Education |
MSIS/CAS in Book & Paper Conservation (2009)
Kilgarlin Center for Preservation of the Cultural Record,
School of Information,
University of Texas at Austin
PhD, M.Phil in Slavic Languages & Literature (2006)
Yale University, New Haven, CT
BA with Departmental Honors in Russian Language & Literature (1995)
Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
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Publications & Conference Participation |
"Digitizing Lantern Slides in the Warren H. Manning Collection," (with Bill Yungclas), Microform and Digitization Review, Vol. 40, pp.68-70 (June 2011).
A Comparative Investigation of Lined Linen as a Bookbinding Material. Poster presented at the American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works [AIC] Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, CA (2009).
Radical Restructuring: The Book at the Intersection of Avant-Garde Architecture, Art & Literature in Revolutionary Russia. Paper presented at the College Book Arts Association [CBAA] Biennial Conference, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (2009).
The Faith of the Godless: The Transformation of Religious Symbolism in Bolshevik Era Fiction.
Doctoral Dissertation, UMI Research Press (2006). |
Professional Development Activities |
Co-Chair, Archives Conservation Discussion Group [ACDG], The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works [AIC], (June 2010 - June 2012).
Member, Committee for Sustainable Conservation Practices [CSCP], The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works [AIC], (June 2011 - June 2013). |
Conservation Work Experience |
Library & Archives Conservator (Oct. 2009 - Present)
Parks Library, Iowa State University of Science & Technology (ISU), Ames, IA
• Supervises the operations of the Conservation Lab, with a staff of 3 full-time employees and 3 student employees.
• Develops lab policies and procedures for production-oriented, general collections care.
• Performs complex conservation treatment on special collections materials.
• Collaborates with Digitial Initiatives Unit to maintain safe, sustainable procedures for digitizing Special Collections materials.
• Serves on state-wide committees for preservation planning and education.
• Served as Library Staff Association President (Jul. 2010-Jul. 2011).
• Chaired the Social Media Working Group, which developed written guidelines for ISU Library social media use (Feb. - May 2011).
• Created and maintains the Parks Library Preservation Blog.
Conservation Intern (Aug. 2008 - Aug. 2009)
Library Conservation Lab, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
• Triaged, performed, and documented conservation treatments for general and special collections.
• Taught educational workshops and gave preservation lectures for the UIUC community.
• Conducted tours of the conservation facilities for the UIUC community and Development Office.
• Supported exhibit preparation and installation.
• Participated on administrative committees for disaster mitigation and large-scale preservation projects.
• Performed environmental monitoring and Integrated Pest Management [IPM].
• Tracked American Research Library (ARL) statistics for conservation.
• Developed "medium rare" workflow procedures, including streamlined treatment documentation.
• Hired and trained two student technicians to perform medium rare conservation treatments and rehousings.
• Supervised medium rare treatment work and managed student technician budget.
• Wrote succesful proposal and budget for a mold remediation project in the Youth Literature collection.
• Supervised 10 student employees performing mold removal for the Youth Literature collection.
• Monitored/ordered supplies and tracked transportation of the Youth Literature collection to a new, environmentally stable location.
Conservation Technician (Sep. 2007 - Jul. 2008)
Architecture & Planning Library, University of Texas at Austin
• Revised workflow procedures and wrote Conservation Procedures Manual.
• Evaluated and performed in-house conservation treatments on circulating and special collections materials.
• Selected items to be sent out for conservation as part of a monthly quota system.
• Tracked and performed quality control on quota items.
• Monitored and ordered supplies.
• Conducted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) monitoring.
• Designed and installed exhibit on conservation repair in Spring 2008.
Conservation Technician (Nov. 2005 - Mar. 2006)
Lewis Walpole Library, Yale University, Farmington, CT
• Stabilized over 400 18th-century leather bindings using solvent-reactivated tissue repairs in preparation for a relocation of the collection.
• Prepared treatment materials, written and photographic documentation.
Sculpture Conservation Technician (Aug. 2003 - Aug. 2006)
ConservArt, LLC, Hamden, CT
• Assessed and treated private/museum sculptures, public monuments, fountains, and historic gravemarkers.
• Performed a range of treatments on bronze, copper, iron, marble, slate, granite, brownstone, and plaster.
• Executed a variety of techniques, including cleaning, consolidation, patination, coating removal & application, in-painting, and resculpting lost elements.
• Assisted in mold-making from historic originals and casting epoxy-resin replicas.
• Conducted historical research, condition assessments, report writing, and photographic documentation.
Conservation Assistant (May 1998 - Dec. 2000, Jan. 2002- Aug. 2003)
Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven, CT
• Performed full treatments on hundreds of tracts from the British and American Tracts Collection, including disassembly, testing, washing, mending, guarding, resewing, and re-covering.
• Constructed enclosures for hundreds of incunabula and other pre-1600 artifacts.
• Constructed cradles, cut mats, and mounted labels for exhibits.
• Provided written documentation and tracked ARL statistics.
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Editorial Work Experience |
Editor, Gray Areas to Green Areas Symposium Proceedings
(Symposium Nov. 1-2, 2007; Symposium Proceedings published Aug. 2008)
Kilgarlin Center for Preservation of the Cultural Record, University of Texas at Austin
Abstractor, Art & Archaeology Technical Abtracts [AATA] Online (Jul. 2007 - Jul. 2008)
The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, CA
Russian Translator & Copy Editor (Mar. 2006 - Jun. 2007)
The Northern Expanse (Severnye Prostory) Magazine, Moscow, Russia
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Teaching & Administrative Work Experience |
Teaching Assistant (2007)
School of Information, University of Texas at Austin
Seminar in Archival Enterprise: Forgeries, Fakes, and Fabrications (Spring 2008)
Introduction to Preservation (Fall 2007)
Introduction to Conservation Methods (Summer Session 2007)
Part-Time Acting Instructor in Russian Language (2002-2003)
Teaching Fellow in Russian Literature and Culture (1998-2002)
Department of Slavic Languages & Literature, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Events & Fundraising Coordinator (2003-2006)
Assistant Martial Arts Instructor (1999-2006)
CT Aikikai: Traditional School of Aikido, New Haven, CT |
Community Engagement & Volunteer Experience |
Founding Board Member, Ames Collaborative Art (December 2009 - Present)
Ames Collaborative Art (Ames C.art), Ames, IA
• Serves as Archivist, Board Member, and PR Committee Chair of Ames C.art.
• For a full description of Ames C.art's mission and activities, please visit http://amescart.org.
Youth Literature Festival (Fall 2008)
Soybean Fine Printing Press Tent, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Assisted over 230 children and adults in an assembly-line pamphlet-binding activity.
• For a full description and photos, go to the "Outreach" link above.
Plaster Preservation Assessment (Summer 2008)
Alexander Architectural Archives, University of Texas at Austin
• Assessed several dozen plaster models and provided a written report with photodocumentation, short-term and long-term preservation recommendations, and plaster cleaning instructions.
• For a full description and photos, go to the "Outreach" link above
Planning Committee, Edible Book Festival (Spring 2007)
Kilgarlin Center for Preservation of the Cultural Record, School of Information, University of Texas at Austin
• Co-coordinated the local Edible Book Festival 2007 event at UT Austin.
• For a full description and photos, go to the "Outreach" link above.
HRC Photograph Album Survey (Fall 2006)
Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin
• Surveyed the condition of photograph albums in the HRC collection.
• Performed minor treatments as needed.
Children's Tent Special Presenter, Texas Book Festival (Fall 2006)
Austin, TX
• Presented a bookbinding demonstration and led over forty children and their families in a hands-on activity at the Texas Book Festival.
• For a full description and photos, go to the "Outreach" link above. |
Language & Technology Skills |
Languages
Native English, fluent Russian, excellent reading knowledge of French and Old Church Slavic.
Technology Skills
MacIntosh and Windows Operating Systems; Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Publisher); Adobe Photoshop and Dreamweaver; Millenium, Voyager, and Horizon library database systems; stereomicroscopy and polarizing light microscopy; familiarity with SEM and FTIR spectroscopy. |
Honors & Awards |
Rare Book School Scholarship (2010-2011)
Rare Book School, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
FAIC Stout Grant for professional development (2009)
Professional Development Travel Award (2009)
Office of Graduate Studies, University of Texas at Austin
Houston Endowed Presidential Scholarship (Fall 2006 - Spring 2007)
School of Information, University of Texas at Austin
Newhouse Foundation Fellowship for teaching excellence (1999)
Yale University, New Haven, CT
Departmental Honors for
undergraduate thesis, Black and Mystical Hues: the Rational and Supernatural in the Prose Works of M.A. Bulgakov (1995)
Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT |
Memberships |
• American Institute for Conservation of Artistic and Historic Works (AIC)
• College Book Arts Association (CBAA)
• American Library Association (ALA)
• Nidan (2nd-degree blackbelt rank), United States Aikido Federation (USAF-WR) and Birankai International Aikido Organization |
Contact: melissatedone@gmail.com |