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Access Services and Reference Librarian

Employer
University of Chicago Library
Location
Illinois, United States
Salary
Salary Commensurate with experience
Date posted
Nov 1, 2021

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Description

Under the supervision of the Associate Director for User Services, the Access Services and Reference Librarian is responsible for the daily operations of D’Angelo Law Library access services functions including circulation desk services, stacks maintenance, reserves processing, library entry access, and physical space and equipment oversight. The Access Services and Reference Librarian supervises a staff of 4 full-time clerical employees and approximately 10 students and/or part-time employees (60 hours per week), ensuring consistent and superior staff performance during all hours of operation.

The Access Services and Reference Librarian serves as a resource for Library staff on D’Angelo access services and represents D’Angelo on the campus libraries’ Access Committee and at D’Angelo and University Library staff/supervisor meetings.  In collaboration with the Associate Director for User Services, the Access Services and Reference Librarian develops and implements policies that promote the Library’s mission and utilizes best practices to meet user needs. The Access Services and Reference Librarian creates and communicates a successful vision, employs appropriate assessment to analyze and improve the effectiveness of the department, and strategically plans for the ongoing improvement of all services offered. 

The Access Services and Reference Librarian is also part of D’Angelo’s team of reference librarians and provides research support to the Law School community and wider University community in-person and via telephone, email, and chat. The Access Services and Reference Librarian supports the Law School curriculum by participating in orientation for new students, guest lecturing in classes, and creating and maintaining research guides. The person in this position also assists with the development of reserves and other D’Angelo collections.

Essential Functions

Access Services

  • Oversees the daily operations of the Access Services Department, including circulation, reserves, document delivery, and stacks.
  • Hires, trains, supervises, schedules, and evaluates full-time and student departmental staff
  • In collaboration with the Associate Director for User Services develops, implements, and communicates policies for D’Angelo Access Services that promote the Library’s mission and achieve D’Angelo’s goal of exceptional service to users
  • Communicates and interprets policies to users, and monitors effectiveness. Responds to inquiries and diplomatically resolves user concerns and questions
  • Manages D’Angelo scan and deliver and interlibrary loan services, oversees paging from other campus libraries for Law School users, manages claims, notices, and collection of fines, monitors Library lockers, and supervises searching and carrel assignments.
  • Manages D’Angelo’s webpages related to access services, including the past exams pages, for currency and accuracy.
  • Manages archiving Law School course evaluations.
  • Coordinates and communicates as necessary with Law School administrative staff, including the Registrar’s Office, Dean of Students Office, Information Technology, and Facilities, to ensure that D’Angelo’s access services are synchronized appropriately with related Law School functions and meet the needs of Law School users.
  • Coordinates and communicates as necessary with University Library staff on use of shared systems to ensure that D’Angelo’s access services meet the needs of Law School users.
  • Communicates D’Angelo access policies to University Library Access Services departments, to the Law School facilities manager and visitor control attendants, and to other departments in the University Library system; coordinates D’Angelo access policies with University Library and Law School building access policies.
  • Submits an annual report of departmental operations
  • Working collaboratively with the Associate Director for User Services, plans for the future and sets achievable and measurable goals.  Establishes priorities and manages projects to achieve goals and promote efficient work 
  • Stays abreast of trends in technology and access services. Collaborates with D’Angelo reference librarians and Collection Services librarians to develop, implement, and evaluate assessment programs for continuous improvement of D’Angelo access services
  • Stays abreast of strategies and tools to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in D’Angelo’s access policies and collections. Collaborates with D’Angelo staff to conduct regular assessment of access policies and collections for diversity, equity, and inclusivity. 

Reference and Research Services

  • Provides reference and research services to the Law School and University communities in person and by e-mail, telephone, and chat.
  • Supports the Law School curriculum by participating in orientations and providing guest lectures in doctrinal classes, clinics, and other Law School courses
  • Creates web-based and print research guides and other reference tools, including audio and video instruction and research tools.
  • Contributes to the D’Angelo Library website and News site.
  • Participates in outreach and marketing of D’Angelo’s collections and services to faculty and students
  • Participates in the support of Law School faculty with other D’Angelo reference librarians, including training research assistants.  

Administration

  • Compiles, summarizes, archives, and analyzes metrics for annual reporting including but not limited to those reported to the ARL, ABA, and US News and World Report.
  • Maintains, analyzes, and provides statistics for all access services operations, and makes recommendations for staffing and service improvements, leveraging technology to promote efficiency and enhance services
  • Collects and analyzes statistics on circulation desk transactions and circulation of D’Angelo materials; creates reports on collection use; and develops new assessments as needed
  • Monitors the Library’s Integrated Library System functions as they relate to D’Angelo access services, and collaborates with Library staff on testing, evaluation, and implementation
  • Develops and maintains collegial and collaborative relationships with colleagues at D’Angelo, the Law School, and the University Library system
  • Participates in D’Angelo initiatives and programs and in strategic planning and goal-setting processes
  • Serves on D’Angelo and University Library committees and groups, as well as professional organizations at national, regional, and local level, to grow professionally, stay abreast of current law library trends, and contribute to the law librarian field.

Collection maintenance

  • Manages all D’Angelo stacks locations, including D’Angelo’s North and South Annex collections; develops and implements policies and procedures to ensure accurate shelving, shelf-reading, shifting and organizing collections as needed; creates accurate signage
  • Oversees accurate filing and updating of material in looseleaf format
  • Oversees collection measurement; collects statistics on collection growth and shelf occupancy; analyzes data and makes recommendations on space planning
  • Participates in University Library wide committee on collection development and the D’Angelo collection development committee emphasizing user access to materials.
Qualifications

Required:

  • MLIS from an ALA accredited institution
  • Law library experience
  • Library experience involving user services policy development, implementation, assessment, and evaluation.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of legal information sources, techniques and strategies

Preferred:

  • JD from an ABA accredited institution
  • Academic library experience
  • Access Services experience
  • One year of supervisory experience, including hiring, training, evaluation, and discipline
  • Demonstrated experience in employing technology to promote efficiency, and in analyzing and evaluating data to identify trends and improve services and operations; experience with the Microsoft Office Suite
  • Strong user service philosophy and a commitment to improvement and innovation
  • Excellent written and oral communication and organizational and planning skills
  • Excellent customer service skill; ability to handle difficult situations with courtesy, tact, discretion and patience, exercise good judgment consistent with Library procedures, and work in a fast-paced environment

Physical Demands: Ability to move and lift heavy objects up to 50 lbs; frequent use of computer screen and keyboard

Application Instructions

To Apply: Submit cover letter, curriculum vitae, and reference contact information online through the University of Chicago's Academic Recruiting website: http://apply.interfolio.com/98016. Review of applications will begin after November 30, 2021. Screening of applications will continue until the position is filled or the search is closed.

Salary and Benefits: Appointment salary based on qualifications and experience. Benefits include retirement plan, insurance, and paid time off.

Questions: Contact Kara Hastings, HR Generalist, khastings@uchicago.edu

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages diverse perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange. The University’s Statements on Diversity are at https://provost.uchicago.edu/statements-diversity.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-1032 or email equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.

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