Assistant Director for Research Services

American Association of Law Libraries; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Michigan Law Library invites applications for the Assistant Director for Research Services. You will lead the Research Services Unit, supervise librarians and staff, and shape reference and faculty research support across the law school.

You will also oversee research instruction, develop online guides, coordinate outreach, and participate in library management, planning, and policy development with the Law Library Management Team. Evening/weekend coverage is expected.

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school.
• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited school of information or library science.
• At least 5 years of experience as a reference or faculty services librarian in an academic law library.
• Experience supervising librarians and professional staff.
• Proven ability to work effectively with other decision-makers.
• Substantial knowledge of and proficiency with a wide range of legal and non-legal information sources and research methods.
• Thorough knowledge of legal systems.
• Teaching experience.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends at the reference desk on a rotating basis.

Responsibilities

• Manage and supervise the Research Services Unit including staffing, work schedules, and supervision of librarians and staff.
• Establish unit and inter-unit policies and procedures; coordinate work with other units.
• Oversee reference and information services, including management of the Information Desk.
• Provide Faculty and Empirical Research Services and supervise research instruction sessions.
• Coordinate creation of research guides, online tutorials, and Law Library website content.
• Coordinate outreach and public relations efforts for services, including newsletters and events.
• Support Clinics and the Academic & Writing Support Program.
• Monitor new initiatives and technologies in reference, research, and legal publishing.

Skills

Supervising staff

Teaching experience

Legal information sources

Evenings/weekends availability

Collaboration with decision-makers

Research leadership

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Master’s in Library/Information Science

Job description

Responsibilities

The Assistant Director for Research Services manages many of the Library’s interactions with the public, including the reference and faculty research services. The librarian is a member of the Law Library Management Team and participates in library management, strategic planning, and library-wide staffing, workflow, and problem-solving.

The Assistant Director for Research Services:

• Manages and supervises the Research Services Unit including:
  • supervising full-time staff and librarians;
  • recommending staffing levels (librarian, paraprofessional, and student) and work schedules; hiring, training, evaluating and supervising those who work in the Unit;
  • directing and coordinating the work of the Unit;
  • setting Unit policies and procedures and coordinating work with other units and subunits;
  • keeping abreast of and utilizing current technologies and trends that anticipate, meet or exceed the research needs of the Law Library’s primary users;
  • incorporating traditional library technology and librarianship skills and advancing the use of emerging technologies.
• Establishes unit and inter-unit policies and procedures, ensures unit effectiveness, resolves unit and inter-unit problems and answers questions from other units relating to the specialized functions of the Unit.
• Ensure the successful performance of the following specialized functions:
  • Reference and information services. This includes coordinating and supervising the management of the Information Desk.
  • Faculty and Empirical Research Services.
  • Research instruction and orientation sessions for new and visiting faculty, student journals, and others.
  • Research consultations for students, researchers, faculty, and other library users.
  • Overseeing, assigning, and supervising work on creating research guides, online tutorials, and other content for the Law Library’s website.
  • Coordinating student and faculty outreach and public relations initiatives related to services, including newsletters, orientation events, and exam events.
  • Coordinating Law Library support for Clinics and the Academic & Writing Support Program.
  • Monitor and keep up with new initiatives and technologies related to the provision of reference, research, and related services as well as in legal publishing.
• Teach Advanced Legal Research or ensure successful teaching by one or more reference librarians.
• Serve on or chair library committees and participate in other activities that advance the library’s mission and promote the role of the law library within the law school.
• Work at the Information Desk, participating in the evening and weekend rotation.
• Participate in the full range of duties expected of all reference librarians, including research consultations and teaching research instruction sessions.
• Create the librarian reference desk schedule and ensure ongoing reference desk training for librarians.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA accredited law school
• Master’s degree from an A.L.A. accredited school of information or library science.
• At least 5 years of experience working as a reference or faculty services librarian in an academic law library
• Experience supervising librarians and professional staff
• Proven ability to work effectively with other decision-makers
• Substantial knowledge of and proficiency with a wide range of legal and non-legal information sources and research methods
• A thorough knowledge of legal systems
• Teaching experience
• Ability to work evenings and weekends at the reference desk on a rotating basis

Preferred Qualifications

• Licensed to practice law in one or more U.S. states (active or inactive).
• Ability to work with foreign language materials.

We know that not all strong candidates will have every skill we list. We still want to hear from you. Research shows that women, non-binary people, and people of color are less likely to apply for a position if they don’t meet every skill listed. At the University of Michigan Law Library, we believe our collective differences enable us to make better decisions and drive innovation.

Underfill Statement

This position may be filled at the Librarian classification or underfilled at the Senior Associate Librarian classification, depending upon qualifications and experience. This position is exempt from the LEO-GLAM bargaining unit.