Student Services and Instruction Librarian

Summary

St. Thomas University Law Library seeks a creative and energetic individual dedicated to innovation in teaching and learning to fill the Student Services and Instruction Librarian role. This position is the primary instructional and outreach lead for the Law Library, serving as the face of library services for the student body. The role is built on the philosophy of proactive engagement, moving beyond traditional desk-side assistance to a more integrated "embedded librarian" model. The core mission is to empower students with high-level legal research proficiency through formal curriculum development, innovative digital instruction, and direct mentorship of competitive teams and law journals.

A successful candidate in this role acts as both an educator and a liaison, translating the library's vast resources into practical, accessible tools for law school success. By maintaining strong partnerships with Student Affairs, the student government, and the College of Law's marketing team, this position ensures that the library's offerings are not only relevant but actively utilized by the student community.

Essential Functions

STU Libraries uses an all-around service model in which all librarians are expected to serve all students. Therefore, in addition to the specific duties listed below, this librarian will respond to all research and reference requests regardless of position.

Student Services Duties

• Develop and implement training programs for research assistants in the effective use of library databases and other resources.
• Prepare instructional material and training sessions and participate in legal research instructional programs as requested or needed by law school faculty or student organizations.
• Design and deliver legal research tutorial face-to-face and online, including conducting in-class presentations and special workshops for students on practical legal research skills.
• Develop instructional modules in varied formats, including online tutorials and online guides.
• Create, evaluate, and promote innovative new library services and resources for students, such as organizing instructional programs of interest to students.
• Participate in our new virtual research appointments service for students.
• Coordinate with supervisor to create, evaluate, and promote innovative new library services and resources for students.
• Organize and administer new and existing library instructional programs for students.
• Market library services and resources to the student population. Coordinate with the Director of Marketing for the College of Law.
• Work with the student-run law journals to provide library services and instruction.
• Act as a liaison between the Law Library and the STU Moot Court Board, STU Trial Team, STU Transactional Litigation Team, and other student organizations.
• In coordination with the Law Library Director and the College of Law Curriculum Committee, develop, propose, and teach legal research instructional courses.
• In coordination with other professional staff, exercise professional judgment based on education, training, and expertise to improve the law library, research and technology services, research instructional programs, and library collections.
• Act as a liaison between the Law Library, College of Law Student Affairs, student government, and student organizations to ensure stakeholder expectations are met.
• Participate in general Reference & Research services as part of regular workflow, including regular shifts at the reference desk.

Other duties

• Represent the Law Library in local, regional, and national meetings as requested.
• Serve on University and/or Law School Committees and participate in University and Law School events as requested.
• Keep informed of new trends in the law librarian and legal professions.
• Recommend materials and services to Library Administration based upon current trends in use amongst faculty and students.
• Assist with collection development with emphasis on non-print material.

Competencies

• Desire to engage with law students directly on a daily basis.
• Strong and effective communication skills, both oral and written.
• Strong supervisory skills with the ability to manage and develop staff.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with students and faculty from a wide diversity of backgrounds and educational experiences.
• Organizational, planning, and administrative skills, including the ability to work effectively on broad as well as detailed projects.
• Ability to work in a network environment, including working with an integrated library system.
• Knowledge and ability to work with legal databases and common law school and educational technologies, and the ability to design library instructional tools.
• Strong technical skills, interest in technology, and the ability to troubleshoot simple technology problems, failures, or deficiencies- expertise with law school technologies such as TWEN, Lexis Classroom, Canvas, is essential.
• Ability to understand library system technology that can be used to improve services, instruction efforts, and workflows.
• Strong service orientation and effective problem-solving skills.
• Be flexible with work assignments and work hours.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position does not have direct supervisory responsibility for any other position. This position may occasionally supervise non-professional staff, including work-study students, engaged by the Law Library public services department.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, push library carts full of books, and climb on stands to shelf books. The employee must occasionally lift or move library materials and supplies, up to 30 pounds.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This position occasionally requires schedule changes with weekend/evening hours.

Travel

Travel is primarily for Professional Development. The employee will be asked to represent the Law Library in local, regional, and national meetings as requested by the Library Director.

Education and Experience

M.L.S. from an A.L.A. accredited library school program is required.

J.D. from an accredited ABA institution is required.

Previous academic law library experience is strongly preferred.

Additional Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.