Syracuse University is hiring: Law Reference Librarian in City of Syracuse

Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses.

Staff Level: 00

FLSA Status: Exempt

Hours:
Standard University business hours:
8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs.

Job Type: Full-time

Campus: Not Applicable

Job Description: The Syracuse University Law Library invites applications for a Law Reference Librarian to:

• Provide reference and research assistance to Law Library users in a hybrid work and learning environment, including students, faculty, members of the local bar, and to the general public, in-person and online via email, phone and Zoom, including evenings and weekends on rotation.
• Provide individual and classroom instruction to enable law students to develop legal research proficiency in doctrinal and skills subjects; develop instructional materials on legal topics and in support of upper-level courses for students in the JD, LLM, and SJD programs.
• Develop the Law Library’s electronic and print collections in assigned subject areas and serve as the library’s liaison to faculty who teach and do research in those subjects.
• Create and maintain online research guides, bibliographies, and other materials to support a variety of outreach programs for law student and faculty, the broader SU Community, the local bar and the public, to enhance access to legal information.
• Perform other position-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Required qualifications:

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school or equivalent non-U.S. law degree.
• Masters Degree in Library Science or equivalent from an ALA-accredited institution, completed or close to completion.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the tools and methods of academic research with application to the process of legal research, and the ability to assist library users from all backgrounds and at all levels of initial knowledge.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to write effectively for a wide variety of audiences.
• One year of academic law library experience.

Desired qualifications:

• Strong commitment to legal reference service and instruction in a complex educational environment.
• High degree of professionalism and the ability to both work independently and to interact effectively with colleagues, faculty, staff, students, and the public.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Education and experience applicable to academic law librarianship.
• Significant understanding of the tools and processes of legal research.
• Ability to both work independently and to interact effectively with colleagues, faculty, staff, students, and the public.
• Demonstrated knowledge of legal information research tools and methods; experience with the legal research process, and the ability to teach legal research skills in individualized and classroom settings.

Responsibilities:

• Provide legal reference and research services to students, faculty, alumni, members of the local bar, and all users of and visitors to the Law Library, with special emphasis on services to students and faculty.
• Support College of Law teaching, learning, and research by providing individualized legal research assistance, by compiling bibliographies and collections of primary source documents, and by developing the Law Library’s electronic and print collections in assigned subject areas.
• Serve as the library’s liaison to faculty who teach and do research in those subject areas.
• Provide direct patron service at the Reference Desk, in-person, over the phone, via email, and over Zoom, including evenings and weekends on rotation, determining the best sources and methods to answer questions and fulfill research requests, including decisions to convert ILL and document delivery requests to purchases as a function of collection development.
• Provide classroom instruction, both in person and over Zoom, to enable law students to develop legal research proficiency in doctrinal and skills subjects, and create Research Guides to support individual classes.
• Foster relationships with COL administrative offices, with COL alumni and the local bar generally, by creating Research Guides on topics of interest to those user groups, by offering instruction in the use of career- and practice-oriented research tools, and by marketing Law Library services and programs to alumni and other external constituencies.

Application Instructions:

In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.

About Syracuse University: Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.

EEO Statement: Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.