as well as a BA or equivalent for the basic Fellowship level, or an MLS or equivalent for the intermediate level, or a degree from a recognized Conservation Graduate Program (see above) for the advanced level. Upon successful completion of the Multicultural Fellowship, the applicant should be prepared to commit an additional year of work to the Library of Congress, subject to government procedures.

For the other Preservation Fellowships and Internships, the only requirement is enrollment in or a degree from a recognized Conservation Graduate Program.

What background do I need for a career in conservation?

The best background is a combination of science, history, and studio art, so that you can understand how cultural material, like a rare book, is made and how it deteriorates, while having the hand skills and patience to repair and care for it. For a conservation career in a Library, it is important to know about bookbinding, papermaking, printmaking, history of photography, vellum, and similar subjects. People have entered the field of conservation from all of the following disciplines: Liberal Arts, Fine Arts, Studio Art, Museum Studies, Anthropology, Archeology, Library Science, History, Art History, Science, Pre-Med, Law, Information Technology, and many others.

What kind of career could this training lead to?

A conservation background helps not only Conservators and Preservation Administrators, but also Librarians, Archivists, Historians, Materials Scientists, Forensic Scientists, Museum Curators, Exhibits Specialists, Designers, Museum Specialists, Art Lawyers, Art lovers, and many others.

What is the range of salaries paid in these careers?

Government salaries go from a GS-5 to a GS-15 meaning from $23,000 to over $100,000 per year.

Where could I work with a career in this field?

You could work in museums, libraries, archives, personal collections, universities, and in private practice.

Does this career path have much mobility?

Aside from setting up private practice wherever there are cultural collections, there are hundreds of libraries, archives and museums throughout the US and millions world-wide, that need the services of conservation experts. There is a world-wide community of conservators who work collegially, and there are many national and international forums for consulting on preservation.

How can someone still in high school or college get experience in this field?

High school and college students interested in this field can have an opportunity to learn more about the various fields and careers within Conservation and Preservation by participating at the Library of Congress as a Volunteer during summers. If you want to volunteer during the summer to gain experience for going into a program, you should plan on a time a full-time (40 hours) commitment for ten weeks at least.

Where can I stay during my training?

Housing is expensive and somewhat limited in the popular Washington, D.C. areas. There are options like group houses, dorm rentals, seasonal apartment rentals or sublets, housing programs and alumni associations through your college or university. You can also check the real estate rentals listings in the local Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland area in the newspapers, most of which are on the web.

How will I get around during my training?

Public transportation is very good in the area. Metrorail, train, busses and suburban express buses carry commuters into town every single day.

For more information:

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority http://www.wmata.com/
Virginia Railway Express http://www.vre.org/
Maryland Transit Authority http://www.mtamaryland.com/
Travel Information http://www.si.edu/scmre/about/travel_info.htm
Tourism Information http://www.si.edu/scmre/about/orient_geninfo.htm