Legal Research

Placement Opportunity: Head of Reference

By David Badertscher, PLL

HEAD OF REFERENCE, MAJOR LAW FIRM,

They are seeking a candidate with demonstrated leadership to fill this important position as Head of Reference, responsible for overseeing on-site operations, monitoring the Reference Desk work flow, formulating reference and related library policy, and performing professional reference and related library services.

THE POSITION:  Reporting to the Manager of the Library, supervise reference librarians and serve as resource for all reference staff.  Act as a liaison with the Corporate Librarian and Head of Technical Services to coordinate the effective delivery of library services and materials.  Coordinate, schedule and present orientation and training programs for new reference librarians, ensuring that librarians continually develop and improve upon their knowledge and job skills.  Coordinate and conduct orientation tours for lawyers and oversee and edit the preparation of legal research aids for lawyers and staff, including print bibliographies and pathfinders, and entries in the Help tab of the firm?s portal.  Compile and prepare bibliographies, legislative histories, and legal research aids. Conduct searches on online databases, including LEXIS, WESTLAW, Dialog, Dow Jones, Dun & Bradstreet, ChoicePoint and numerous other resources including those developed in-house for precedential and related research. Keep abreast of state-of-the-art librarianship and legal reference materials and practices or policies that may help or hinder library operations, and make recommendations for improvements.  Monitor general and business news sources to stay up to date with news and trends. Actively pursue continuing education opportunities and read professional literature to ensure that all of the library?s reference and related services are the most efficient, cost-effective, and complete available. Represent the firm at professional meetings and conferences. Off-site travel required from time to time.

REQUIREMENTS:  M.L.S. degree from an accredited institution. A minimum of three-five years library experience, preferably in a law library in a supervisory capacity. Demonstrated leadership qualities. Ability to contribute to administrative decisions requiring initiative and judgment. Detailed knowledge of classification schemes. Demonstrated knowledge of major legal and non-law related databases. Ability to perform legal and non-legal research in a time-sensitive, cost-efficient, creative and thorough way. Interpersonal skills necessary to interact and work productively as a team member. Initiative and ability to work independently. Flexibility to assume other job responsibilities within the department as necessary.
 

Job Code WG-07                   (resumes in Word preferred)

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on May 08, 2008 (boomark / email).