POSITION: Chief Law Librarian – Librarian III or IV
DEPARTMENT: Bora Laskin Law Library, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
DATE REQUIRED: As Soon As Possible
The Faculty of Law is seeking a dynamic professional to lead its Law Library.
ENVIRONMENT: The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law is dedicated to being one of the world’s great law schools. As a community of 57 full-time law faculty, over 60 part-time adjunct professors, 25 distinguished short-term visiting professors from the world’s leading law schools, 550 undergraduate law students and 141 graduate law students , it has developed an international reputation for high-quality teaching and excellent contemporary legal scholarship in fields as varied as aboriginal law, constitutional law, law and technology, health law and policy, law and development, international human rights, private law theory, and environmental law.
Within the Faculty course offerings are broad, increasingly interdisciplinary in nature and demonstrate a growing emphasis on global and regional studies. There are a wide variety of joint or combined degree programs available to students. These rich academic programs are supplemented by the Faculty’s legal clinics and public interest programs, and its close links to more than 6,000 alumni, many of whom remain involved in aspects of life at the law school.
The Bora Laskin Law Library is pro-active in its support of the teaching, learning and research needs of a diverse, talented student-body and faculty known for their rigorous scholarship. Librarians play a substantial role in teaching legal bibliography and research methods, both through informal classes and ‘for-credit’ courses. The Library is used extensively by other members of the University community and by members of the legal profession who also have a fee-based document delivery service available to them.
The building, opened in March 1991, houses a collection of over 270,000 volumes and provides both wired and wireless access to information. Extensive use is made of on-line databases such as Quicklaw, Lexis, and Westlaw, CARSWELL, free and subscription-based Internet resources and the rich resources of the University’s system of libraries, including its outstanding collection of full-text e-journal literature. Library operations are automated using SIRSI, the system in use across the University’s three campuses, except for the use of an Access database for check-in of approximately 1,800 active legal continuations.
Further information about the Faculty and the Library may be found at: http://www.law.utoronto.ca and http://www.law-lib.utoronto.ca.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Reporting to the Dean of the Faculty of Law, the Chief Law Librarian takes a leadership role in developing and monitoring the\ Library’s budget, long-range and short-range plans and library policies. The incumbent manages all aspects of library operations including personnel, technology, purchasing, space and facilities and internal and external relations including supporting the faculty’s fundraising initiatives. In support of the Faculty’s mission, the Chief Law Librarian has responsibility for the development and management of library collections, programs and services including the technological infrastructure necessary for their delivery and use. It is expected that the Chief Law Librarian will participate in collection development and in teaching legal research. The position involves leadership of a staff of 12.6 FTE, including 4 professional librarians, and oversight of an annual budget of approximately 2 million dollars. The Chief Law Librarian also works collaboratively with colleagues in other libraries within the University of Toronto Library system, as well as with colleagues in the broader community of law libraries.
QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must have an ALA-accredited Master of Library Studies degree, or an acceptable equivalent, a law degree from a recognized law school and substantial, relevant experience including several years in an administrative role in a law library, preferably in an academic or research institution. Applicants must have demonstrated ability in budgeting, planning and personnel management as well as strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving and communication skills. They must possess thorough knowledge of legal information resources and research methodologies as well as an understanding of current issues facing scholars. They will be effective teachers. Candidates will be engaged with the issues facing academic libraries and will demonstrate a flexible, innovative approach to finding solutions. Applicants will have a broad understanding of information technologies and be able to integrate new technologies in order to enhance library support for teaching and research. Candidates will demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and be able to work productively with faculty, students and staff in a collaborative environment; they will be able to provide effective representation of the Law Library within the library system, the University generally and externally.
RANK AND SALARY: commensurate with qualifications and experience. Appointments at this level are for a maximum seven-year term which is renewable NOTE: This is a permanent status stream position. Librarians at the University of Toronto are members of the University of Toronto Faculty Association.
Applicants must submit a covering letter, curriculum vitae and the names/telephone numbers of three references to Library Human Resources:
E-mail: utlhr@utoronto.ca
Mail: 130 St. George Street, Rm 2054, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A5
Fax: (416) 946-5543
Consideration of applications will continue until the position is filled. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians/permanent residents will be given priority. We thank all applicants for their interest; only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community. The University especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.
