Position Summary

The Access Services 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 the provision of library services and collections designed to advance legal research, scholarship, instruction, and learning.

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian order. Diversity and inclusion have been and will continue to be an integral component of Villanova University’s mission. The University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.

Duties and Responsibilities

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 an advanced legal research class or one of each. Conducts student assessment.
• Guest lectures in advanced legal research classes, clinics, and other Law School courses
• 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 law students.

Access Services Operations:

• Manages the day-to-day operations and schedule of the Circulation / Reserve Desk, ensuring that Law Library services are delivered in an efficient and professional manner.
• In consultation with the Associate Director for Library Services, establishes and interprets Law Library policies and procedures pertaining to library access and circulation.
• Works closely with staff who work at the circulation desk.
• Supervises part time law students workers – including conducting hiring, training, and scheduling.
• Collects and reports department statistics.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Manages projects as assigned.

Library Service:

• Serves as a library liaison to provide direct, personalized library 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 to students, faculty, staff, and visitors via in-person meetings, email, and phone;
• Creates and updates instructional videos to support the Law School curriculum;
• 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.

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.
• Performs annual inventory of Hornbooks, Nutshells, Examples and Explanations, and other study aids.
• Recommends new editions and replaces missing copies of Reserve materials in consultation with the Associate Directors.
• 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.

Minimum Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA accredited institution
• M.L.I.S. from an ALA accredited institution ;
• 0-3 years’ experience (including experience as a student employee) in an academic law library;
• 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;
• Knowledge of law library operations including Circulation, Reserves, Reference, and Legal Research;
• 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;
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion;
• Intellectual curiosity and initiative.

Physical Requirements and/or unusual work hours

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

Here is a link to the job posting: https://jobs.villanova.edu/postings/20502