Law Librarian Library City Attorneys Office 8151
City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
About the Law Librarian and Library
The Law Librarian serves as a trusted advisor to attorneys and professional staff across all practice areas, ensuring seamless access to legal resources while driving the Office’s transition toward a modern, primarily digital research environment. With responsibility for shaping collections, negotiating high-value vendor contracts, and guiding research strategy, the Librarian plays a critical role in enabling high-quality legal work on behalf of the City.
The library maintains a presence in both San Francisco City Hall and Fox Plaza, with a clear mandate to thoughtfully streamline physical collections and expand digital access. This is an opportunity for a librarian who is energized by change, technology, and the chance to build a best-in-class legal information program.
Law Librarian Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Collection Development
Lead the strategic direction of the Office’s legal information resources, aligning collections with evolving practice needs.
Develop and manage the annual library budget, balancing cost control with high-quality resource access.
Evaluate resource usage and emerging tools to optimize subscriptions, with a strong emphasis on digital transformation.
Make data-informed recommendations regarding renewals, cancellations, and new acquisitions.
Operations & Resource Management
Oversee both digital and physical library collections, including ongoing efforts to reduce print and streamline access.
Manage distribution of materials such as desk copies, newsletters, and other resources.
Ensure efficient processing of acquisitions, renewals, and invoices.
Vendor Relations & Contract Management
Lead negotiations with legal information vendors, securing favorable terms and maximizing value.
Manage contracts, subscriptions, renewals, and invoicing in coordination with internal stakeholders.
Innovation & Knowledge Management
Contribute to Office-wide knowledge management initiatives, including the evaluation and implementation of emerging technologies such as generative AI tools.
Identify opportunities to improve access to institutional knowledge and research efficiency.
Training, Outreach & Knowledge Sharing
Design and deliver engaging training programs on legal research tools and best practices (in-person, virtual, and asynchronous).
Develop user-friendly guides, newsletters, and intranet content to promote awareness and effective use of resources.
Provide onboarding support to new employees, ensuring immediate and effective access to research tools.
Legal Research & Advisory Services
Conduct sophisticated legal and non-legal research in support of attorneys and professional staff.
Partner with legal teams to develop efficient, cost-effective research strategies.
Serve as a subject matter expert on legal research platforms, tools, and methodologies.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
Education
M.L.S., M.L.I.S. or equivalent degree from an ALA-accredited school.
Experience
One year of experience as a librarian or conducting legal research.
Legal research experience must include case law, statutes, regulations with use of major legal databases (e.g., Westlaw, Lexis).
Desired Qualifications
Significant professional experience as a law librarian, preferably in a law firm, government, or similarly fast-paced legal environment.
Demonstrated expertise in managing legal information resources, including vendor relations, acquisitions, and collection development, with a strong understanding of cost control and value optimization.
Deep familiarity with major legal research platforms (e.g., Westlaw, Lexis, Bloomberg Law) and a broad range of digital legal and business information resources.
Proven ability to evaluate and implement emerging technologies that enhance legal research and knowledge management, including an interest in and aptitude for tools such as generative AI.
Experience developing and delivering effective training programs and user education initiatives across a range of formats (in-person, virtual, and asynchronous).
Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to assess organizational needs, analyze resource usage, and make data-informed recommendations.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to advise attorneys and professional staff clearly, confidently, and persuasively.
Demonstrated commitment to collaboration and to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and service-oriented workplace.
Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with a track record of managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and projects with accuracy and efficiency.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, exercising sound judgment and initiative in a dynamic environment.
Proficiency with library systems and tools (e.g., ILS platforms such as Koha, LibGuides) and standard business applications, including Microsoft Office and web-based information services.
A proactive, curious approach to professional development, including staying current on trends, products, and best practices in legal research, librarianship, and knowledge management.
Physical Requirements
Able to lift boxes up to 25 pounds, crouch and reach to reshelve items, and push/pull a wheeled cart loaded with books.
Verification
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process.
Note:
Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
Salary and Benefits
5-step salary scale ranging from $127,400 to $154,804.
Robust health, retirement and other benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
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The Law Librarian serves as a trusted advisor to attorneys and professional staff across all practice areas, ensuring seamless access to legal resources while driving the Office’s transition toward a modern, primarily digital research environment. With responsibility for shaping collections, negotiating high-value vendor contracts, and guiding research strategy, the Librarian plays a critical role in enabling high-quality legal work on behalf of the City.
The library maintains a presence in both San Francisco City Hall and Fox Plaza, with a clear mandate to thoughtfully streamline physical collections and expand digital access. This is an opportunity for a librarian who is energized by change, technology, and the chance to build a best-in-class legal information program.
Law Librarian Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Collection Development
Lead the strategic direction of the Office’s legal information resources, aligning collections with evolving practice needs.
Develop and manage the annual library budget, balancing cost control with high-quality resource access.
Evaluate resource usage and emerging tools to optimize subscriptions, with a strong emphasis on digital transformation.
Make data-informed recommendations regarding renewals, cancellations, and new acquisitions.
Operations & Resource Management
Oversee both digital and physical library collections, including ongoing efforts to reduce print and streamline access.
Manage distribution of materials such as desk copies, newsletters, and other resources.
Ensure efficient processing of acquisitions, renewals, and invoices.
Vendor Relations & Contract Management
Lead negotiations with legal information vendors, securing favorable terms and maximizing value.
Manage contracts, subscriptions, renewals, and invoicing in coordination with internal stakeholders.
Innovation & Knowledge Management
Contribute to Office-wide knowledge management initiatives, including the evaluation and implementation of emerging technologies such as generative AI tools.
Identify opportunities to improve access to institutional knowledge and research efficiency.
Training, Outreach & Knowledge Sharing
Design and deliver engaging training programs on legal research tools and best practices (in-person, virtual, and asynchronous).
Develop user-friendly guides, newsletters, and intranet content to promote awareness and effective use of resources.
Provide onboarding support to new employees, ensuring immediate and effective access to research tools.
Legal Research & Advisory Services
Conduct sophisticated legal and non-legal research in support of attorneys and professional staff.
Partner with legal teams to develop efficient, cost-effective research strategies.
Serve as a subject matter expert on legal research platforms, tools, and methodologies.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
Education
M.L.S., M.L.I.S. or equivalent degree from an ALA-accredited school.
Experience
One year of experience as a librarian or conducting legal research.
Legal research experience must include case law, statutes, regulations with use of major legal databases (e.g., Westlaw, Lexis).
Desired Qualifications
Significant professional experience as a law librarian, preferably in a law firm, government, or similarly fast-paced legal environment.
Demonstrated expertise in managing legal information resources, including vendor relations, acquisitions, and collection development, with a strong understanding of cost control and value optimization.
Deep familiarity with major legal research platforms (e.g., Westlaw, Lexis, Bloomberg Law) and a broad range of digital legal and business information resources.
Proven ability to evaluate and implement emerging technologies that enhance legal research and knowledge management, including an interest in and aptitude for tools such as generative AI.
Experience developing and delivering effective training programs and user education initiatives across a range of formats (in-person, virtual, and asynchronous).
Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to assess organizational needs, analyze resource usage, and make data-informed recommendations.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to advise attorneys and professional staff clearly, confidently, and persuasively.
Demonstrated commitment to collaboration and to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and service-oriented workplace.
Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with a track record of managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and projects with accuracy and efficiency.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, exercising sound judgment and initiative in a dynamic environment.
Proficiency with library systems and tools (e.g., ILS platforms such as Koha, LibGuides) and standard business applications, including Microsoft Office and web-based information services.
A proactive, curious approach to professional development, including staying current on trends, products, and best practices in legal research, librarianship, and knowledge management.
Physical Requirements
Able to lift boxes up to 25 pounds, crouch and reach to reshelve items, and push/pull a wheeled cart loaded with books.
Verification
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process.
Note:
Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
Salary and Benefits
5-step salary scale ranging from $127,400 to $154,804.
Robust health, retirement and other benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
#J-18808-Ljbffr