Student Employment

Student employees are a vital part of the library, providing part-time hours equivalent to 14 full-time employees. They work in all areas of the library doing all kinds of jobs--helping at service desks, checking out books, photocopying, shelving books, dusting shelves, and much more. Click here for a list of the departments and kinds of jobs that student workers perform.

Application process

Applications are available online (to print out) or in the Dean's Office on first floor. A class schedule form must accompany the application. As positions become available, supervisors in the various departments will look through the applications, check schedules, etc., and select students to interview. While several new students are hired each semester, the bulk of the staff is made up of returning students, many of whom continue to work in the library for several years. Applications are kept for the semester. After that, students may update their application by attaching a current class schedule form.

Once a student has been selected for employment, the library must obtain clearance through the Payroll or Financial Aids Office before the student can begin work. The library can only hire full-time students.

Institutional workers may work up to 20 hours per week while classes are in session. The average student works about 10 hours per week. During interim sessions, students may work up to 39 hours per week. The current pay rate is $6.65 per hour.

Work study hours are awarded through the Financial Aids Office. Number of hours usually varies between 9 and 16 hours per week. The current pay rate is $6.65 per hour. Students must go through the application process described above.

Scholarship hours are available. Check with the Financial Aids Office. 60 hours per semester, about 4 hours per week. In many cases students are asked to work 4 scholarship hours and an additional 5-6 hours per week at institutional pay. A student may work no more than 20 hours per week at any campus job. This may be a combination of 4 scholarship hours and 16 institutional. Students must go through the application process described above.

Qualifications:

There is no set list of qualifications for working in the library because job assignments are so varied. However, it is important that the student possess good communication and interpersonal skills. It is also very helpful for students who work at service desks to have taken the Use of Information Resources course (LIB 111). The library serves a broad range of people--faculty, staff, undergraduates, graduate students, high school students and others from the community. It is important that student workers maintain a professional and helpful attitude as they seek to provide quality service to these groups

Library Departments

Circulation*: A public service area. Circulation desk workers deal directly with library users checking in/checking out materials, collecting fines, and answering questions regarding both the library and campus in general. Students also process MOBIUS books. Mending workers assist with the labeling and repairing of library materials. Night monitors patrol the building to ensure the personal safety of staff and users in order to maintain a positive study atmosphere.

Dean's Office: General office duties (answer telephone, greet visitors, photocopying, filing, etc.), also includes data entry in Word, Excel and Access programs; maintenance of public photocopiers throughout the building (which requires some heavy lifting); checking and recording of student timecards; assisting with counting and balancing of cash drawers; and assisting the director's office in overall building issues and needs.

Media/Curriculum*: Public service position. Checking-in/checking-out library materials and returning them to the shelves.

Periodicals*: Public service area--Workers must be public service oriented. Duties include processing daily newspapers, magazines, journals other materials; photocopying requests from faculty; demonstrating and assisting with micro machines; providing service at help desk; dusting/cleaning shelves; and special assignments as requested.

Reference Department*: A public service area. Students help at the reference desk assisting users in finding information. Students also photocopy, process materials for interlibrary loan, process and shelve documents, and perform other miscellaneous tasks as needed.

Special Collections: Minimum 9 hour per week position; shifts (minimum 2 hours each) scheduled from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. Regular duties include stack & materials maintenance, clipping newspaper articles for vertical files, helping users (answering questions, pulling & reshelving materials), data entry and other clerical duties as they arise; some lifting/moving of heavy boxes, books & artifacts may be required from time to time. May be called upon to help with Museum.

Stacks Maintenance*: Duties include shelving books, reading shelves/inventory, straightening areas, and dusting shelves. Some schedules are flexible.

Technical Services: Process library materials in all formats, pack and unpack bindery boxes, sort and shelve newly bound books, input data into the online library system, and perform other duties as required. Skills: Aptitude for and desire to do detail work, good proofreading and typing skills, experience with Windows and Microsoft Office products, ability to work both independently and with other library staff in the department.

* NOTE: Student assistants in these areas are subject to morning, late night, and weekend shifts as schedules permit.