I’ll come back and address the job hunting in another post, because that sort of thing requires it’s own stress-busting rant. This here is about a side-along issue that I am interested in: school librarians collaborating with higher education.

Visiting a University Library

by The Librain  (my favorite UK  school librarian blogger!)

The included list of student library fail is no surprise to anyone, I would imagine, but I love the idea of going around speaking to University Librarians  and saying “tell me what you wish students were exposed to in high school”. In fact, if I am not burnt out by my new part-time job this term, I would love to talk to our Library Science specialist librarian about doing a survey (or asking if there already is one). I would love to take that with me to whatever job I land in next year.

I think my job may have hit a new all-time low.

An evolving unit

“This is where the magic happens.”

• Creates bibliographic records/atttaches item records for public viewing
• Carefully comb OCLC copy and add law library specific headings to records
• Deals with reclassification issues like old mis-labeled or “bib”-less books
• Processes U.S. Depos, EU Depos and gift items
• Revises new cataloger’s and students work for a time
• Reconciles headings w/ “new” ACCR2 rules
• Record reconciliation
• Knowing hot topics to process first!
• Knowing world events are important for cataloging topics

A formal inventory has not been completed since the 1970′s, but once the reclassification project is over the library will have a clear picture of their collection.

They now recycle most of their books, but many still go to the trash due to binding issues.

Backstage (a vendor) offers a comprehensive cataloging service for non-Roman languages.

Matt the magic circulation guy: person to know.

Philosophy:

“Excellent but pragmatic cataloging”. Cataloging’s main purpose is a gathering function.

Cataloging, ESS, Reference, Faculty Services, and Acquisitions, and Faculty Bibliography

“[I'm] constantly looking at infrastructure [and] trying to streamline.“

• Answers questions from Board of Directory, Reference Librarians, others
• Spends most of the day in meetings
• Collection development takes up a sizable chunk of time
• Heads management teams and unit leaders
• Deals with personnel and fiscal issues
• Sits in on new faculty orientation
• Handles Special Faculty Purchases
• Stand-in foreign law approval and selector
• Approves selections from Acquisitions
• Does evaluations and performance reviews

I supervise  research service and document delivery to faculty.

Faculty Research Service:

• Hires new students to do research
• Generally deals with ‘one-off’ research projects
• Does not just do “legal research”, the law faculty is very inter-disciplinary
• Projects range from 5 seconds to 150 hours
• Source gathering
• Students write detailed memos detailing: search strategy, bibliography, summary of results, etc

Document Delivery:

E-resources have increased by 20%  (from 30 to 50%) in the last 3 years.

• They get any document faculty want
• Use mostly electronic resources
• Faculty can call, send a list of requests– primarily email communication
• Uses Illiad (an Innovative product)
• If available, staff get items in 1-3 days
• New system eases report creation. Will be able to show staff how much faculty services has helped them each term/year.

Philosophy:

We never say no, ever.

Oversees everything the library selects

• Admins websites (law library and history of the law school)
• Mentors DFE students who work on websites
• Troubleshoots library management systems
• Load new releases an services
• Oversees library catalog servers
• Official liaison with Lexis Nexis, WestLaw, Bloomsberg.
• Deals with printers
• Electronic Resource Management
• Manages our proxy server
• Helps with general IT questions, orientations to new technologies
• Works with other staff to create tutorials for website

My parochial school training came in handy for this job…the repetition, detail, and langauages (French and Latin).

• Mail (in/out)
• Continuations in serials (record and call number them)
• Collecting and binding serials
• Must use judgment about whether serials are ready to be bound, etc
• Oversees 5 people
• Sets up records for new items before they go to cataloging
• Notes title changes or issuing body changes.
• Involved in reclassification project : new records
• Creates and maintains language cheat sheets for recording purposes

Philosophy

Our job is very based on being able to “feel” for trends, so I try to train everyone as “hands-on” as possible. Experience and good eye are tools of the trade.

Another satisfied employee who has been here for 2o+ years

• Shelving
• De-acidification
• Loose-leaf filing
• Transfers/Withdrawals (from collection)
• Copiers
• Rebinding
• Labeling sub-unit
• Encourages cross-training among workers/units
• Reclassification project takes up main part of her day

We do everything that needs doing to keep library going that doesn’t have to do with the collections

“People I work with are the reason I’m still here.”

• Human resources
• In charge of facilities  (maintenance/renovation)
• Deals with inquiries and complaints from everyone
• Organizes new staff orientation
• Inter-departmental contact (w/ Law School)
• Coordinate student training
• Oversee budgets
• Find solutions
• Handle contracts and orders
• Spearheads space-reorganization
• Subsidize printing

Philosophy

Communication is very important. Email is vital.

How would I describe the role of director? It’s the best place to be.

“This is a prescident-based job…[the library] is essential to a law school like a lab in a physical science department.”

• Overseas library services (all 7 units) and collection development
• Acts as ‘mouthpiece’ for the library, as P.R.
• Conduit between the rest of the law school and the library
• Sets and guides internal policies and practice
• Facilitates library-wide planning
• Spearheads donor relations (courting donations)
• Gives talks to law alums
• Teaches a course on Advanced Legal Research
• Works with the Development Office at the Law School

Philosophy

Sometimes it’s not worth it to chase a [job] title.