Preservation Librarian

Position: Preservation Librarian
Rank: Open Rank
Department: Reynolds-Finley Historical Library
Division: Historical Collections
Reports to: Curator, Reynolds-Finley Historical Library
Updated: 09/01/2026

Reporting to the Curator of the Reynolds-Finley Historical Library, the Preservation Librarian is a faculty position (non-tenure, 12-month appointment) within the Historical Collections Division of University Libraries at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The Preservation Librarian provides strategic leadership and hands‑on direction for a comprehensive preservation program for the Reynolds-Finley Historical Library to ensure long‑term access to collections. This includes preventive care, such as environmental monitoring, integrated pest management, and stacks maintenance;

conservation and repair of materials; digitization coordination; and digital preservation policy and practice. The Preservation Librarian assists with exhibition development as well as researchers and class visits to ensure proper handling of materials. Additionally, the Preservation Librarian will provide preservation support to the general collections of UAB Libraries as needed.

The Reynolds-Finley Historical Library is a collection of rare books, manuscripts, pamphlets, and journals pertaining to the history of medicine, science, and health care dating from the 1300s through the mid-1900s. The Reynolds-Finley Historical Library has eight medieval and Renaissance manuscripts and 32 incunabula, as well as letters written by Florence Nightingale, Louis Pasteur, and George Washington. In addition, discrete collections are held in the areas of Civil War medicine, Middle Eastern medicine, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, and African Americans in medicine.

The Reynolds-Finley is part of Historical Collections at UAB Libraries, which includes two additional collections: the Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences and UAB Archives. Together, the three units manage the Dennis G. Pappas Historical Collections Gallery, with nearly 3,000 square feet of exhibition space. UAB Libraries facilities include Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences, where Historical Collections units are located, Mervyn H.

Sterne Library, Lister Hill Library at University Hospital, Sparks Medical Library in Huntsville, and an off-site storage facility.

• Create and maintain preservation policies, priorities, and workflows for multi‑format collections.
• Lead and/ or represent preservation conversations on committees and working groups.
• Address preservation issues that arise within the UAB Libraries general collections, including providing staff training and consultation on preservation issues.
• Coordinate preservation activities with the Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences and UAB Archives.

• Manage environmental monitoring (temp/RH, light/UV), IPM, stacks maintenance, and storage/handling standards.
• Advise on space planning for RFHL and Historical Collections.
• Lead disaster preparedness and emergency response training/recovery for RFHL; coordinate across units and, when relevant, regional partners.

• Create condition reports for rare materials.
• Perform or direct book/paper treatments, including binding repairs, creating boxes and other enclosures, and preparing items for exhibition.
• Maintain documentation of conservation work completed.

• May supervise and mentor staff, students, and interns.
• Collect statistics and deliver internal/external reports.

• Deliver staff and patron training on proper materials handling.
• Develop awareness programs for all Libraries staff on preservation issues.