Job Summary
Job Title: Chief Law Librarian (Librarian III/IV; Permanent Status Stream)
Date Posted: 12/02/2025
Closing Date: 01/08/2026
Req ID: 46281
Job Category: Librarian - Permanent Status Stream
Faculty/Division: Library
Department: Bora Laskin Law Library
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Are you looking for challenging, meaningful work in a supportive and diverse environment? Are you looking for a career at one of Canada’s top employers? Work where the world comes to think, discover and learn. Consider a career at the University of Toronto.
About the University of Toronto Libraries
The University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) system is the largest academic library in Canada and is ranked in the top five among peer institutions in North America. The system comprises 40 libraries located across three university campuses: St.George, Mississauga, and Scarborough. This diverse and extensive network of college libraries, special collections, and specialized information centres plays a pivotal role in supporting the teaching, scholarly, and research needs of nearly 100,000 students enrolled in a wide array of graduate, professional, and undergraduate programs.
The library system provides access to millions of resources in various formats, including electronic, print, audio-visual, data and geospatial materials. UTL also boasts impressive holdings of archival material and substantial digital collections, securely preserved in the libraries' data centre. The staff at UTL are integral to the academic and scholarly enterprise, working closely with faculty and students to support their teaching, learning, and research requirements. They are subject matter experts; they are skilled in research data management, collections, statistics, GIS, metadata, digital preservation, scholarly communications, copyright, teaching, knowledge synthesis, open access and much more. Our work is grounded in our commitment to support equity, diversity, and inclusion. UTL continuously evolves to meet the changing academic priorities and pressures at the University and within the broader landscape of higher education.
About the Bora Laskin Law Library
The Library, which originally opened in March of 1991, is named in honour and memory of Bora Laskin, one of the founding figures of the University of Toronto's Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law. Bora Laskin Law Library has one of the largest collections of legal materials in Canada and is the second largest academic law library in the country.
The Library's extensive collection supports the curriculum and research interests of the Faculty of Law. This includes 850 students (650 JDs; 200 Grads), 50 full-time faculty; 120 adjuncts and a diverse range of visiting scholars. It holds approximately 230,000 volumes, as well as a prodigious collection of specialized, online databases, covering Canada, major common law and other selected jurisdictions; additionally, it subscribes to over 700 scholarly legal journals and a rich array of electronic services which extend the Library's resources far beyond its own walls. Students and faculty also benefit from the vast and comprehensive resources within the University of Toronto Libraries’, more broadly. The physical library itself re-opened in 2016 after a complete renovation, resulting in a beautiful, light and welcoming space. Upgraded with current technology and research tools, the library space includes an information common, quiet areas for reading and research, as well as flexible, collaborative group study rooms.
The Opportunity
The University of Toronto Library system seeks an innovative and experienced individual with deep knowledge of the legal landscape to lead the Bora Laskin Law Library. Reporting to the Deputy Chief Librarian, the Chief Law Librarian will provide vision and strategic direction to the Bora Laskin Library. The Law Library has a strong history of proactive engagement and collaboration with faculty, students, and the wider community. Building on these successful partnerships, the Chief Law Librarian will position the library as a recognized leader in delivering scholarly, user-focused programs and initiatives. Responsibilities include providing leadership, support and mentorship to library employees, including librarians and other skilled employees; fostering strategic, innovative and creative programs and services in order to meet the growing needs of a diverse community, including faculty, graduate students and members of the wider legal community; and cultivating and sustaining collaborative relationships and partnerships with Faculty of Law administrators, faculty and students in support of research, teaching and learning. The Chief Law Librarian will communicate with stakeholders, partners, and potential donors.
As a collegial member of the library team, the Chief Law Librarian will directly participate in library services, including research support, library instruction, and collection assessment. Other responsibilities include participating in proactive outreach and communication activities to collaborate and partner with faculty and students; supporting faculty and students in the areas of artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), scholarly communications, open access (OA), copyright and research data management (RDM); providing ongoing assessment/evaluation of library services and collaborating with other UTL colleagues and senior library management to implement UTL-wide strategic plans, develop strategic directions and assess service quality. The Chief Law Librarian will have responsibility for representing the Library on issues relevant to the portfolio and will be actively engaged with relevant organizations in the wider education community. The Chief Law Librarian will actively contribute to academic law librarianship through professional affiliations and collegial networking.
Required Qualifications
The successful candidate will have:
- A degree from an accredited Masters level in library and information studies.
- Demonstrated commitment to the values of equity, diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility; proven ability to promote respect and inclusion by working successfully with a wide variety of people and encouraging their participation and involvement.
- Demonstrated leadership abilities, particularly in team building, with proven experience creating a common vision and fostering a positive work environment.
- Relevant administrative, managerial and supervisory experience, including demonstrated commitment to mentorship and staff development and growth.
- Capacity to thrive in an environment of change and to nurture that capacity in others.
- A record of effective collaboration involving diverse faculty, library staff, students, and other campus colleagues.
- Excellent knowledge of the legal environment, including legal resources, publishers, and emerging developments/trends, particularly the Canadian legal environment.
- Demonstrated deep understanding of research, teaching, learning and collections priorities within the legal environment.
- Strong knowledge regarding emerging trends in AI/ML applications within academic libraries.
- Excellent knowledge regarding the scholarly communications landscape in higher education, including copyright, OA and RDM.
- Outstanding interpersonal, intercultural communication skills.
- Demonstrated planning, evidence-based decision making, and problem-solving skills.
- Flexible and able to manage competing priorities in a timely manner.
- The successful candidate will have a strong service orientation, the ability to manage a diverse workload, initiative, and a commitment to innovation and continuous learning.
Preferred Qualifications
The successful candidate will preferably have:
- A JD degree or equivalent.
Salary and Terms of Appointment:
It is anticipated that this position will be filled at the Librarian III of IV level, subject to review and experience. Minimum salary: LIB III: $108,234; LIB IV: $127,526
This is a five-year renewable term position. It is also a permanent status stream position.
Benefits: We offer generous benefits packages to all employees. Additional information is available at: https://people.utoronto.ca/careers/benefits/
Additional information:
Librarians at the University of Toronto are members of the University of Toronto Faculty Association.
How to Apply:
Application Materials Required: A cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references of which at least two have supervised your work. Please attach a single electronic file into the “Resume” Field. (MS Word or pdf) with a file name convention of Surname, FirstName, 46281.
The University of Toronto Libraries thanks all applicants but will only contact applicants selected for an interview.
University of Toronto Library System: http://library.utoronto.ca/
University of Toronto: https://people.utoronto.ca/
Policies for librarians: https://people.utoronto.ca/policies/
This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.
University of Toronto Libraries’ Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Statement:
https://library.utoronto.ca/policy/anti-racism-and-diversity-equity-and-inclusion
University of Toronto Libraries' Anti-Racism Statement:
https://library.utoronto.ca/policy/anti-racism-and-diversity-equity-and-inclusion
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.
As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.
Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.
The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.
If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.