Student Programs > Multi-Cultural Fellowship

Multi-Cultural Fellowship

Program Description:

The Conservation Division at the Library of Congress is one of five Divisions that falls within the Library's Preservation Directorate. The prospective Fellow can expect to interact with a large percentage of the Division's staff on a broad cross-section of materials. The Division presently employs several dozen conservation professionals. In addition to the permanent staff, there are a variety of special projects conducted by contract personnel, which serve to further enrich the Fellow's experience. Located within the Conservation Division is the Preservation Directorate Resource Center, staffed by a full time Librarian, which contains one of the most comprehensive collections of conservation literature available.

The goal of the Fellowship is to provide an educational opportunity for students with experience in preservation seeking further training. Fellows focus on conservation problems in a research library context and are challenged to develop solutions for a broad range of formats and collections. Fellows may have opportunities in one or more of areas listed below including: documentation, examination, treatment, housing, preventive conservation, and research. In addition to practical exercises and projects, Fellows may develop and expand their knowledge in fundamental areas of conservation, such as ethics, identification of various substrates and media, deterioration mechanisms, storage environments, and emergency preparedness and recovery.

Documentation:

Fellows may master a variety of written documentation formats including checklist and narrative Library of Congress report forms and condition surveys utilizing various technologies. Fellows are encouraged to work with staff to become familiar with various forms of photographic documentation in use at the Library. Included are color and B/W photography for treatment documentation, digital imagining, beta radiography and raking and transmitted light for recording paper structure, as well as photography with UV and IR light sources, and photomicrography.

Examination:

Fellows are required to perform appropriately detailed examinations of objects in preparation for assessment, treatment, and/or research. Techniques commonly employed include visual examination using a variety of light sources, as well as binocular magnification, and fiber and pigment analysis using chemical tests and polarizing light microscopy as warranted. Various spot testing procedures for identification of adhesives, paper additives and fibers are routinely utilized. Collaboration with the Research and Testing Division, and access to additional instrumental analytical equipment may be possible.

Exhibition:

Numerous Library initiated exhibitions, as well as an active loan schedule, require a portion of the Division's resources. Fellows learn about the Library's exhibition-related policies and may participate in pre-exhibition examination, housing and treatment, and occasionally installation.

Housing:

Fellows learn the basic housing forms, including boxing, matting and polyester film encapsulation. Fellows may engage in rehousing collections, and are required to complete projects by providing a proper housing for any objects that they may treat.

Lab Maintenance:

Fellows are expected to participate in regular conservation laboratory, equipment and supply maintenance activities along with the rest of the staff. They are periodically responsible for preparing stock materials. Fellows will experience first hand the dynamics of working in a communal space with a large professional staff.

Preventive Conservation:

Fellows have the opportunity to participate in preventive conservation activities such as strategic planning and program management; collection and facility assessments; designing, implementing, monitoring and measuring work plans, environmental controls and integrated pest management; developing policies, procedures, standards and practices, as well as specifications for materials and supplies, labels, enclosures, furniture, environment, display, storage areas and structures; collection processing, documentation, database management, marking, packing and moving; emergency preparedness, response and recovery; and care and handling training and outreach.

Research:

Fellows may be encouraged to engage in a research project during their Fellowship. Most desirable are those that can be completed within the Fellowship year. Topics for projects are of the Fellow's choosing, subject to approval by supervisors. Fellows are also encouraged to fully utilize the Preservation Resource Center and to remain current with conservation literature.

Treatment:

A wide range of conservation treatments may be undertaken by the prospective Fellow depending upon his/her current level of expertise. Because of the size and scope of the Library's Collection, an impressive range of material can be candidates for treatment, depending on the Conservation Division's priorities in a given year.

Tours:

The Library of Congress has tremendous quantity, quality and diversity in its holdings. Fellows are given the opportunity to tour custodial divisions as well as other offices in the Directorate.

Training and Conservation Professional Activities:

Fellows are given the opportunity to participate in outreach activities such as lab tours and public inquiries. Fellows are encouraged to participate in the Washington Conservation Guild by attending meetings and giving lectures. Fellows will meet with curators and historians to discuss individual objects and their treatment and care. The Washington area is home to many museums and other institutions with conservation facilities, which are available for visits.

Selection Procedure:

Candidates will be selected on the basis of conservation knowledge, skills, and abilities, an active commitment to professional ethics as stated in the American Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, effective communication skills, and an understanding of library and archival collections.

Candidates with academic training in the technology and chemistry of library and archival materials and experience in conservation treatment of paper, books, photographs or audio/visual materials may be given preference.

The Library may accept one or more Multi-Cultural Fellows per year in the Conservation Division. Length of Fellowship is typically 11-12 months and generally follows the academic year. Other options are possible depending on time available, current Library staffing and work load, and the candidate's interests and qualifications. Interested parties should complete and submit the application form. Qualified candidates may be asked to submit a Résumé and two letters of recommendation with a formal letter of interest. An interview is scheduled with Fellowship coordinators.

Application Schedule:

Applications due by March 15th.
Announcement of selection will be made by April 15th.
Fellowship begins in the Summer.

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