GOVERNMENT LAW LIBRARIES

Transcription

1 2015 AALL SALARY SURVEY GOVERNMENT LAW LIBRARIES JOB DESCRIPTIONS Defined by the AALL Economic Status of Law Librarians Committee and the AALL Government Law Libraries Special Interest Section. Note: Government law libraries including state, court, and county vary greatly based on size, funding, and governing laws. Years of previous library experience is not listed under the qualifications, as many units have differing classification systems (e.g., reference librarian I, reference librarian II, etc.). 1. Solo Librarian Manages all functions of a law library. Performs legal reference and research using traditional and electronic research. Engages in collection development, including discontinuing unused titles, and engages in space planning. Provides user services, such as training, password management, outreach, interlibrary loan, reference guides, legislative histories, instruction guides, current awareness services, and newsletters. Catalogs and processes library materials in a variety of formats and may file loose leaf services. Prepares and manages library budget, including paying invoices and maintaining financial records. Prepares annual and financial reports. Maintains good relations with vendors and negotiates prices for products/services. Recommends and implements policies to the board of trustees. Provides professional consultations to judges and other court units. Participates in professional concepts, principles, and practices; experience with integrated library systems, Westlaw and LexisNexis, and general computer skills. 2. Director/Chief Librarian (a.k.a., State Law Librarian/Circuit Librarian/County Law Librarian) Responsibilities include long-range planning, budget development and implementation, library automation, planning and managing library space and facilities, development and implementation of system-wide policies, hiring and supervising professional staff, and negotiation with vendors. Provides professional consultation to judges and other court units. Involvement with, and representation on, governing board committees and concepts, principles, and practices; significant previous law library experience; strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills. 3. Chief Knowledge Officer (CKO)/Chief Library Officer (CLO) *Typically not found in government law libraries. The following description comes from the law firm/corporate law libraries job Responsible for maximizing the creation, discovery, and dissemination of knowledge in the organization. Blends cultural, business, and technical responsibilities and ensures their co-evolution. Focused on improving productivity, profitability, and customer value, rather than solely on knowledge management (KM) technology. Drives the adoption of knowledge sharing behaviors and use of best practices throughout all legal and business units of the law firm. Usually reports to the CEO or highest-ranking position in the company, and may oversee multiple departments including, library, KM, competitive intelligence, business intelligence, conflicts, dockets and records. Qualifications: MLS required, JD may be required/preferred; significant years of experience in the law firm library and/or legal industry. 4. Associate/Deputy/Assistant Director Monitors and directs activities of branch libraries and librarians, develops and administers the budget. Develops, implements, and evaluates programs. Coordinates personnel management and directs operations in absence of director/chief librarian. Participates in concepts, principles, and practices; demonstrated skills

2 in library management and legal research; requires significant previous law library experience. 5. Supervisory Librarian (a.k.a., Branch Librarian/Satellite Librarian) May supervise one or more staff or an entire department. Assists in establishing and implementing library program priorities. Assists in determining staffing needs; recruits, interviews, selects, and trains non-supervisory library staff. Evaluates library staff performance. Participates in library budget planning. Implements internal operating procedures to meet the goals of the library program. Oversees preparation of library publications. Assists with long-range planning and prepares reports of funds expended. In addition, may perform reference or other duties in the department she/he supervises (i.e., reference, technical services). 6. Competitive Intelligence Analyst/Librarian *Typically not found in government law libraries. The following description comes from the law firm/corporate law libraries job Works with the practice groups and marketing department on projects designed to give senior management information about competitors' or clients business activities, and ensure the firm is responsive to market changes driven by both consumer demands and the competitive environment. Assists in the strategic advancement of the firm Qualifications: MLS preferred, may require business degree, CI Certification, or specialized industry or financial knowledge. 7. Electronic Services Librarian Maintains library website, develops new electronic resources, and maintains library automation system and computer hardware and software. Participates in principles, and practices; knowledge of HTML, web scripting languages, web application servers; familiarity with LANS, integrated library systems, FTP, TCP/IP. 8. Foreign, Comparative, and International Law Librarian Serves as a reference librarian but focuses on providing reference assistance, research guides, bibliographies, and instructional materials related specifically to foreign, comparative, and international law (FCIL). Assists with collection development in FCIL materials, regardless of format. Usually requires facility with at least one foreign language and a working knowledge of, or willingness to learn the rudiments of, one or two other languages. Has a fundamental knowledge of Anglo-American legal research tools and strategies, as well as both civil law and common law legal systems and international organizations. Qualifications: MLS or foreign equivalent and/or JD or foreign equivalent; working knowledge of one or more European languages, Latin, and other relevant languages as appropriate; ability to communicate well with colleagues and patrons; committed to high-quality public service. 9. Government Documents/Legislative Librarian Responsible for the acquisition and organization of federal (and state) government documents. If the library is a designated government depository library, coordinates the library s depository program. Has some specialized reference expertise, especially relating to government documents and legislative history. May include staff supervision in a large library. May often be combined with circulation, reference, or technical services duties. Qualifications: MLS, with JD preferred; familiarity with government documents and legislative/ administrative process; excellent written and verbal communication skills. 10. Acquisitions Librarian Plans, organizes, and directs acquisitions. Processes orders according to procedures. Maintains audit trail with adequate documentation. Receives the orders and verifies invoices and reconciles statements. May supervise professional and nonprofessional staff. Processes claims for missing and replacement items, makes cancellations, tracks acquisition expenditures, develops statistical and analytical records and reports, and assists in library budget s request. Participates in principles, and practices; knowledge of the legal publishing industry.

3 11. Collection Development/Management Librarian Plans, organizes, and directs collection development. Identifies and prioritizes areas of collection to be enhanced. Investigates costs and alternative formats. Projects future needs. May supervise professional and nonprofessional staff. Evaluates existing collection in light of cost-efficient practices, develops collection development policies, and works with vendors. Participates in 12. Acquisitions/Collection Development Librarian Plans, organizes, and directs collection development, acquisitions, binding, and preservation and gift management. May supervise professional and nonprofessional staff. Evaluates existing collection in light of cost-efficient practices, develops collection development policies, and works with vendors. Processes claims for missing and replacement items, makes cancellations, tracks acquisition expenditures, develops statistical and analytical records and reports, and assists in library budget s request. Participates in principles, and practices; knowledge of the legal publishing industry. 13. Catalog Librarian Classifies and catalogs the collection, using AACR2r and Library of Congress subject headings and classification schedules. Assists in the development of cataloging policy and procedures for the library. Does original and copy cataloging. Enters the cataloging into the library s integrated library system. Implements all necessary OCLC, AACR2r, and LC classification policy and procedural changes. Checks library catalog for cataloging errors and performs retrospective cataloging. Participates in principles, and practices; knowledge of AACR2r, OCLC, MARC formats, and Library of Congress subject headings and classification schedules. 14. Serials Librarian Responsible for the control and management of continuing resources, regardless of language or format, including staff supervision, quality control, and the implementation of policies and procedures that support the timely and persistent availability of continuing resources to library users. Often combined with acquisitions or other functional duties. Qualifications: MLS; familiarity with one or more integrated library systems; strong supervisory skills; excellent written and verbal communication skills. 15. Technical Services Librarian Plans, organizes, and directs collection development, acquisitions, serials, binding, and preservation and gift management and cataloging. May supervise professional and nonprofessional staff. Evaluates existing collection in light of cost-efficient practices, develops collection development policies, and works with vendors. Processes claims for missing and replacement items, makes cancellations, tracks acquisition expenditures, develops statistical and analytical records, and reports and assists in library budget requests. Assists in the development of cataloging policy and procedures for the library. Classifies and catalogs the collection, using AACR2r and Library of Congress subject headings and classification schedules. Does original and copy cataloging. Enters the cataloging into the library s integrated library system. Maintains shelf list. Checks library catalog for cataloging errors and performs retrospective cataloging. Participates in professional principles, and practices; knowledge of AACR2r and Library of Congress subject headings and classification schedules. 16. Circulation Librarian Develops new user orientations and oversees fee-based services. Develops and oversees circulation practices and procedures. Creates and maintains user records. Maintains records of borrowing and returned materials. Monitors overdue materials, issues notices, and collects fees when necessary. Identifies missing materials. Runs circulation reports on integrated library systems or gathers manual statistics. May supervise nonprofessional staff. Participates in professional

4 17. Interlibrary Loan Librarian Responsible for borrowing materials from other libraries to meet user needs. Determines the availability of the requested material through databases, union lists, or list serves. Determines the most appropriate lender based on a variety of criteria. Responsible for the lending of materials from the library according to interlibrary loan policies. Creates, reviews, and modifies interlibrary loan policies. Processes payment vouchers and handles receipts when necessary. Compiles statistical reports of interlibrary loan transactions and provides input into the budgetary process. Participates in 18. Circulation/Interlibrary Loan Librarian Responsible for the operation of the law library circulation department. May include reserves and interlibrary loans and routine retrieval of locally held items. May be responsible for the coordination of shelving and shelf-reading activity. Compiles library usage statistics and may be responsible for circulation financial transactions (e.g., paying fines, copy charges, etc.). Responsible for supervising, hiring, training, and evaluating circulation supervisors and circulation desk assistants. Qualifications: MLS; some prior circulation or interlibrary loan library experience; some familiarity with OCLC, ILLiad, WorldCat, and related systems preferred; strong supervisory skills; excellent written and verbal communications skills. 19. Reference/Research Librarian Provides both quick and in-depth reference and specialized research services for library s community base. Assists users in the selection and use of print and electronic research tools. Provides instruction in the use of library resources, legal databases, and internet resources. Proficient in the use of LexisNexis, Westlaw, and other legal and non-legal electronic resources. Develops training materials, library promotional materials, and research guides. May participate in selecting books and other materials for the library s collections. Qualifications: MLS degree from an accredited institution; many librarians holding this title also have earned a JD degree. 20. Instructional/Reference/Research Librarian Responsible for teaching legal research to the public, court administration, and/or government officials. Classes taught may include introductory, specialized or advanced legal research, and introductions to the court system. Additional responsibilities include providing extensive reference and research services to the public and court personnel, and may include developing guides to legal research, web-based tutorials, and instructional materials. Position may also have significant duties in other departments or operations of the law library. Qualifications: MLS required, or significant experience; many librarians holding this title also have earned a JD degree; willingness to learn and stay current on the most effective legal research methods, strategies, teaching, and learning theories; requires extraordinary interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, a passion for teaching, and the ability to effectively communicate with people to help them understand the material. 21. Public Services Librarian Ensures quality reference services; assists with use of indices, catalog, reference tools, and specialized resources; develops bibliographies, pathfinders, legislative histories, and other user aids; provides current awareness services; oversees interlibrary loans; and assists with collection development. Develops new user orientations and oversees fee-based services. Develops and oversees circulation practices and procedures. Participates in concepts, 22. Library Assistant/Paraprofessional Staffs the circulation desk, checks out books, and processes returned materials. Assists patrons with directional or basic reference questions. Refers patrons to the appropriate librarian for assistance. Processes library materials, including checking in items on serial records, spine labeling, and carding materials, and may perform some copy cataloging. Prepares items for bindery and may claim for missing law review/journal issues. Files loose leaf services and pocket parts. May assist in preparation of public relation materials, such as newsletters. Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent; may require an additional two years of college.

5 23. Library Clerk Staffs the circulation desk, checks out books, and processes returned materials. Shelves books and assists with stack maintenance. Assists patrons with photocopiers and faxes, filling those machines with paper and toner. Checks in items on serial records, photocopies and faxes for interlibrary loan requests, and maintains and ensures accuracy of circulation records. Processes mail. Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent. 24. Computer Technician Maintains the hardware and software of library s computers. Manages and repairs desktop hardware components, including computers, monitors, printers, and other peripherals. Performs network administrative tasks, provides software application support and assistance. Maintains active directory architecture. Assists in the development of reports and data collection. Provides routine testing. Monitors security in hardware and software. Provides support for library s internet/intranet. Assists in the development of business continuity plans. Evaluates new hardware and makes proposals for adaptation. May customize software for library s use. Assists with negotiations with information on technical specifications for electronic products/platforms. Qualifications: BS in computer science; experience with LANS/WANs; may require network certification or experience with specific types of platforms, programming languages, or hardware. 25. Administrative Assistant (a.k.a., Management Assistant) Responsible for general office practices and principles, including analyzing records, reports, and other business and financial information. Responsible for budgeting and human resources activities. Also, handles general procurement including equipment and supplies (excluding books). Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent.