Description

The Associate Director for Public Services is responsible for overseeing all public services activities and serving as a member of the law library administrative team. This includes managing and coordinating circulation and reference/research services within the Law Library; establishing, executing, and regularly assessing library policies, procedures, and workflows; providing exceptional reference services to students, faculty, staff, attorneys, and the public; hiring, training, and supervising staff and student workers; teaching or co-teaching legal research sessions and/or guest lectures within the law school; assisting with strategic planning and budgeting related to law library programs, initiatives, and services; and engaging in professional activities based on interest, skill, and library needs.

The Associate Director for Public Services is responsible for the direct supervision of full- and part-time staff members and indirect supervision for multiple student workers, providing leadership, guidance, and support. In addition, they participate in collection development activities; coordinate outreach initiatives related to library services and collections; and collaborate to ensure library spaces and collections meet user needs.

Requirements

Reference & Public Services

• Oversee, supervise, and coordinate all public services activities. Developing, implementing, and assessing service standards, expectations, policies, procedures, and guides/manuals for patron interactions.
• Ensure that the library is opened and closed on the correct schedule each day, making recommendations for closures and hour changes. 
• Create and maintain the reference desk schedule. Approve the circulation desk schedule, making recommendations and changes when needed.
• Ensure that all reference, research, and circulation services are provided on a uniform, consistent, and fair basis to all patrons in accordance with library policy and under the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct regarding unauthorized practice of law. 
• Coordinate and manage faculty services and support initiatives. Training faculty research assistants and conducting regular assessments of faculty services, recommending and implementing changes and improvements.
• Provide high quality research/reference services to students, faculty, staff, attorneys, and the public. 
• Monitor monthly reference and circulation statistics and transactions for concerns and opportunities. Troubleshooting and training staff accordingly. 
• Provide backup and support for reference and circulation desk coverage.

Leadership & Administration

• As part of the library’s administrative team, participate in strategic and budget planning; monitor new developments in law librarianship, proposing and integrating best practices within the library; assist with the creation and implementation of policies and procedures related to the security and access of library collections and spaces; and regularly assess and evaluate effectiveness of services, policies, and procedures within the law library. 
• Record circulation, reference/research, and instructional activities and statistics in appropriate systems. Analyzing data and assisting with law library decision-making, reporting, and programmatic assessment.
• Administratively and/or functionally supervise, train, evaluate, and mentor staff and student workers within public services. 
• Participate and/or lead in the hiring and training of library staff, student workers, and/or temporary staff. 
• Draft and implement a budget for student worker staffing within assigned area(s) each fiscal year. 
• Develop, monitor, and revise library policy, procedures, and workplace documentation to support library workflows and goals.
• Lead and participate in regular meetings and special projects, as assigned or personally initiated. 
• Provide backup and support for other librarians and library staff, as needed.

Instruction & Outreach

• Lead patron-focused outreach initiatives for the Law Library. This includes planning patron-oriented events; assisting with the creation and management of the library’s social media accounts and digital/physical signage; and leading/participating in library-hosted events and activities, library tours, and other related activities. 
• Coordinate effective and strategic marketing efforts for library services, resources, and spaces through social media, online content, displays, exhibits, brochures, and other marketing materials. Working alongside library administration, law school communications, law library special collections, and others. 
• Assist with the design and deployment of student, faculty, and staff surveys. Providing a summary and recommendations to the administrative team. 
• Propose, design, and teach sessions and/or courses on legal research. Integrating both formal and informal assessments within all instruction-based activities.
• Develop, update, and maintain instructional materials, research guides, and other online research support materials. 
• Coordinate and teach sessions on legal research within law school courses, as requested by faculty. 
• Serve as a liaison for the law school’s student-run law journals, moot court programs, and legal clinics, providing support and training when needed or appropriate.

Collection Development & Maintenance

• Participate in collection development activities. This includes selecting new resources and assessing and evaluating existing resources to ensure support of the law school’s program of legal education and law faculty’s scholarly interests. 
• Assist with the regular revision of the library’s collection development policy.

Professional Development & Growth

• Identify opportunities and encourage staff to engage with professional development opportunities both internally and externally. 
• Provide guidance and professional development regarding evidence-based pedagogy and best practices to other teaching librarians through training, feedback, and review of materials/sessions. 
• Represent the law library and actively engage in professional organizations, committees, and working groups. This includes presentations, scholarship, and leadership or participation within areas of responsibility or interest. 
• Participate in classes, training, conferences, and/or programs to develop and enhance job-related skills.
• Identify, evaluate, and stay current with emerging trends, resources, practices, and standards in assigned areas and areas of interest.