Library Director

Description

Overview:

The University of Kansas School of Law invites applications for a tenure track associate librarian to serve as director of the Wheat Law Library.  The director/associate librarian is responsible for all aspects of library operations including management and operations; budget, financial, and purchasing activities, supervision of personnel, collection development, oversight of technology needs, strategic planning with respect to the future growth and development of the law library, physical plant and initiating and monitoring library programs and services.  

KU Law ranks among the top 50 law schools in the nation and lands at #22 among public law schools according to recent U.S. News & World Report Rankings. Law faculty are active scholars, researchers, and subject matter experts in their fields. 

KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard, and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

This is a full-time, 12-month, tenure-track faculty position. As director, the position reports to and serves at the pleasure of the dean of the school of law, although the tenure and rank considerations are governed by the University Libraries promotion and tenure procedures. While not tenured through the law school, the library director holds the same voting rights as the law faculty. 

Duties:

Director/ Library Administration (60%)

Administrative responsibilities include management of fiscal resources, personnel, collection development plans and activities to ensure that the law library’s collection and resources are sufficient to meet the primary goal of supporting the teaching and research needs of the school of law’s faculty staff and students, technology and computer services, physical plant, and short- and long-range strategic planning.

Develops innovative strategic plans for a next-generation law library that combines traditional information strategies with new information resources and emerging technologies that enhance the library’s research, teaching and information services.  

Maintains familiarity with the school’s purchasing, accounting, and other financial policies and procedures, and assists in administering those policies and procedures. Oversees the reporting of all statistical data and reports to numerous legal and library entities, including ABA and AALS and ensures library compliance with accrediting bodies. 

Supervise professional librarians and support staff.  Provide oversight with regard to daily activities and operations of the library. 

Teaching, research, scholarship (15%)

Develop and participate in instructional programming as a library liaison for first year lawyering classes.  Teach Advanced Legal Research and the Kansas Supreme Court Research Practicum as needed and/or required by the Dean/Associate Dean.  Define and establish an area of particular professional interests and engage in teaching, research, publishing articles and chapters, and presenting at conferences and in other academic/peer settings.

Faculty liaison (15%)

Provide direct liaison support to designated law school faculty.  Conduct research and collection development to fit their curriculum and research needs.  

Service and other duties (10%) 

Represent the KU law library, as an active participant, within the law school, the KU community, to professional organizations, and to other groups.  Perform other duties as may be assigned that enhance the services, programs, resources and overall operations of the law library.

Additional Candidate Instructions:

Complete and submit online application at http://www.employment.ku.edu/academic/29470BR Include a cover letter that addresses the required and preferred qualifications of the position, a resume/CV, and a list of three professional references with contact information.   

Review of applications will begin on February 10, 2025, and will continue until a suitable candidate is selected. To ensure priority consideration, apply by the review date. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

 Contact Information: Crystal M. Mai, Associate Dean for Administration

                                    ([email protected], 785-864-9208)

Advertised Salary:        Commensurate with experience

Initial Review Date:     February 10, 2025

Anticipated Start:         April 1, 2025

Requirements

Required Qualifications: 

1.  Applicants must possess a J.D. from an ABA accredited law school and an MLS or MLIS or equivalent from an ALA accredited institution.  

2. Minimum of four years of professional experience at the rank of assistant librarian.

3. Documented evidence of professional library expertise and a record of research and service.

Preferred Qualifications:  

1.  Post JD experience working in a law library. 

2.  Experience using automated library systems.

3.  Experience with emerging technologies.

4.  Strong written and oral communication skills.