Collections and Access Librarian
The Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, invites applications and nominations for the position of Collections and Access Librarian, expected to be at the rank of Librarian 2, 3 or 4, commencing September 1, 2023.
The Schulich School of Law’s Sir James Dunn Library has a collection of approximately 116,559 volumes, numerous digital resources, and an operating budget of over $1.81 million, including an acquisitions budget of $817 thousand. Personnel include four professional librarians (in addition to the Chief Librarian), four full-time staff, and student and casual staff. A leader in information technology and interuniversity cooperation, the Dunn Law Library is, with the Dalhousie University Library, an active member of Novanet, a consortium of eight universities with the goal of enhancing access to information and knowledge through cooperation for the benefit of their user communities. Its Library Management System is ALMA.
The Dunn Law Library serves the needs of the Law School’s 45 faculty, part-time faculty, 450 J.D. students, and 30 graduate students, and is an important resource for members of the legal profession in Atlantic Canada. The Library plays an essential role in the teaching, learning and research mission of the School, including librarians as instructors in the legal research and writing program, and as research partners with faculty and graduate students.
Reporting to the Dean of Law through the Chief Law Librarian, the Collections and Access Librarian will have functional responsibilities for developing and maintaining the collections of the Law Library (in all formats). The Collections and Access Librarian will also supervise multiple library operations including circulation, document delivery, resources and, at times, facilities maintenance. This work includes training and delegation of responsibilities to supervised staff. With this position there is also an expectation of assessment, research, evaluation and reporting on new developments in these areas of academic law librarianship as they pertain to the Schulich School of Law’s service mission and performance.
The Dunn Law Library and its staff participate in the Dalhousie Libraries system. The Collections and Access Librarian will participate on other University-wide committees.
About the Schulich School of Law
We are a vibrant, collegial, and close-knit community of faculty and students from around the world. We live the Weldon Tradition of unselfish public service – of giving back and making the world a better place. The Schulich School of Law plays an extraordinary role in Canadian and international legal education. We are a national law school with an international reputation. We draw talented students from every region of the country and from around the world into our J.D., combined J.D./Masters, LL.M., and Ph.D. programs. We graduate leaders. Our alumni hold every form of government office, teach in law schools, innovate in the provision of private and public sector legal services and in business, advance policy in the executive branch of governments, render decisions on courts across the country, and offer service to non-governmental bodies and non-profit and community organizations.
We embrace the interdisciplinary opportunity of working in a university, we value the creation and dissemination of new knowledge, and we are firmly committed to students and to teaching and learning excellence. We are conscious of the difference we make to law reform, adjudication, legal service, and community engagement at home and around the world. We value the contributions of the founding communities in this province, the Mi’kmaq Nation, Acadians, African Nova Scotians, and British, and we open our doors to the world.
For more information about our law school community, see https://www.dal.ca/faculty/law.html, and for the Schulich School of Law Strategic Plan, see https://www.dal.ca/faculty/law/about/strategic-directions-2017-2021.html.
How to Apply
The successful candidate should have: a M.L.I.S. or M.I. from an accredited library school or equivalent; plus a minimum of 3-5 years of increasingly responsible experience; strong knowledge of legal research methods and resources; an understanding of current and emerging practices in higher education and academic libraries, including best practices in collection development and management; excellent communication collaboration and interpersonal skills; the ability to work both independently and as a team member. Supervisory experience is an asset.
Applications should include a cover letter, resume, a maximum three-page vision statement for the position, and the names of three referees. Applications should be submitted online at: https://dal.peopleadmin.ca/postings/13593.
The deadline for applications is July 15, 2023.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous persons (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, and persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. For more information, please visit www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity.