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Posted: 17-Mar-23
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Type: Full-time
Salary: 70,000.00 - 85,000.00
Internal Number: 23002061_1678903555
The University of Iowa Law Library is pleased to announce a newly created position: Community Engagement Specialist & People's Law Library Coordinator. This role will focus on creating, growing, and enhancing access to information initiatives through easy-to-understand legal information, primarily focusing on the recently launched People's Law Library of Iowa, which is a project of the State Library of Iowa, created and maintained in collaboration with the University of Iowa Law Library. Visit About the People's Law Library of Iowa for more information on the project. An effective communicator and relationship builder, the ideal candidate will have passion for broadening access to legal information and increasing the overall public understanding of the law and access to justice.
The Community Engagement Specialist & People's Law Library Coordinator will join a law library that aspires to guide present and future legal information seekers in the pursuit of answers, new questions, and untold stories. The Community Engagement Specialist & People's Law Library Coordinator will be collaborative, forward-thinking, and passionate about the role of legal information in fostering access to justice. Organized and reflective, the successful candidate will have a commitment to excellent service, superior writing skills, proactive communication, experience with or ability to learn website administration, and building relationships with colleagues in Iowa and beyond. The Community Engagement Specialist & People's Law Library Coordinator's responsibilities will include championing access to legal information through the People's Law Library of Iowa website, administration & leadership, education & outreach, and service to the legal profession.
The University of Iowa Law Library is deeply committed to a community of excellence, equity, and diversity and welcomes applications from women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQI+ individuals, and other candidates who will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives. Candidates who can contribute to these goals are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.
Work Modality Options: Hybrid within Iowa, remote within Iowa.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND SPECIFIC JOB TASKS
Championing Access to Legal Information
- In cooperation with the Director of the Law Library, provides vision and spearheads the evolution of the People's Law Library of Iowa, including:
- Meeting regularly with the State Library of Iowa and other stakeholders.
- Developing strategies for identifying future content areas.
- Recruiting internal and external partners.
- Assessing the functionality of the website and proposing modifications.
- Overseeing the execution of the digital services strategy and user experience design of the website.
- Working with the technology team at the State Library on usability testing and on optimizing site performance and discoverability using metadata.
- Works with stakeholders to develop a mission, vision, and strategic plan.
- Creates and lead an Advisory Committee on the continued growth and development of the website and associated projects.
- Identifies additional grant funding to create impactful visual aids, instructional videos, or other technology to aid in universal accessibility.
- Creates easy to access, original legal content, including descriptive pages, videos, social media posts, visual aids, and other materials for the People's Law Library of Iowa.
- Continually assesses and devises ways to respond to internal and external stakeholder needs.
- Coordinates with internal and external partners on the creation and updating of content for the People's Law Library of Iowa. Writes and edits legal information for a public audience.
- Administers the People's Law Library MOU with the State Library and ensures deliverables are met.
- Serves on the Law Library's bi-annual report team, producing content for the report relating to the People's Law Library of Iowa.
- Creates an annual report on the People's Law Library of Iowa for the State Library.
- Participates in the Law Library's marketing and communications efforts relating to the People's Law Library of Iowa.
Administration & Leadership
- Mentors and supervises law student research assistants and other volunteers or staff hired to assist with the People's Law Library of Iowa.
- Develops and maintains strong, collaborative relationships with key partners, colleagues, and stakeholders.
- Communicates with and manages complex short- and long-term projects with the State Library, Bar Association, committees, and volunteers.
- Proactively reports programmatic developments, partnerships challenges, and broader concerns to supervisor and Director of the Law Library.
- Administers the People's Law Library MOU with the State Library of Iowa and ensures deliverable dates are met.
Education and Outreach
- Suggests, designs, facilitates, and leads instruction and training activities related to the People's Law Library of Iowa.
- Participates in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of user education programs and outreach activities supporting access to information.
Professional Development and Service to the Legal Profession
- Actively engages in committees, presentations, and/or writing relating to legal information provision and access to justice.
- Serves on committees within the Law Library, College of Law, and University, as needed. Serves on committees appropriate to the position outside of the University of Iowa.
Salary: The position could be an 80% time or full-time position based on the applicant. Both options include benefits. The minimum salary for this position is $68,000. The salary range is $68,000 - $85,000, which will depend on the percentage time of the position (whether it is full-time or not) as well as the qualifications of the applicant.
To obtain the full job description including key areas of responsibility, technical competencies, and desirable qualifications, please contact [email protected]
Education Requirement
- Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school.
Required Qualifications
- 3 years of professional experience.
- Demonstrated understanding of DEI issues and the ability to effectively interact with diverse populations.
- Ability to manage projects and balance competing priorities.
- Superior oral and written communication skills, including extensive legal writing experience.
- Sophisticated understanding of the U.S. Legal system and interest in improving access to legal information.
- A valid driver's license is required, as is continued compliance with the University of Iowa Fleet Safety Program driving standards (University of Iowa Operations Manual Part V, Chapter 19).
Desired Qualifications
- Instruction experience.
- Experience with web content creation and management.
- Library experience that included working with members of the public on legal information issues.
- Law practice experience.
- Master's Degree in Library and/or Information Science from an ALA-accredited program.
Application Details:
In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a "Relevant File" to the submission:
Resume
Cover Letter
A list of three professional references.
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended. Successful candidates will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. For questions, contact Josh Gulick at [email protected]
Benefits Highlights
- Regular salaried position. Located in Iowa City, Iowa.
- Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans.
- For more information about Why Iowa? Click here.
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences.
