Description

The Nathan & Henry B. Cleaves Law Library, with roots in service to the Maine legal community going back to 1811, seeks a self-directed, public-service-minded professional to serve as its next Head Librarian. As the state’s oldest law library, Cleaves provides access to statutes, case law, secondary sources, legislative history, and other specialized sources of legal information to the legal community and to the public at large. The Library provides essential support services to Maine’s judicial branch, including judges and generations of law clerks, as well as to other new graduates and established members of the bar seeking to understand, argue, and advance the law in Maine. 

The Head Librarian operates all aspects of the Library in a direct service capacity. They will be experienced in, and have a love of, legal research and the preservation and promotion of local legal resources. They will be responsible for developing and maintaining the Library’s budget in consultation with the Library’s Board of Directors, and for managing the use and maintenance of the Library’s systems and technologies. The Head Librarian will be a community-oriented individual who appreciates the Library’s special role in the Maine legal community. They will enthusiastically engage with stakeholders, including the public, Library members, state and county officials, and the Maine State Judicial Branch, to enhance the Library’s offerings and perpetuate its mission. The ideal candidate will have a Juris Doctor or a Master of Library Science or both, along with at least three years of full-time experience in a professional capacity in a law library. 

This is a full-time position based in Portland, Maine. Portland is a beautiful city on the ocean that offers a variety of arts and cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities in a diverse and growing community. The salary range for this position is $62,000 to $100,000, and is commensurate with the candidate’s experience and capabilities. The Head Librarian will have flexibility in working between 32-40 hours per week; this will also factor into salary determination. A negotiable allocation for health benefits will be provided. The Library offers two weeks of accrued paid time off together with all Maine State Court paid holidays. 

The Cleaves Law Library has engaged Solmonese Search Partners to assist in the search. All applications, inquiries, and nominations should be directed in confidence to Courtney Thomas at: courtmthomas@gmail.com.