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Position Open – Trial Court Law Libraries, Law Library Assistant I – Woburn, MA

TRIAL COURT MISSION 

The Trial Court is committed to: 

  • Fair and impartial administration of justice;
  • Protection of constitutional and statutory rights and liberties;
  • Equal access to justice for all in a safe and dignified environment with policies and practices that strengthen and support diversity, equity, and inclusion;
  • Efficient, effective, and accountable resolution of disputes;
  • Prompt and courteous service to the public by committed and dedicated professionals utilizing best practices in a manner that inspires public trust and confidence.

The Massachusetts Trial Court is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and provides equal opportunity in state employment to all persons. No person shall be denied equal access because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, military or veteran status, physical/mental disability; or genetic information. If you need a reasonable accommodation, or have any questions or concerns about being afforded fair and equal treatment, please contact the HR Benefits Team at reasonableaccommodation@jud.state.ma.us.

Law Library Assistant I(Gr 13-14)

  • 494439
  • Woburn, Massachusetts, United States
  • Law Libraries
  • Administrative
  • Full-time
  • Closing at: Jun 14 2022 at 23:55 EDT

Title: Law Library Assistant I (Gr 13-14)

Pay Grade: Grade 13

Starting Pay: $ 53,522.72

Departmental Mission Statement:   The Court Services and Law Libraries Department is responsible for providing key court services to support the administration of justice and advance access to justice in the Trial Court. These services include the Court Service Centers, the Trial Court Law Libraries, and the Judicial Response System.

 MISSION STATEMENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TRIAL COURT LAW LIBRARIES:

 The Trial Court Law Library System provides timely, efficient access to current and historical law-related information in an impartial and respectful manner to anyone in need of legal information.

 ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE:

Notes: This position is designated as a union position and is covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement with O.P.E.I.U., Local 6.

Position Summary: Major duties are performed under the direction of the Head Law Librarian and include processing incoming library materials, preparing fiscal documents, providing general and legal information, and implementing circulation and interlibrary loan policies.  The Law Library Assistant assists the Head Law Librarian in system-wide activities such as long range planning, electronic library services, and special projects, and may be assigned by the Law Library Department to perform Law Library Assistant duties in other libraries as needed.  In the absence of the Head Law Librarian and other law library staff, maintains the day-to- day operation of the law library.  

ORGANIZATIONAL LEVELS:   Employees are hired at the entry level position titles and are eligible for reclassification to the higher level position titles within this series consistent with the specifications for the higher level positions.  The position title reverts to the entry level when there is a vacancy.   

Law Library Assistant I  This is the entry level position title within the series.  Employees are expected to perform the full range of entry level duties and to train for the higher level (Law Library Assistant II)

Law Library Assistant II – This is the second level position title within this series.  Employees at this second level are expected to perform more advanced duties which require more knowledge of policies and procedures and the exercise of more independent judgment.

Major Duties: Law Library Assistant I Duties:  

  • Processes incoming library materials for supplementation, maintains circulation records including the database of borrowers, and processes overdue notices using an integrated library system;  
  • Files loose-leaf services, advance sheets, periodicals, and supplements; removes appropriate material and arranges disposition according to library policy; shelves materials;  
  • Processes invoices, communicates with vendors about account problems, and maintains accounting records including budgetary spreadsheet  
  • Provides reference and information services to those seeking legal information by responding to questions in person, by telephone or through e-reference; locating and retrieving materials;
  • performing simple bibliographic searches; and filling interlibrary loan requests;   
  • Participates in basic e-reference services;  
  • Maintains and operates library equipment including computer networks, microform machines, copiers, scanners and fax machines;  
  • Prepares current and historical material for binding;  
  • In the absence of the Head Law Librarian or a Law Librarian, maintains the day-to-day operation of the law library;  
  • Performs related duties as required.  

Law Library Assistant II Duties:  

  • Performs advanced legal reference duties including participating in document delivery and filling common e-reference requests;  
  • Trains staff in aspects of library operations;   Performs routine cataloging functions;  
  • Makes recommendations to the Head Law Librarian on the development of the library, collection, and operational procedures;   
  • Develops and maintains databases and troubleshoots the computer network and Internet access;
  • updates and installs new software on computers;  
  • Works with other librarians and staff on system-wide projects and committees;   
  • Maintains the ability to perform Law Library Assistant I duties in at least one other Trial Court Law Library; 
  • Performs related duties as required.  

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:   Reports to and receives work assignments and supervision from the Head Law Librarian.  In the absence of a Head Law Librarian, the Law Library Assistant may receive direction from another Head Law Librarian, Circuit Law Librarian or Manager of Law Libraries in keeping with the librarys local policies and procedures.

Job Competencies: All applicants must be able, through the interview process, to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following areas:    

Ethics and Values: Communicates and demonstrates the ethics and values of the Trial Court and Trial Court Law Libraries as demonstrated in the American Association of Law Libraries Ethical Principals. (http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Leadership-Governance/policies/PublicPolicies/policy-ethics.html)

Mission: Understands, upholds, and communicates the missions of the Trial Court, Court Service Centers and Law Libraries Department.

Applied Knowledge: Demonstrates core competencies in the areas of reference and client services, information technology, cataloging and fiscal.  

Problem Solving: Accurately assesses workplace problems in the Trial Court, the Trial Court Law Libraries and a specific law library and recommends and facilitates appropriate solutions.  

Customer Service: Conducts oneself in a courteous and professional manner towards both Court employees and the public whether in person, on the telephone or in an electronic environment.    

Collaboration: Works with others cooperatively, demonstrating a willingness to be a team player, contributing to a work environment that focuses on shared departmental goals and maintaining effective working relationships.  

Commitment to Diversity: Promotes an environment of diversity through understanding, respect, and positive communication with persons of varied racial, ethnic, economic, and cultural backgrounds. Conducts oneself in a courteous and professional manner towards everyone using the services of the Trial Court Law Libraries.   Continuous Learning Demonstrates a commitment to continuously improving himself or herself through professional development and actively pursues continuing education.

Minimum Requirements: These are the minimum requirements necessary to apply for a position of Law Library Assistant:  

Law Library Assistant I Requirements:   Bachelor degree AND one (1) year of full-time experience as a paid paralegal OR one (1) year of full-time paid clerical experience in a law library OR An equivalent combination of education and experience.  

  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to deal effectively and respectfully with people;  
  • Knowledge of procedures, interlibrary cooperation, and the types of resources and services available to librarians and library users;  
  • Ability to use computer applications, such as MS Office spreadsheets, text editing and publisher programs;  
  • Ability to perform Trial Court fiscal procedures in accordance with MMARS accounting System;  
  • Ability to understand and implement all policies and procedures of the Trial Court Law Libraries;  
  • Ability to gather, analyze and report information;  
  • Ability to reach with hands and arms, bend, crouch, lift materials weighing up to 30 pounds and climb stairs;  
  • Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form;  
  • Ability to travel to multiple library locations.  

Law Library Assistant II Requirements:   A minimum of three years of experience as a Law Library Assistant I;  

  • Demonstrated ability to perform advanced legal reference;  
  • Comprehensive knowledge of library policies and procedures;  
  • Comprehensive knowledge of the Trial Court including its organizational structure and administrative policies;  
  • Comprehensive knowledge of software applications and reference techniques including e-reference;  
  • Demonstrated ability to work on system wide projects;  
  • Demonstrated ability to work in more than one Trial Court Law Library.  

To apply: https://trialcourtjobs.mass.gov/jobs/law-library-assistant-i-gr-13-14-woburn-massachusetts-united-states

LLNE Spring Service Project: Yale Law Library’s Books-to-Prison Program

As part of the LLNE Spring Meeting, the Service Committee is partnering with Yale Law Library’s Books-to-Prison Program.  To date, the program has delivered over 2,000 books to jails and prisons across Connecticut.  They have also provided books to domestic violence shelters and are reaching out to the community to provide books for local homeless shelters and food pantries. 

To donate, please bring new or like new paperbacks (fiction or popular non-fiction) as well as recent law books to the Spring Meeting.  You can drop off your donation at the Service Committee table near registration. 

If you are unable to make the meeting, you can still donate by purchasing books from your favorite bookstore and having them shipped to:

Julian Aiken
Yale Law Library
127 Wall Street, New Haven, 06511

Or you can purchase an electronic gift card through RJ Julia Independent Booksellers and send it to julian.aiken@yale.edu

If you have any questions, please contact co-chairs, Jessica Almeida at jessica.almeida@umassd.edu and Kaitlin Connelly at kaitlin.connolly@jud.state.ma.us.

The Service Committee

LLNE Scholarship Application is EXTENDED to May 20th!

Greetings LLNE Members!

The members of the LLNE Scholarship Committee would like to invite you to apply for our open scholarships. We encourage you to apply for any (or all) of the scholarships listed below. LLNE Scholarships are available to attend or access the annual AALL or biannual LLNE meetings; for participation in continuing education/training opportunities; and for those seeking a degree in librarianship. Descriptions of our scholarship opportunities are listed below and on the LLNE website.  

Basic Scholarship information:

  • Meeting Scholarship: Help with registration fees or travel expenses, for LLNE members who wish to attend the Spring LLNE Meeting being held this June at Yale Law School, or the AALL meeting being held this July in Denver, CO.
  • Academic Scholarship: LLNE members who are enrolled in an accredited degree program in Library Science or in an ABA-accredited law school are eligible for one of our academic scholarships.
  • Continuing Education Scholarship: LLNE  members who wish to access continuing education and training opportunities beyond the programming offered at our biannual LLNE meetings and the annual AALL meetings may apply for one of our continuing education scholarships.

The application criteria and the application form can be found here, (LLNE scholarship guidelines and application process), and the application deadline has been extended to next Friday, May 20th. Please contact Dawn Smith at dawn.smith@yale.edu if you need more information.

Again, we encourage you to apply!

Posted on behalf of the Scholarship Committee

Register today: LLNE-SNELLA Spring Meeting at Yale Law School

Hello,

Registration is now open for the LLNE-SNELLA Spring Meeting at Yale Law School in New Haven on Friday, June 17, 2022. The meeting, on Critical Law Librarianship, will provide an opportunity for attendees to explore the ways in which critical theory and critical legal theory apply to law librarianship and legal information.

Please follow this link to register and for additional information: https://libguides.law.uconn.edu/c.php?g=1235370&p=9039706 

The registration fee is $50. We accept credit cards on the registration form. The deadline for registering is June 9, 2022.

Since this is the first in-person event hosted by our regional chapters in a while, and in light of the continuing pandemic, we have designed the program in an effort to ease the anxieties and health and safety concerns many of us share. The meeting will begin later – and end earlier – than usual to accommodate commuters. Lunches will be boxed so that you can spread out and hopefully enjoy the outdoors (weather permitting). And the day will end with library tours and an outdoor ice cream social. We hope you can join us!

Yale University’s visitors policy, which is subject to change between now and June 17, requires that visitors to campus be fully vaccinated and boosted. Visitors must also carry proof of vaccination and booster documentation, and provide it if asked. In the event that public health recommendations and Yale University policies require us to cancel this in-person event, refunds of registration fees will be issued and the event will be rescheduled and moved to an online format. We appreciate your cooperation as we gather for an informative, fun, and rewarding day together.

All the best,

Mike VanderHeijden

Head of Reference

Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Law Library

michael.vanderheijden@yale.edu

LLNE Access to Justice Update

The Access to Justice Committee has been reviewing and updating the Legal Link section of the LLNE website. Legal Link gathers general resources on legal information and research as well as state-specific resources for all New England states. It focuses on information about free and low-cost legal help, law libraries open to the public, and how to answer legal reference questions, making it a valuable resource for public librarians who have patrons with legal questions. Legal Link also contains information about free sources of legal information, basic legal research information, and guides to each state’s legislative process.

The Committee has reviewed all five New England states and identified a number of updates, which are in the process of being added to the website. Please consider promoting Legal Link in your public library community!

LLNE Scholarship Application is open!

Greetings LLNE Members!

The members of the LLNE Scholarship Committee would like to invite you to apply for our open scholarships. We encourage you to apply for any (or all) of the scholarships listed below. LLNE Scholarships are available to attend or access the annual AALL or biannual LLNE meetings; for participation in continuing education/training opportunities; and for those seeking a degree in librarianship. Descriptions of our scholarship opportunities are listed below and on the LLNE website.  

Basic Scholarship information:

  • Meeting Scholarship: Help with registration fees or travel expenses, for LLNE members who wish to attend the Spring LLNE Meeting being held this June at Yale Law School, or the AALL meeting being held this July in Denver, CO.
  • Academic Scholarship: LLNE members who are enrolled in an accredited degree program in Library Science or in an ABA-accredited law school are eligible for one of our academic scholarships.
  • Continuing Education Scholarship: LLNE  members who wish to access continuing education and training opportunities beyond the programming offered at our biannual LLNE meetings and the annual AALL meetings may apply for one of our continuing education scholarships.

The application criteria and the application form can be found here, (LLNE scholarship guidelines and application process), and all applications are due on May 13th, 2022. Please contact Dawn Smith at dawn.smith@yale.edu if you need more information.

Again, we encourage you to apply!

Sincerely,

The LLNE Scholarship Committee

Dawn Smith, Chair

Ana Delgado Valentin

Jocelyn Kennedy

Old Members, New Members, and Librarian Thoughts

A few months ago former LLNE member Professor Sarah Ryan emailed LLNE President Michael VanderHeijden to discuss a new Northern New England online cohort at the University of North Texas Department of Information Science. Mike sent the email to me and my interest was piqued.

As a former law librarian in Maine, I know that Northern New England can sometimes be overlooked. While there are three ALA-accredited Library and Information Schools in New England with the University of Rhode Island (Go Rams! I am a proud alum!), Southern Connecticut State University, and Simmons University, none are physically located in Northern New England (for more info on ALA-accredited programs, check out this database). As much of library school is online (because it is designed to be or because of COVID) I wondered what this Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine cohort was all about so I decided to ask a friend.

Amanda Ouellette is a Library Associate at the Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library. She works mainly in technical services and cataloging and is part of a team working on a multi-year digitization and review of historical and current Maine legislative documents. (As I type this she is working on the digitization of the 1967 Maine House and Senate Registers having worked her way back from 2007 with her sights on going all the way back to 1915). She had worked in libraries for about 10 years when, in January of 2022, Amanda began UNT’s MLS program through its Vermont-New Hampshire-Maine Cohort.  

I spoke with Amanda and first I convinced her to join LLNE for the low, low, low student rate of $5 per year! Next, I asked her some questions to learn more about the student perspective on the new cohort. Amanda liked the experience at UNT so far. She likes that the program is all online and affordable. (Also, work reimburses part of her tuition which is an amazing benefit of being a state employee!)  She says she has up to 5 years to finish her program so she can pace herself and manage the school and work and life demands. She likes the cohort model, stating that there are about a dozen people in it. Amanda is the only member of the cohort with an interest in law libraries at this time but there are many other members of the cohort interested in public librarianship. She is most looking forward to a class on information organization like cataloging or metadata because she says her job revolves around cataloging which is something in which she has no formal instruction.

Looking to find out more details about this new cohort, I emailed Professor Sarah Ryan. The first thing I did was convince her to rejoin LLNE for the low, low, low cost of $10 per year. Next, I asked Sarah a bit about the program from her perspective as a professor. As Sarah describes it, “The cohort model is about people. Librarians are more than just walking skills repositories. We are sounding boards for each other, research collaborators, and just plain interesting people to know. The cohort class meetings bring our students together to make connections (and swap cat stories).”

For more information on the cohort, check out this flyer. For more information about joining LLNE, click here. (https://llne.org/join-llne/)

-Nicole Dyszlewski

LLNE Service Project – Ukraine

If you are looking for ways to support the people of Ukraine, the LLNE Service Committee has compiled a few resources for your consideration.  Listed are several local/US organizations that are taking donations to provide food, shelter, and medical supplies. 

A member brought to our attention Olena Gnes, who was our online tour guide during LLNE’s FUNtivities in July 2021.  She gave us an amazing virtual tour of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.  Olena is currently living in a bomb shelter with her three children in Kiev.  She posts daily updates on her YouTube channel, What is Ukraine.  If you would like to donate directly to Olena and her family, please consider purchasing a tour through her Airbnb site.

Airbnb users can book stays or tours in Ukraine that they don’t plan to check into as part of an effort to donate directly to people in Ukraine. The campaign (“Pay don’t stay”) allows Ukrainian Airbnb hosts to receive direct support from those looking to help.

Olena’s page: https://www.airbnb.ae/experiences/1930416

This RI organization started by Brown University professors is raising money to send medical supplies to the Ukraine.  For more information, visit https://www.abc6.com/30k-and-counting-raised-for-ukrainians-by-rhode-island-professors/

 Sunflower of Peace Foundation is a Boston, USA-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  They are currently raising money to acquire and distribute first-aid backpacks, medicine, medical instruments to medical personnel in the Ukraine.

World Central Kitchen is distributing meals in Poland to Ukrainians fleeing the country. The organization, founded by chef José Andrés, is seeking donations to provide remote support to Ukrainian restaurants continuing to serve meals for people in need.

Please consider giving to Olena’s family or one of these organizations. 

The Service Committee

Legal Research Instruction Program Scholarship Information

All public librarians are encouraged to apply for a scholarship, sponsored by the LLNE Access to Justice Committee, to attend our chapter’s Legal Research Instruction Program.

The Legal Research Instruction Program (LRIP) is a six-week online seminar geared towards public librarians interested in learning more about law librarianship. Each week, a different aspect of legal research is covered — everything from an overview of the U.S. legal system, to finding business transactional documents. The class will run on Wednesday evenings from March 23 — April 27, 2022. For more information about the LRIP course, go to https://llne.org/legalresearchinstruction/ or contact Brian Flaherty directly at brian2@bu.edu.

The LLNE Access to Justice Committee is providing two scholarships to cover the cost of registration. Applicants must be public (non-law) librarians from the New England region.

Applications should be submitted through this Google form https://forms.gle/Wdyy1hiYQJtzNwY89 by Friday, March 18, 2022. Scholarship recipients will be notified by Monday, March 21, 2022.

Please send questions about the scholarship to Anne Rajotte at anne.rajotte@uconn.edu.

We encourage all LLNE members to share this scholarship opportunity with their local public libraries and any public librarians that would be interested in this excellent professional development opportunity.

Reflections from an LLNE Education Committee Co-Director

I am serving my second consecutive term as one of the Education Directors for LLNE.  A large part of the position is requesting Law Libraries to host the semi-annual LLNE Meeting and Conference.   

My first LLNE meeting was after moving from New York to Maine in 1994.   I agreed to drive to a meeting in Boston.  I was arrogant and thought driving in Boston would not be an issue.   That is when I first found out that Boston is not organized in a grid. I decided to stop for coffee on the way back to the parking garage at the end of the day. Everywhere I went people said, ‘You’re welcome, Maureen’, ‘Have a nice day, Maureen’.   A person held the door and said, ‘have a good evening, Maureen’.  I was busy thinking of how to easily get north and it would be on the drive that I realized I was still wearing my name tag. I have an appreciation now for the bus and train.  I have since learned that Boston is a very nice city to walk around and I still prefer walking to driving.

LLNE meetings are a place to spend some time meeting other Law Librarians.   When I attend a meeting, I always learn something new, talk to someone I did not know and, thoroughly enjoy myself. When Maine Law hosts the meetings, I enjoy being able to share my fondness for Maine and our little city, Portland.  New England is a large geographic space.  I suggest talking yourself into traveling and seeing more of New England’s  wonderful cities and neighborhoods. How often are you getting the opportunity to visit a part of New England you do not live in?  There is a good chance that an old friend will also be in attendance. Meet some new Librarians and see a Law Library you have not visited before.  

LLNE offers scholarships for those attending an LLNE Conference and Meeting https://llne.org/committees/scholarships/scholarshipinfo/

Thank you to all the Law Libraries who have hosted meetings.  We know there are many hours of work and planning that go into each meeting. The Education Directors and everyone at LLNE are aware that it is no easy task to host a meeting.