The Cornell University Library invites professional librarians with an acumen for administrative planning, people management, and data-informed strategy to submit applications for the newly defined position of Deputy Director of the Law Library, a visionary and collaborative member of the Cornell Law Library, Cornell Law School, and Cornell University Library communities. This is an excellent opportunity for a law librarian interested in a library administration role or looking to transition to administration in a larger law school library

Key Responsibilities

The Deputy Director of the Law Library plays a high-level role in administration of the Law Library, reporting to and working in close consultation and collaboration with the Edward Cornell Law Librarian, Associate Dean for Library Services, and Professor of the Practice (“Edward Cornell Law Librarian”). The Deputy Director contributes to the development and execution of strategic initiatives and operational plans to advance the priorities of all functional areas of the Law Library and may serve as the acting director during periods of the Edward Cornell Law Librarian’s absence.

The Deputy Director will oversee or initiate projects and plans to advance Law Library priorities, further to the direction of and in regular consultation with the Edward Cornell Law Librarian. The Deputy Director serves as a primary delegate of the Edward Cornell Librarian for operations and administration of the Law Library and, in this capacity, will serve as a key point of contact for specific projects and responsibilities. The Deputy Director will exercise well-developed project planning skills, collaborative work, and regular communication and documentation skills in fulfilling position functions.

The Deputy Director supervises other professionals, including other law librarians, and exercises advanced personnel management, career development, and coaching skills. Specific and continuing professional growth in skills related to professional personnel management and development is expected from the successful candidate and will be supported.

Librarians at Cornell University are academic positions in the Research, Teaching, and Extension faculty. The Deputy Director will receive a courtesy appointment with the Cornell Law School and may develop and teach credit-bearing courses, in alignment with curriculum priorities.

Law Library Administration and Project Oversight:

Working collaboratively with partners in the Law School and Cornell University Library, the Deputy Director will oversee or initiate projects and plans to advance Law Library priorities, further to the direction of and in regular consultation with the Edward Cornell Law Librarian. The Deputy Director serves as a primary delegate of the Edward Cornell Librarian for operations and administration of the Law Library and, in this capacity, will serve as a key point of contact for specific projects and responsibilities.

Institutional and Professional Service:

The Deputy Director serves on Cornell University Library committees, project teams, and task forces. and may represent the perspectives of the Law Library in Cornell Law School initiatives The Deputy Director may also represent Cornell Law Library in regional or national associations and initiatives, or consortia projects and task forces. As required, the Deputy Director assists with tasks related to alumni relations.

Research and Instructional Responsibilities:

Research, reference, and instruction are not primary responsibilities of this position. However, consistent with the courtesy appointment with Cornell Law School, the Deputy Director may be called upon to contribute to Law School faculty and research service programs from time to time to meet Law Library priorities, and may teach credit courses as instructor of record, in alignment with Law School need and Law Library priorities.

Required Qualifications and Competencies:

The position requires a broad set of competencies. We know that no single law librarian can have expertise in everything. At Cornell University Library and in the Law Library we work together across teams, and across campus, to solve problems, learn new skills, and support each other’s work.

• MLIS or equivalent or comparable graduate degree; and JD from an ABA-accredited school, or foreign equivalent
• Demonstrated academic law librarianship competencies equivalent to those expected to be acquired from five or more years of professional experience in an academic, law school, or law firm library with increasing responsibility
• Demonstrated evidence of leadership promise, including ability to successfully lead teams, manage and effect change, and support development of professional staff
• Project initiation, planning, and management experience in legal information, library, or higher education environments
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to effectively present information and ideas to a group orally and in writing
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate and model an environment of inclusion, creativity, and innovation
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, organizational knowledge-sharing, and team-building

Additionally, we would prefer

• Experience managing budgets
• Experience in law school or legal information curriculum design
• Experience with academic law library public services, facilities, and space use issues.
• Experience working with students from diverse international, cultural, and religious backgrounds

We value and invite qualified candidates who can further advance our community’s diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences, and who will share a willingness to join our efforts to cultivate an environment of diversity, inclusion and belonging. Cornell Law Library is committed to stretching ourselves and one another to build inclusion into the way we do our work, and in our services and resources.

This position is located in Ithaca, New York. The selected candidate will be expected to work on the Ithaca campus.

Background: The Cornell Law Library works as one cohesive unit within the Cornell University Library system and with deep integrations in Cornell Law School. We are an innovative law library focused on using our expertise to advance legal education, research, and scholarship in alignment with the mission of Cornell Law School, to advance the academic mission and values of Cornell University Library, and to expand the perspectives that inform academic law librarianship and legal education. The Law Library emphasizes data, assessment, planning, and collaboration. We inform and further our priorities with reference to qualitative and quantitative data, consultation, planning, and teamwork. The Cornell Law Library embraces diversity and inclusion and welcomes candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports and reflects our communities of law students, faculty and staff of all identities, backgrounds, and perspectives. We believe in the power of representation and encourage individuals from underrepresented and historically excluded identities to apply.

Cornell Law School is among the nation's most inclusive top law schools and has been since its founding. Diversity at Cornell Law School is not a new concept, nor did it happen by chance. It’s part of what makes us who we are. Cornell Law’s diversity story is still being written. We believe the richest learning environment is one in which people from all backgrounds are encouraged to share their perspectives.

Environment: The Ithaca campus sits on 2,300 acres in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. Ithaca, located roughly halfway between Manhattan and Toronto, offers a wealth of cultural activities while maintaining an eclectic college-town feel. Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of rolling hills, breathtaking gorges, hiking trails, and lakes offering countless outdoor activities. The city has been named one of the top 100 places to live, a top 10 recreation city, a best green place to live, and one of the “foodiest” towns in America.

Diversity and Inclusion: As a university founded to be a place where “…any person can find instruction in any study,” diversity and inclusion are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all.  Cornell Core values

Our Vision: Empowering Cornell’s research and learning community with deep expertise, innovative services, and outstanding collections strengthened by strategic partnerships.

Our Mission: Cornell University Library promotes a culture of broad inquiry and supports the University’s mission to discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge and creative expression. It engages with the ongoing transformations of society to deliver world-class physical and digital content and services critical to research, education, and outreach, now and in the future. The Library acts globally, supporting Cornell’s land grant mission in New York State and beyond, and builds partnerships within and outside the university. It invests in its staff, collections, and physical and virtual libraries. And, it serves as a neutral and trusted party supporting information access and scholarly communication.

Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits package includes 22 vacation days, 13 paid holidays, health insurance, life insurance, university retirement contributions, childcare and adoption assistance, and child tuition reimbursement. Funding is available to support professional development and research. More information regarding Cornell’s generous endowed employee benefits can be found here. The anticipated academic rank for this position is Associate Librarian or Librarian, with an anticipated salary of $86,000 to $136,000 depending on qualifications and appointment rank.

Relocation assistance may be provided.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. 

How to Apply:  All candidates must apply online via the Cornell Careers site: See job requisition ID WDR-00044090. For full consideration, please include the following with your application:

1. A cover letter that addresses your interest and why you are a good candidate for this position.
2. A Curriculum Vitae.
3. A statement supporting diverse communities. To continue to meet our educational, research and service goals and to meet our commitment to our founding principle, we hire and invest in faculty members who share our historical commitment to pursing knowledge for …any person…in any study. We ask applicants for all faculty positions to share their experiences and/or approaches (past, current or future). Applicants can submit a stand-alone statement or embed the information in other parts of their application materials. Guidelines for candidates are here.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; early submission is strongly encouraged. Although we prefer to receive your application as one, multi-page pdf document, we will accept multiple documents in other formats.

Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' (the Cayuga Nation). The Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. We acknowledge the painful history of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ’ dispossession, and honor the ongoing connection of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ’ people, past and present, to these lands and waters. Learn more about its land acknowledgment.