Conservation Associate (5-year term) About the Cornell University Library About the Conservation Lab Conservation Lab staff have deep knowledge of and experience in the preservation of physical collection formats, utilize nationally accepted specialized materials, and employ national best practices, techniques, and methods to preserve and protect the Library's physical collections for today's scholars and future generations. Conservators and conservation associates treat bound materials, paper-based collections, photographic collections, artifacts, and some textiles to stabilize condition concerns and to maintain historical, evidentiary, aesthetic, and research value.