Director of Public Services

Michigan Library Association; Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Director of Public Services at Cooley Law School Library in Lansing leads reference services for students, faculty and alumni, and supervises circulation and reference staff across daily operations.

You will set policies, participate in budget and collection development, manage passwords and databases, supervise the research guide program, and teach students in various settings. Equal opportunity employer.

Qualifications

• JD and MLS required; MLS in library science and JD in law.
• Minimum five years as a reference law librarian; managerial experience preferred (three years).
• Knowledge of legal materials and legal research and bibliographic structure.
• Service-oriented with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to lead a multi-location library and work with diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Provide reference services to students, faculty and alumni.
• Coordinate and supervise library circulation and reference staff in daily activities.
• Discuss and implement services and policies and promote library services.
• Assess needs through review of budget, staffing, policy and procedures; make recommendations.
• Participate in library collection development; assist with database password management.
• Supervise library research guide program and teach students in formal, informal, and credit-based settings.

Skills

Legal research

Interpersonal skills

Management

Leadership

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor & MLS

Job description

Posted: Nov 13, 2026

Director of Public Services

Thomas M Cooley Law School - Lansing, MI

• Full-time
• Salary: Annually
• Application Deadline: Nov 30, 2026

Academic Library

Cooley Law School Library seeks a Director of Public Services at its Lansing, Michigan campus.

The Director of Public Services participates in providing reference services to students, faculty and alumni, and coordinates and supervises library circulation and reference staff in daily activities. This individual discusses and implements services and policies and promotes library services. The Director assesses needs through review of budget, staffing, policy and procedures, and makes recommendations; participates in library collection development; and assists with database password management. This individual supervises the library research guide program, and teaches students in formal, informal, and credit-based settings.

Successful candidates will possess all or many of the following qualifications and/or skills:

• Juris Doctor and Master of Library Science required;
• five years of work experience as a reference law librarian, with three years of managerial experience, preferred.
• Knowledge of legal materials, legal research, and its bibliographic structure;
• service-oriented;
• team player with excellent interpersonal, communication, and management skills;
• leadership skills to guide a team as part of a multi-location library;
• willingness to work a flexible schedule, and, ability to interact positively with individuals from a variety of diverse backgrounds.

Human Resources, Cooley Law School, 300 S. Capitol Ave, Lansing MI, 48933.

Cooley is an equal employment opportunity employer.