Duties

Summary

The American Law Division (ALD), one of the Congressional Research Service's (CRS) five research divisions, is seeking a Law Librarian (Electronic Services) to support the work of the U.S. Congress. Candidates with a degree in library or information science (e.g., MLS, MIS, MLIS, MSLS) are encouraged to apply.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

In this capacity, the Law Librarian serves as an expert in legal reference and information research; organizes and develops projects in those fields, including training projects for a wide variety of subjects; and organizes, develops, and implements plans for specific projects. The Law Librarian is also responsible for initiating, planning, and implementing diverse research projects in support of Congress and ALD regarding a wide range of legal issues. The Law Librarian evaluates and solves complex research problems in short time frames in response to existing or anticipated client requests; identifies, examines, and evaluates major publications, electronic resources and trends in preparing in-depth and complex research; and provides comprehensive legal and legislative reference services.

CRS works exclusively for the U.S. Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation.

CRS is well known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective and nonpartisan. Its highest priority is to ensure that Congress has immediate access to the nation's best thinking on public policy and legal issues of interest to its Members and Committees.

Duties include:

Organizes and develops information and materials for use in projects for ALD, including its intranet. Identifies, evaluates and assesses the relevance of materials acquired for inclusion in information resources based on questions, requirements and priorities. Applying knowledge of various technologies, creates and maintains electronic information systems, including collecting and reporting on user statistics, and facilitates ALD's use of them. Designs electronic systems to manage and organize resources, and coordinates with information technology stakeholders to ensure smooth functioning of the shared CRS system and electronic resources.

Initiates, plans, and implements a wide variety of research projects in support of legislative and legal policy issues. Designs and executes comprehensive and complex data searches, often using knowledge of emerging technologies and electronic resources. Adapts research techniques from other disciplines and identifies alternative information resources. Solves problems involving relationships among different reference functions, and recommends appropriate resources for CRS.

Organizes, develops, and schedules training projects for individuals and groups at varying levels of sophistication. Instructs internal and external clients on the use of research tools, shared electronic workspaces, or electronic support for ALD's research and analysis activities.

Provides comprehensive legal and legislative reference services.

Consults with information professionals throughout CRS regarding the development/enhancement of information research and service to CRS. Collaborates with analysts, specialists, attorneys, and information professionals to procure information and to support legal or reference databases and other information tools for legal staff.

The position description number for this position is 013246.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

This position is not eligible for permanent remote telework.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

No additional requirements to those listed above.

Qualifications

Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

Ability to utilize information technology and online legal resources **

Ability to interact collaboratively with others **

Ability to plan and organize **

Ability to communicate in writing.

Ability to apply the principles, concepts, and techniques of librarianship.

Ability to conduct information research and provide legal reference and research services.

Ability to develop or maintain law library collections.

Ability to focus on the client.

Ability to train others.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

Additional information

Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid the minimum step of the grade.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email ADA@loc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of EEO/Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period.

The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit.

A "Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.

Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview. The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.

For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D, at: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/msp010909.pdf .

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. The program does not accept certification from health care providers. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.