February 25, 2004 Nielsen & Bainbridge To Sponsor Science Fellowships at the Library of Congress

The Nielsen & Bainbridge Corporation, a leading manufacturer of products to preserve art work, will sponsor a fellowship in conservation science at the Library of Congress. The 12-month fellowship will begin in the fall of 2004 and offer a $35,000 stipend.

“We are delighted to have an opportunity to partner with Nielsen & Bainbridge on this important research endeavor and look forward to how the results can help the Library of Congress and libraries everywhere preserve their book, paper and film collections,” said Associate Librarian for Library Services Deanna Marcum. “The Library’s pioneering research into the aging of paper has influenced an entire generation of preservation professionals, and this research will continue to build on that tradition.”

The goal of the fellowship, located in Library Services, Preservation Directorate, Research and Testing Division, will be to conduct research into the effects of zeolites (molecular sieves) on the long-term stability of library materials and to develop practical library applications for this technology. An important element of the fellowship involves working closely with scientists from the Getty Conservation Institute in Los Angeles who have conducted important research into zeolites.

Individuals interested in applying for the fellowship should submit a cover letter describing their interest in this opportunity, a resume that outlines pertinent experience and the names of three references who can attest to their qualifications. Applications should be sent to Mark Roosa, Director for Preservation, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC 20540-4500. Applications received by May 15, 2004, will be given first consideration.

The Library of Congress has one of the most extensive preservation programs for library materials in the world. Each year the Library’s preservation staff provides preservation treatment for approximately 500,000 items from a collection of nearly 128 million items in all formats. The Library’s Preservation Directorate, consisting of four divisions and two special programs, has been a world leader in developing the profession of library preservation, and many innovative treatments have been developed in its laboratories over the years.

For additional information, visit the Preservation Directorate’s Web site at www.loc.gov/preserv.