Book Conservators

Employment for museum conservators and technicians (including book conservators) is expected to grow much faster than the average for all careers through 2032, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. There is strong competition for jobs because the field is so small and many people are interested in entering this profession. Book conservators who are graduates of conservation programs and who are willing to relocate should have the best opportunities for employment. Those who can use their conservation skills in tandem with other abilities may also find more job openings. Book conservators with an artistic bent, for instance, could bring their conservation skills to an exhibition program at an art museum. Conservators who enjoy public contact could use their practical experience to teach classes in conservation techniques.

Some people are concerned that our increasingly digital society will create fewer opportunities for book conservators. They claim that new technologies, such as television, computers, mobile phones, and the Internet have changed communication styles so drastically that printed books will eventually become obsolete. While it is true that more advanced technology will bring new challenges to conservation, these advances should also increase opportunities for conservators who can blend these developments with traditional conservation efforts. For example, a book conservator with excellent computer skills and Web-authoring knowledge can work on a project to digitize rare book collections and make them available to people all over the world.