Pierce County Law Librarian bei Pierce County, WA

About the Department

Position Duties

Why It's a Great Opportunity:

As a strategic and visionary library professional with experience in administration and operations, you will play a critical role in expanding the visibility of the Pierce County Law Library in the public and increasing access to the community. You will be responsible for all acquisition decisions, financial management, staff management, and outreach. You will partner and collaborate with other agencies, such as the Pierce County Public Library System and businesses, to identify new ideas for providing legal services.  As the Law Library Director, you will have the rewarding opportunity to help non-attorneys find their way in the legal system and build out our program in the community.
  
 Some of the work you may influence includes improving technology in the library with tools and our website as it applies to library collections, marketing, and outreach.  Additionally, you will supervise professional librarians and other staff and report directly to the Law Library Board of Trustees.

Why It's a Great Department: 

The Pierce County Law Library has been recognized for its innovation in creating branch law libraries inside public libraries throughout Pierce County. As the only public law library in Pierce County, the mission of the Pierce County Law Library is to provide county-wide convenient access to current legal information, including explanatory materials. The library provides information in print and electronic formats that are suitable for the diverse Pierce County community to use in criminal and civil litigation and for the resolution of personal and business legal matters. Our mission is also to provide trained and knowledgeable Library staff to assist patrons in meeting their legal information needs.
  
Learn about the Pierce County Law Library here.
 

How to be Successful in the Role: 

We are looking for an enthusiastic tech-savvy law librarian, with knowledge and enthusiasm for the work of county law libraries, who can speak in a public forum as needed – a strategic leader with passion, independent decision making, and discretion.  Effective leadership skills, the ability to establish strong working relationships with regional and local partners, and great communication skills will be key as you extend our reach into the community.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• The Law Librarian performs the following essential functions with collaboration and/or approval of the Board of Law Library Trustees.
• Develops, presents, and defends the library’s budget before the County Finance Department.
• Supervises all accounting activities, develops financial and statistical reports, and tracks the library budget and trends.  Provides performance measures and budget analytics as requested by County Finance.  
• Serves as secretary to the Law Library Board of Trustees.  Prepares and presents the Annual Report, Board of Trustee Meeting minutes, and other reports and library documentation.
• Develops and implements new library programs and activities.  

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Minimum Qualifications

• A master’s in library science or other relevant degree and three (3) years of increasing responsibility in a law library. 
• Additional education or experience that clearly indicates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position may substitute on a year-for-year basis.
• A resume and cover letter are required for this position.

• Experience working within a government organization, preferably in a county government environment highly desirable.
• A Juris Doctor is preferred.
• Experience with integrated library systems and experience with legal research databases (WESTLAW / LexisNexis) is preferred.
• Experience leveraging technology to drive marketing and public awareness efforts is preferred.

Other Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity, please:

• Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to:   www.piercecountywa.org/jobs. 
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at [email protected] and specify the Job Number and Title. 
• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process, or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480 at least two days prior to the need.  

This is a competitive selection process. Your application will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed. Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date. Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes, which may include assessments, phone screens, and interviews.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion mean commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision. Employees of the County have a local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a place people are proud to call home?