Law Librarian

GardaWorld Federal Services; Surprise (AZ); On-site; USD 47,517 - 67,677; Full time

Job summary

GardaWorld Federal Services in Surprise, AZ is seeking a qualified individual to manage and maintain the detention facility's law library, ensuring residents have access to legal reference materials and research resources.

The candidate will oversee library organization, support operational procedures, and ensure compliance with legal access requirements. Qualifications include a Master of Library Science (or equivalent) and at least one year of experience in a similar environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum one year of professional library experience in a correctional, detention, or law enforcement environment.
• Experience navigating legal databases and managing restricted electronic terminals.
• Ability to maintain meticulous facility logs and ensure compliance with government contract standards.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and organize legal reference materials and legal access systems within the detention facility law library.
• Coordinate resident access to law library services according to facility schedules.
• Ensure compliance with government detention standards and operational procedures.

Skills

Strong organization

Attention to detail

Professionalism

Confidentiality

Ability to manage legal resources

Effective communication

Education

Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) or Master of Library Science (MLS)

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

LexisNexis

Westlaw

Job description

Position Information

Location: Surprise, AZ

Employment Type: Full-time (Non-Exempt/Hourly)

Teleworking: No

Travel Requirement: No

Pay: $41.81/hr. Pay reflects base salary plus health and welfare benefits. Pay may vary by location and experience.

Start Date: Later this year (pipeline building).

Position Summary

Manage and maintain the detention facility’s legal resource library, ensuring residents have appropriate access to legal reference materials, research resources, and law library services. Oversee library organization, maintain legal materials, coordinate resident access schedules, and support operational procedures related to legal resource management within a secure detention environment.

Key skills: strong organization, attention to detail, professionalism, confidentiality, and the ability to manage legal resources while maintaining security and operational compliance.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and organize legal reference materials, law books, legal forms, research resources, and electronic legal access systems within the detention facility law library.
• Coordinate resident access to law library services, legal research materials, and approved legal resources according to facility schedules and operational procedures.
• Monitor law library operations to ensure compliance with government detention standards, facility policies, and resident legal access requirements.
• Maintain accurate records related to resident law library usage, legal material requests, scheduling activities, and operational documentation.
• Assist residents with locating approved legal reference materials and navigating available legal research resources while remaining within authorized job responsibilities.
• Inspect library materials, computers, equipment, and operational resources for damage, maintenance concerns, or security-related issues.
• Coordinate with detention personnel, legal representatives, facility leadership, and operational staff regarding law library scheduling and resident access activities.
• Ensure legal materials, electronic systems, and library resources remain updated, organized, secure, and operationally available for authorized use.
• Monitor resident activity within the law library area and report operational concerns, policy violations, or security issues through the appropriate chain of command.
• Support audits, inspections, compliance reviews, and operational assessments related to resident legal access services and library operations.
• Maintain professionalism, confidentiality, effective communication, and attention to detail while supporting secure and compliant law library operations within the detention facility.

Qualifications

• Minimum one year of professional library experience in a correctional, detention, or law enforcement environment.
• Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) or Master of Library Science (MLS) from an ALA-accredited institution is highly preferred.
• Experience navigating legal databases such as LexisNexis or Westlaw and managing restricted electronic terminals.
• Ability to maintain meticulous facility logs, track legal material usage, and ensure 100% compliance with government contract standards.
• Strict adherence to facility safety protocols, including tool‑control inventory and contraband prevention.
• Proof of citizenship or legal U.S. work authorization.
• If prior active‑duty military, provide copies of DD214(s) showing discharge condition.
• Consent to fingerprinting.
• Minimum age 21 years.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Clean criminal record and ability to pass comprehensive background check and security screening.
• Ability to pass pre‑employment medical assessment and drug screening.
• Excellent communication, observation, and report‑writing skills.
• Ability to remain calm and effective under pressure and in high‑stress situations.
• Flexible to work shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Work Environment

Employees may be exposed to extreme cold or hot weather conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and loud noise.

Physical Requirements

Employees may be required to remain in a stationary position, stand, push, pull, climb, kneel, crawl, balance, squat, bend, and reach. Employees may also be required to use gear such as carts and dollies to move items, and occasionally lift or move up to 49 pounds.

Equal Opportunity Statement

GardaWorld Federal Services is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.