Seeking 2008-2009 Graduate Assistant, Law Library

University at Buffalo Law Library
JD/MLS Program in Law Librarianship
2008-2009 Graduate Assistant, Law Library

The University at Buffalo Law Library seeks exceptional candidates for a graduate assistant position in Reference and Faculty Services.

Responsibilities:

A twelve-month, renewable appointment, requiring 20 hours per week of service, distributed as follows:

Reference (13 hours):

Provide reference service as needed by library patrons, including five hours on Sundays (noon-5:00pm) and eight hours Mondays through Fridays, possibly including one evening (5:00-9:00pm) per week.

Update legal bibliographies, assist in identifying and updating links for the Law Library’s homepage, preparing new web-based research materials, and preparing teaching materials for first year research and writing classes and other Law School classes.

The graduate assistant will complete a research project, such as an annotated bibliography, in-depth webpage, or article, which could be submitted for publication or included on the Law Library’s webpage. The topic will be determined in consultation with the Head of Information Services and the Director of the Law Library. Research for the project may be performed either when the Library has an abbreviated reference schedule or during quiet times at the Reference Desk.

Mercury Faculty Document Delivery Service (7 hours):

Assist with monitoring and filling faculty requests for library materials. Maintain statistics on the use of the service.

These are the hours expected while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters. Adjustments will be made during intersession and summer.

Qualifications:

Applicants must be enrolled in the joint JD/MLS program, or hold either the JD or MLS degree while completing the complementary program. Applicants should have completed the first year Research and Writing course or one or more Legal Bibliography courses in the MLS program. Also required: knowledge of legal research and the Internet; demonstrated ability to interact well with individuals. Applicants must be available the week prior to the beginning of the fall semester for training.

Educational Benefits:

Graduate assistants will gain a full range of professional experience in law library reference services, including in-depth knowledge of the legal research process and both print and electronic research sources, experience in serving multiple and diverse patron populations, and expertise in using bibliographic databases and the Internet to respond to reference questions and to fill Mercury requests. Graduate assistants will observe varying styles in responding to reference queries, and will have the opportunity to prepare their own research for publication.

Salary: $10.00/hour, plus 9 hours graduate student tuition per semester. Graduate assistants in the JD program may also qualify for scholarship awards.

Applications, including a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three references, must be submitted by April 4, 2008, to:

James Milles
Vice Dean for Legal Information Services
Director of the Law Library
Professor of Law
University at Buffalo Law School
208 O’Brian Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260

Email: jgmilles@buffalo.edu