About this role
Conservation Student Assistant - Libraries
Job Description: 65% - Independent work on library material including tasks such as pamphlet binding, mending paper tears, book repair, and cleaning.
20% - Creating custom box housing for books.
10% - Collaborative group projects such as collections surveys or rehousing projects.
5% - Other duties in the library.
Disclaimer: The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity & Access, [email protected], 1246 West Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY 9for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas medical center campuses).
Work Schedule: 6 - 20 hours per week in shifts of two hours or more. Hours available 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday; no weekends or evenings.
Contact Information to Applicants: Kaitlin McGrath 785-864-6412 [email protected]
Required Qualifications: • Demonstrated prior work experience with performing detailed and repetitive work with a high degree of accuracy, as evidenced by application materials. • Professional experience requiring hand skills, as evidenced by application materials.
Preferred Qualifications: • Eligibility for Federal Work Study. • Previous library or archive experience, as evidenced by application materials.
Position Overview: Do you pride yourself on your dexterity, aesthetic sensibilities, and craft skills? Do you enjoy working closely with a team of your fellow students? Are you interested in interacting with KU Libraries' books and materials from the everyday to the rare and unusual? Then apply for a position with Conservation Services!
Conservation Services at KU Libraries is responsible for the care and preservation of the Libraries' collections. Our students are involved in activities such as pamphlet binding, mending paper tears, repairing books, creating custom enclosures, and cleaning and caring for library materials. We employ student workers who are good at following complex directions, able to adapt to changing workflows, have a steady hand, and also appreciate repetitive tasks. These tasks may involve some heavy lifting and getting a bit dirty.
If this sounds like a job for you, please apply!
Additional Candidate Instruction: In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position: • Cover letter addressing how the required and preferred qualifications are met. • Resume If you are called for an interview, bring an example of hand skills such as an arts and crafts project or an art portfolio.
To ensure consideration, apply before the application review starts on Wednesday, 8/26/2026. A review of applications will continue and is ongoing until a pool of qualified candidates is identified.
Position Requirements: 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 or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (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. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).
Must be able to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. with or without accommodation.
Employment Conditions: (1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
(2) 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.