The Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, invites applications for the position of Reference & Instruction Librarian, expected to be at the rank of Librarian 1 or 2, commencing September 1, 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.
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 Reference & Instruction Librarian’s role will include the following:
- Providing legal reference services and in-depth research support to law faculty, law students, and other library users, including assistance with library materials, databases, and scholarly research agendas;
- Engaging as a liaison with the Dalhousie Legal Aid clinic, the Initio Technology & Innovation Law Clinic, and the Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq (IB&M) Program;
- Developing and presenting legal research and library training materials;
- Increasing awareness and promoting use of the library and its resources through outreach activities;
- Participating in the development and delivery of the legal research curriculum for the Law School’s Legal Research and Writing program.
- Representing the Law Library at various committees both within Dalhousie and the wider library community.
It is anticipated that this position will initially require the incumbent to spend 75% of their time focused on reference and instruction and the remaining 25% on other duties.
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.
- See our website for more information about our law school community and for the Schulich School of Law Strategic Plan.
Application Instructions
The successful candidate should have:
- A MLIS/MI from an ALA accredited library school or equivalent, plus a minimum of 3-5 years of increasingly responsible experience;
- Demonstrated skills and experience in providing high quality reference service in an academic or legal setting;
- Experience in teaching and information literacy instruction and in the development of teaching materials is required;
- Training in Canadian law and law librarianship is strongly preferred;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills and strong service orientation;
- Flexible attitude and ability to adapt to a changing environment;
- Ability to balance multiple responsibilities and to work collaboratively with others;
- 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.
The deadline for applications is August 15, 2024.
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 Peoples of Turtle Island (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. In accordance with our Employment Equity Policy, preference will be given in hiring processes to candidates who self-identify as members of one or more of the equity-deserving groups listed above. For more information, including details related to our Employment Equity Policy and Plan and definitions of equity-deserving groups please visit our website.
If you require any support for the purpose of accommodation, such as technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and how we can be of assistance. Dalhousie University is committed to ensuring all candidates have full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed on our website.