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The University of London is a leading UK provider of distance and digital education internationally, offering programmes to 45,000 students in 190 countries around the world. Although proudly rooted in London, our community and impact are global.
We are a national leader in the humanities, and we promote their value to society and the economy through knowledge creation and exchange.
We are also a federation of 17 world class higher education institutions, with collaboration at the heart of our ethos. The University of London federation is a collective community of more than 240,000 learners and 50,000 staff, delivering world-leading research across all disciplines.
Our passion for increasing access to education and mobilising the collective power and expertise of the federation is central to our ability to transform lives around the world and address the global challenges of the future.
The role
Senate House Library (SHL) is the central library for the University of London and the School of Advanced Study, and one of the UK's largest academic libraries for arts, humanities & social sciences.
In partnership with the Institute of Conservation (ICON) and generously funded by The Anna Plowden Trust, Idlewild Trust, The Julia Rausing Trust, The Pilgrim Trust, The Radcliffe Trust and National Manuscripts Conservation Trust, within the Collaborative Conservation Skills Internship Programme, UoL/SHL will be hosting a one-year-long internship in preventive and remedial conservation and collection care with a particular focus on manuscripts.
The intern will carry out integral conservation procedures, including condition and risk assessments, historical and technical research, treatment and documentation, on selected manuscript items within SHL Special Collections, according to an agreed programme, under the library’s Senior Conservator’s direction and supervision. As appropriate, they will also undertake other preventive and remedial conservation tasks within the Conservation team’s remit and work schedule.
The intern will develop a professional level of awareness of national and international developments in conservation theory and practice and current standards, and will attend and contribute to both SHL/UoL and external professional training and outreach events and activities as appropriate.
The intern’s professional development during their year at SHL will be supported by a generous grant from the UoL Convocation Trust.
About you
We are looking for a person with a qualification in conservation who is committed to develop and build up their knowledge and experience as a professional who seeks to achieve consistent high standards in their work, and is motivated by an interest in early collections, their wellbeing and safe use in the context of a research library.
The candidate should possess good organisational skills with ability to work both as part of a team and on own initiative, and to combine productivity with attention to detail. Good interpersonal and communication skills are also required.
The candidate is also expected to demonstrate a sound knowledge of conservation and preservation issues and remedial techniques related to library materials, familiarity with current professional standards in the field and a good level of technical competence as a practising conservator.
To be considered for this opportunity, please submit your application (by clicking ‘apply for job’ at the bottom of this page) before the closing date at midnight on 17 March 2025.
The University will be unable to sponsor candidates for a visa for this role. Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK for the duration of the internship.
