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Book Preservation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

$110 - $115/hr

... book and paper conservation, a strong grounding in material science, and experience managing ... Conservation and Preservation * Leads and performs treatments for the Folger's collections ...

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$110K - $115K/yr

... book and paper conservation, a strong grounding in material science, and experience managing ... Conservation and Preservation * Leads and performs treatments for the Folger's collections ...

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$15

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How much do book preservation jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for book preservation in the United States is $29.59, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.43 and $35.58 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is book preservation?

A Book Preservation job involves maintaining and protecting books, manuscripts, and other printed materials to prevent deterioration. This can include repairing damaged books, controlling environmental conditions, and using specialized techniques to extend their lifespan. Professionals in this field often work in libraries, archives, or museums and may handle rare or historical documents. Their goal is to ensure that materials remain accessible for future generations while preserving their original integrity.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of someone working in book preservation?

Book Preservation professionals typically spend their days assessing the condition of rare or aging books, performing conservation treatments such as cleaning, mending, or rebinding, and documenting all interventions for institutional records. They may also collaborate with archivists, librarians, and curators to prioritize preservation projects and develop preventive care strategies for entire collections. Staying current with industry standards and attending workshops to learn new techniques is often part of the role. This combination of hands-on conservation work and teamwork helps extend the life of valuable materials and contributes to an organization’s mission of preserving cultural heritage.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in book preservation, and why are they important?

To thrive in Book Preservation, you need a solid understanding of conservation principles, knowledge of paper and bookbinding materials, and experience with preservation techniques, often supported by a degree in library science or a related field. Familiarity with conservation tools, deacidification equipment, and database management systems is typically required, and certifications such as those from the American Institute for Conservation can be beneficial. Attention to detail, patience, and strong problem-solving abilities are key soft skills in this field. These capabilities are essential for safeguarding valuable collections, ensuring careful handling, and successfully preserving materials for future generations.

How do you become a book preservationist?

To become a book preservationist, individuals typically pursue a degree in library science, conservation, or a related field, and gain experience through internships or apprenticeships in conservation labs or archives. Skills in paper chemistry, repair techniques, and familiarity with preservation tools are essential, and certifications from professional organizations can enhance job prospects.
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Infographic showing various Book Preservation job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 57% Full Time, and 43% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $61,552 per year, or $29.6 per hour.

Library Collections Specialist VI

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ • On-site

$31.64/hr

Full-time

Posted 21 days ago


Princeton University rating

9.0

Company rating: 9.0 out of 10

Based on 26 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

26th of 631 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Overview

Marquand Library seeks to hire a Library Collections Specialist, Level VI (LCS VI). The Marquand Library of Art and Archaeology is one of the oldest and most extensive art libraries in America. The collection of over 500,000 volumes covers world art and architecture from antiquity to the present and includes distinguished rare book holdings. Marquand serves the Princeton University community and scholars from around the world, attracting over 150,000 visitors a year.

Responsibilities

The LCS VI position requires an energetic, productive, and service-oriented person to create metadata, process documents, and create and maintain websites for the Digital Library; to help maintain the vault stacks and secure reading room; to prepare materials for transfer to ReCAP; and to manage patron requests for original photography and publication permissions for Marquand collections.

The LCS VI also manages student employees doing higher-level processing and quality control work in support of Digital Library projects, and liaises regularly with professionals across the Library, especially those in the Rare Books, Preservation and Conservation, Library IT, and Cataloging departments.

This individual also staffs Marquand's service desks, including the Rare Book Reading Room desk, six to eight hours per week or as needed, and assists individuals and classes with rare book collections following preservation and security protocols.

Work schedule is outside of standard business hours (though subject to change; may include occasional weekend hours).

  • Academic year hours: Sunday-Thursday 1pm-9pm
  • Summer/Fall/Spring/Holiday Break hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Qualifications

Required:

  • Minimum two years of experience in an academic, research, or special library, or a public library with a research and/or special collections component
  • Knowledge of bibliographic conventions and experience searching online catalogs and research databases 
  • Experience with digital library projects, knowledge of metadata formats and conventions, and an aptitude for learning software used to process, organize, and describe digital documents 
  • Experience with antiquarian library or archival collections
  • Reading knowledge of one foreign language relevant to Marquand, preferably a Romance or Germanic language 
  • Ability to work with bibliographic citations in several languages
  • Self-starter with the ability to prioritize, be highly productive, and do sustained and accurate detail work at a computer
  • Affinity for teamwork and leadership, and the ability to be flexible and resourceful in a fast-paced environment
  • Intermediate computer skills including desktop productivity software and scanning, and basic knowledge of computer hardware, printers and imaging equipment
  • Library public service experience and service orientation
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Preferred: 

  • Bachelor of Arts or higher degree strongly preferred
  • College-level academic work in the Humanities and knowledge of one of the visually-oriented disciplines such as art history, archaeology, or media studies
  • Knowledge of rare book cataloging standards, XML, and Alma or similar integrated library software
  • Working knowledge of book preservation techniques and standards

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's qualifications, work experience, education/training, key skills, market, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The posted salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate for a full-time position; salaries for part-time positions are pro-rated accordingly.

If the salary range on the posted position shows an hourly rate, this is the baseline; the actual hourly rate may be higher, depending on the position and factors listed above.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. Please see this link for more information.

Standard Weekly Hours36.25Work Schedule, If Other Than Standard HoursAcademic Session Hours: Sun-Thurs 1-9 pm; Summer and Breaks Mon-Fri 9-5.Eligible for OvertimeYesBenefits EligibleYesProbationary PeriodPer union contractEssential Services Personnel (see policy for detail)NoPhysical Capacity Exam RequiredNoUnion CodeLIB-Amer Fed State County Mun EmpsValid Driver's License RequiredNo#LI-NC1Salary Range$31.64 Minimum Hourly RateEmployment Type: FULL_TIME

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