Preventive Conservation Voluntary Work Opportunity

Preventive Conservation Voluntary Work Opportunity: "Preventive Conservation Voluntary Work Opportunity
The Collection Care department at the British Library is pleased to announce that they will be offering a Preventive Conservation Voluntary Placement for three months starting in September 2012."

This opportunity has been created to further the aim of the British Library in the field of Preventive Conservation via the dissemination of key skills and techniques in this area.  The successful individual will be given a unique learning opportunity in a working national library with a view to applying the skills and knowledge obtained in their own field of work. The volunteer will have the chance to learn and understand one of the core purposes of the British Library by working alongside Library employees and to gain knowledge, identify and manage risks to collections; identify best practice for handling material, disaster preparedness, integrated pest management, and creating and storing surrogate copies. 

The volunteer will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses with a stipend of £5,000. Reasonable expenses will include reimbursement for flights, obtaining a visa, accommodation, and subsistence whilst in London.

Before registering your interest, please read the criteria form. Only those who meet all the criteria will be considered.

Once you have read the criteria and wish to apply, please send the following by the closing date so that we can consider your application:

1.) A current Curriculum Vitae (CV)

2.) A written statement (maximum of 1000 words) to include the following:

- Your specific interest in a the voluntary work opportunity in Preventive Conservation at the British Library

- What you feel you would gain from the opportunity

- How you feel this opportunity will benefit you and your employer in the future and the British Library

- How you feel your skills knowledge and experience meets the criteria for the opportunity, giving examples to support your answers

3.) Contact details of one professional reference from your current employer

4.) A letter of support from your current employer, agreeing to release you from your employment to carry out the placement should you be successful

You can either send the above information by email tocatherine.atkinson@bl.uk or by post at the following address:

Catherine Atkinson

Training and Development Manager, Scholarship & Collections

The British Library

96 Euston Road

London

NW1 2DB

United Kingdom.

The closing date for applications is Friday 25 May 2012.

Note to overseas applicants: Please be aware that you will be required to obtain a Charity Workers Tier 5 Visa in order to gain entry to the UK. It will be the responsibility of the successful applicant to obtain this visa. Any costs incurred will be covered as part of the stipend. For further information please visit the following websites:

Home Office Website Charity Workers and Visa application forms 

Funded by the Friends of the British Library

'via Blog this'