Student Assistant, Heavy Metals in Bookbinding Project

About the role

Staff in Conservation Services, KU Libraries, are working on a project to identify heavy metals in 19th-century bookbindings using analytical techniques. This position is ideal for an advanced undergraduate or graduate student interested in cultural heritage conservation, libraries, collection management, materials science, and/or chemistry. The student assistant will learn about 19th-century bookbinding attributes, library catalog searching, digital imaging, color measuring (colorimetry), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) testing.

Responsibilities

• 55% - Record bookbinding attributes, scientific data, and colorimetry readings in a custom database. Prepare reports from the recorded data.
• 20% - Measure books for boxes and create custom housings.
• 10% - Manage shelving and workflows.
• 10% - Digital imaging of bookbindings.
• 5% - Complete other duties as required, including writing blog posts and participating in public-facing events about the project.

Requirements

• Work experience requiring excellent organizational skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.).
• Ability to work 12-15 hours/week between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM M-F in at least 2-hour shifts.

During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods, the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester, (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours, (3) be enrolled in summer session, or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working with databases and data entry.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently on complex tasks with little direct supervision.
• Previous experience with historic or archival research or working/volunteering in a library, archives, or museum.

Employment Conditions

Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by unit leadership and HR. This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.

Pay

$15.00 per hour

Schedule

• 12-15 hours/week between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
• Must work in at least 2-hour shifts.
• Anticipated start date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026.