Reference Librarian and Legal Research Instructor

PeopleAdmin, Inc.

Lower Merion Township (Montgomery County)

On-site

USD 72,000 - 90,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Villanova University’s Law School Library seeks a Reference Librarian and Legal Research Instructor to support students and faculty with research, instruction, and library services.

The role includes building guides, training staff, teaching up to two courses yearly, and participating in professional activities to advance law library programs.

Qualifications

J.D. and MLIS from ABA/ALA programs as required.
Three years’ professional law librarian experience.
Experience in legal research instruction and electronic services.

Responsibilities

Provide direct, personalized legal research services to faculty.
Train student researchers and maintain current awareness services.
Develop and update LibGuides and instructional materials.
Design and teach up to two law school courses annually.
Collaborate across Law Library and Law School units on outreach.

Skills

Legal research

Librarian

Instructional design

Research consultations

Customer service

Team collaboration

Education

J.D. from ABA accredited

M.L.I.S. from ALA accredited

Tools

LibGuides

Electronic resources management

Web site maintenance

Job description

Reference Librarian and Legal Research Instructor

Posting Details

Posting Number: 20254420S Position Title: Reference Librarian and Legal Research Instructor Position Type: Staff Location: Villanova, PA Recruitment Type: Internal/External Applicants Work Schedule: full-time/12-months Avg Hours Week Department: 243-Law School Library

The Reference Librarian and Legal Research Instructor reports to the Associate Director for Library Services and is responsible for supporting the students and faculty of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law through library staff development and the provision of library services and collections designed to advance legal research, scholarship, instruction, and learning.

Why work at Villanova?

Join a mission-driven organization. Since Villanova University’s founding in 1842, we have been inspired by the values of truth, unity, and love, and are a community dedicated to service to others.
Villanova has been included among the nation’s best colleges and universities. VU’s inclusion again in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 “Best Colleges” rankings is another indication of the University’s continued prominence and forward momentum.
Villanova’s most precious asset is our people. As an employee, you will receive a holistic benefits package, generous paid time off, a competitive retirement savings plan, flexible work options, wellness programs including gym membership, professional development, tuition assistance, and more.

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.

Duties and Responsibilities

LIBRARY SERVICE

Serves as a Library liaison to provide direct, personalized services to assigned faculty, including but not limited to conducting legal research, training student Research Assistants, identifying new resources, and maintaining current awareness services.
Provides research consultations and resource training to students, faculty, staff, and visitors via in-person meetings, email, and phone.
Manages electronic Research Guide global organization, adds and removes resources as needed, implements enhancements for increased access and efficiency, and creates and updates guides to support the Law School curriculum.
Trains law school staff on the use of LibGuides.
Bridges resources and user experience by creating user guides and other instructional resources pertaining to databases and other library materials.
Creates and updates instructional videos to support the Law School curriculum.
Serves as the Law Library representative on the Law School Orientation Committee, including coordinating the content of the new student folders and the creation and dissemination of the Law Library brochure.
Serves actively in Law Library and Law School committees as well as professional organizations at national, regional, section, and local levels in order to contribute to the profession, grow professionally, and stay abreast of current law library trends.
Collaborates with Falvey Library to enhance Law Library services and collections.

INSTRUCTION

Designs, prepares, and teaches a maximum of two courses in the Law School curriculum per academic year: either two sections in the first-year legal research program or two sections of the advanced legal research class. Conducts student assessment.
Guest lectures in the advanced legal research class, clinics, and other Law School courses, as well as the Professional Development and Externship programs.
Supports faculty instruction through creation of targeted research guides, course material suggestions, and sharing of assessment tools and resources customized to the faculty member’s course content and structure.
Participates in the Law School Professional Development program by serving as an academic advisor to assigned students.

ELECTRONIC RESOURCES & WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

Serves as backup to the Head of Digital Initiatives to manage access to Law Library online resources.
Assists with the development, growth, and maintenance of the Law Library’s digital faculty scholarship, journals, and archival platforms.
Assists with keeping the Law Library database list current.
Serves as backup to the Head of Digital Initiatives to work with The Law School Director of Communication and Marketing to edit and update the Law School website.

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

Participates actively in developing and maintaining the content of the Law Library’s collection through regular review of electronic and print resources, including, but not limited to, GreenSlips
Recommends new collection areas and specific materials for purchase to support expanding faculty research and teaching interests through review of the following: subject-specific book and article reviews, listerv postings, subject or practice-type publication notifications and existing guides compiled by subject-matter experts, among other resources.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Serves as an active member of the Law Library Public Relations Committee

Minimum Qualifications

Formal Education

J.D. from an ABA accredited institution and an M.L.I.S. from an ALA accredited institution

Minimum Work Experience

3 years’ experience as a professional law librarian with experience in library legal research instruction and electronic services.

Work Skills

Experience in, or knowledge of, the practice of law.
Knowledge of all aspects of librarianship, professional development, and library trends.
Knowledge of electronic and print legal resources, including government documents.
Knowledge of legal research processes and strategies and their role in the practice of law.
Knowledge of legal education and pedagogy.
Strong customer service orientation.
Ability to work as a responsible and contributing team member.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to interact and work productively with a variety of people.
Strong diagnostic skills, problem solving skills, and project management skills.
Ability to create a supportive, productive, effective, and efficient work environment. A commitment to diversity and inclusion. Intellectual curiosity and initiative.
Knowledge of hardware and software related to library technology and legal research.
Availability to work evenings and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours

Availability to work evenings and weekends
Sitting for extended periods of time.
Ability to lift and move books.

Special Message to Applicants

Posting Date: 07/03/2025 Closing Date (11:59pm ET): Salary Posting Information: This position falls within salaried grade 16 and the range for this position is $71,700-89,600. The final salary will be determined with consideration of several factors including the selected candidate’s qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity. Salary Band: 16 Job Classification: exempt

References Needed

Minimum Number of References Needed 3 Maximum Number of References Needed 3

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

* How did you first hear of this employment opportunity?
- Indeed.com
- Higheredjobs.com
- LinkedIn
- Glassdoor
- Chronicle Vitae
- Academic Keys
- PA CareerLink/JobGateway
- Professional Affiliation/Trade Website
- Diversity Association/Publication Website
- Advertisement in Academic or Professional Publication
- Referred by a current employee
- Referred by a friend, family member, or former employee
- Heard about it at a conference or career fair
- Browsing the Villanova website
- Cabrini University employee
- Other
* If your answer to the above question is "Other", please specify the source below. If this question does not apply to you, enter N/A.
(Open Ended Question)