Law Library Director

Mitchell Hamline School of Law is seeking to hire a full-time Law Library Director. The Law Library Director manages the law library's operations, strategic direction, and long-term planning, ensuring high-quality services and resources to support academic, research, and instructional needs for students, faculty, and staff. Responsibilities include overseeing library operations, personnel management, budget, and collection development, all in line with the institution's mission.

The Director also provides research, instructional services, and faculty development. They mentor junior faculty and help elevate the institution's research profile. The Director has the opportunity to assist with faculty engagement fostering faculty involvement, overseeing initiatives that enhance faculty research, teaching, professional development, and interdepartmental collaboration, playing a key role in strategic faculty engagement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership and Management:

• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of library staff, including professional librarians, paraprofessionals, and support staff.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages professional development and growth.
• Promote a culture of customer service excellence and respond to user needs promptly and efficiently.

Strategic Planning and Development:

• Develop and implement a long-term strategic plan for the law library that aligns with the institution's strategic plan.
• Identify trends in legal education, research, and technology to adapt and enhance library services and resources.
• Continuously evaluate library programs and services to ensure they meet the evolving needs of law students, faculty, and researchers.

Resource Management and Collection Development:

• Oversee the selection, acquisition, and maintenance of legal resources, including print, digital, and multimedia materials.
• Ensure access to current, comprehensive, and relevant legal databases, journals, and publications.
• Serve as administrator of the firm's electronic resources management system. Monitoring its effectiveness, coordinating and evaluating data on electronic resource usage, and implementing improvements as identified.
• Monitor budgetary constraints and allocate resources efficiently while maintaining a balanced and diverse collection.
• Serve as administrator of the firm's electronic resources management system. Monitoring its effectiveness, coordinating and evaluating data on electronic resource usage, and implementing improvements as identified.

Library Operations:

• Oversee day-to-day library operations, including facility management, circulation, cataloging, and interlibrary loan services.
• Implement policies and procedures for library operations that reflect the best practices and compliance with legal and institutional guidelines.
• Ensure that library technology and infrastructure are up-to-date and meet user needs.

Instruction and Research Support:

• Collaborate with the law faculty, including the legal writing and skills faculty to develop and deliver library instruction sessions or courses on legal research techniques and tools. Providing guidance and support to faculty members at all levels to enhance their research capabilities.
• Provide one-on-one reference and research support to students, faculty, and staff.
• Stay informed of developments in legal research and instructional methodologies. Ensure adherence to research ethics regulations and institutional policies.
• Provide optional legal research programs (such as refresher programs, programs on topics not covered by the required curriculum and programs on new products and sources) for students, faculty, and staff.
• Manage a reference staff publication series of guides to legal research in various topical areas, guides to use of various tools, etc.
• Stay informed of developments in legal research and instructional methodologies. Ensure adherence to research ethics regulations and institutional policies.

External Relations and Collaboration:

• Represent the law library within the broader legal community, including networking with other law libraries, legal professionals, and associations.
• Foster relationships with vendors and publishers to ensure the library has access to necessary resources.

Budget and Financial Management:

• Prepare and manage the law library's budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
• Monitor expenditures and maintain financial records in accordance with institutional policies.

Assessment and Reporting:

• Conduct regular assessments of library services, collections, and user satisfaction.
• Prepare reports and analyses to demonstrate the library's value to the institution and its stakeholders.

Faculty engagement initiatives:

• Facilitate research projects and community engagement initiatives for faculty.

Secondary job activities:

• Participate in outreach and service activities to the larger law library and legal community in approved ways that support library or school objectives.
• Represent the faculty at research conferences and meetings.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of print and electronic legal materials
• Competency in use of computerized databases, search engines, technological assets
• Teaching ability
• Management skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Good judgment
• Ability to multiple task and to meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to manage patrons of various types (distressed, angry, rule violators, etc.)
• Experience with institutional accreditation processes.
• Active participation in professional organizations related to law libraries and legal research.
• Proven ability to mentor and support faculty research development.
• Strong understanding of research ethics and compliance guidelines
• Excellent leadership and communication skills to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders. With a demonstrated ability to maintain effective and respectful working relationships.

Minimum Qualifications:

• JD (Juris Doctor) from an accredited institution.
• At least 5 years of professional experience in library services, with a minimum of 3 years in a leadership role within an academic or law library.
• Strong knowledge of legal research methods, resources, and technologies.
• Proven leadership and management experience with the ability to develop and implement strategic plans.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and resources effectively.
• Familiarity with library management systems, digital resource management, and emerging technologies.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in fostering collaboration and community building.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Library Science (MLS or MLIS) from an accredited institution.
• Significant experience in legal research
• Significant experience as a faculty member with a strong record of teaching, research, and service.
• Preferred lateral candidate with tenure.

Salary Range: The anticipated salary range for this position is $120,000 - $140,000 annually.

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Life/AD&D insurance (MHSL pays for)
• Optional Life Insurance
• Disability Benefits (MHSL pays for)
• 403(b) Retirement plan (Generous MHSL match)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Competitive compensation package
• A respectful workplace

For best consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume by the end of day April 18, 2025. Priority will be given to candidates who apply by this date.

Mitchell Hamline School of Law is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based on actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex/gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial (or parental) status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status, or veteran status, or any other protected class defined by law.

Notice of Nondiscrimination re: Title IX Sex Discrimination

Mitchell Hamline School of Law prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions about sex discrimination or harassment to the Title IX Coordinator. The notice of nondiscrimination and information about reporting concerns is located on our website (https://mitchellhamline.edu/students/title-ix/).

Salary : $120,000 - $140,000