Job Opening: Head of Collection Management, Law Library, University at Buffalo, State University of New York

Position/Academic Rank: Head of Collection Management, Law Library (Associate Librarian

Responsibilities

Collection Development

• Provide leadership in the development, implementation, maintenance and review of collection development policies and practices, including policies on selection, retention, weeding, replacement of missing materials, and evaluation of gifts.
• Advise the Director of the Law Library in assessing the collection's strengths and weaknesses in all formats within the scope of the library's collection development policy.
• Assist the Director of the Law Library in allocating funds and managing budget expenditures.
• Coordinate the activities of the librarians involved in the selection process.
• Review, analyze, and select new and existing print and electronic resources.
• Identify, evaluate and recommend cancellations and withdrawals of library materials.
• Work closely with faculty to monitor research and curricular developments.
• Consult with faculty to ensure that the library's collection development efforts support the law school curriculum and faculty research interests.

Technical Services

• Play a key role in the University Libraries' implementation of the Aleph integrated library system.
• Collaborate in implementing off-site storage of law library materials and in acquiring access to electronic resources, including evaluation of licensing agreements, assessment of compatibility with the University Libraries' and the Law School's systems, and setting up and maintaining electronic user awareness tools.
• Function as liaison with vendor sales representatives.
• Manage all aspects of the Law Library's acquisitions functions, including ordering, receiving, and claiming materials; managing approval plans and blanket orders; and processing invoices.
• Supervise three acquisitions clerks and one student assistant.
• Work with University Libraries' Central Technical Services and Electronic Resources Council on acquisition of interdisciplinary electronic resources.

Public Services

• Provide reference services to students and faculty at least two hours each week and as part of the weekend reference rotation.
• Opportunities for participation in first year legal research and writing instruction or other teaching opportunities may be available depending on the candidate's interest and qualifications.

Reporting and Governance

• Report to the Director of the Law Library
• With the Director and other law librarians, establish policies and implement changes to improve the overall service of the Law Library.
• Represent the Law Library on Law School, University Libraries, and University-wide committees as appropriate.
• Actively participate in local, regional, and national professional organizations such as AALL and ALLUNY.

Qualifications

Required: MLS from an ALA-accredited institution or foreign equivalent; JD from an ABA-accredited institution or foreign equivalent; familiarity with current trends in legal publishing, education, and research.  Significant experience in budget management and some supervisory experience are required.  Familiarity with print and electronic resources, knowledge of the U.S. legal information market, substantial legal research skills, and experience with electronic information technology are required.  Candidates must exhibit strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, and must be able to develop productive working relationships and work as an effective team member, as well as independently.  This is a tenure track position.  Ability to produce scholarly work of publishable quality is essential.  Information on tenure standards for university librarians is available at http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/sw/committees/apt/faculty_personnel.htm.  Members of the Law Library staff must demonstrate a high level of commitment to the professional values of service, teamwork, initiative, and creativity in all aspects of their work.

Preferred: Minimum four years professional experience in related law library work strongly preferred.  Familiarity with foreign and international vendors is desirable.  Experience with migration from one integrated library automation system to another (especially experience with the Aleph integrated library automation system) is desirable.   Demonstrated teaching ability and a record of scholarship are desirable.

Salary: Senior Assistant Librarian, $39,000 or higher, competitive and depending on experience and qualifications; Associate Librarian, $45,000 or higher, competitive and depending on experience and qualifications.

Available: Immediately.  Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Applicants should send a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references to:

Kenneth Hood
Human Resources Officer
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University Libraries
432 Capen Hall
Buffalo, NY  14260