Student Library Assistant

Description:

The Thun Library is currently seeking Student Library Assistants (SLAs). SLAs help to connect students with the library by serving as an advocate for library services, assisting users at the circulation desk, shelving books, and helping the library with special projects. SLAs work closely with our small team and are integral to our success in being a library that inspires intellectual discovery and enables learning for our entire community.

This position is scheduled for up to 10 hours per week during library open hours . Scheduled hours will change during the academic school year based on the student’s availability. SLAs are not required to work during breaks or the summer. This position is part-time, non-benefitted, and with a starting wage of $12.50 per hour. This is an on-site position with limited flexibility for remote work. Preference is given to new students who plan on attending Berks for 4 years, have a work-study award, and follow the complete directions listed at the end of this page. To apply, you will need to submit a cover letter, resume, your spring 2024 class schedule, and be returning to Berks in fall 2024 (see full directions at the end of this page).

The SLA position is composed of three main functions: Circulation, Shelving, and Special Projects. Training will be provided, no library experience required.

Circulation Desk

• Be responsible for providing outstanding service to our community (direct interaction with students, staff, faculty, and community members) with empathy and clear communication.
• Help others locate information and identify appropriate resources for additional support.
• Check out/in books and equipment and confirm room reservations.
• Learn about the library's catalog, electronic services, and various print collections with the support of our team.
• Make referrals for an in-depth library consultation
• Communicate any service concerns to the supervisor and/or circulation team and provide feedback to improve services.

Shelving

• Ensure materials are shelved in the correct location, using the Library of Congress Classification (LOC).
• Sort, shelve, and retrieve materials.
• Identify materials that may be misplaced, askew, or need repair.
• Use in-house software (shelfreader.com) to ensure materials are in the correct location

Special Projects –

Special projects are optional tasks that help the library with larger projects. We try to match your skills and interests to the task. Some examples are:

• Creating signs to advertise programs or services
• Designing social media posts
• Assisting with general troubleshooting and providing feedback on new services

SLAs meet once or twice a month to learn from each other, explore resources within University Libraries, and participate in professional development opportunities.

Looking for these requirements:

• Customer service experience through work, volunteering, or personal projects
• Ability to clearly communicate using chat, email, and face-to-face
• Competent in using multiple systems, websites, and tabs to checkout items and locate information.
• Can sit or stand at the circulation desk for 4+ hours at a time, guide a patron around the library, push/pull a book cart up to 50 lbs, lift books and/or equipment, kneel to browse low shelves, use a kick stool to browse high shelves. Reasonable accommodations are available .
• Can positively navigate change and uncertainty
• Willingness to uphold our Penn State Values – integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence, and community.
• Committed to DEIAB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging) and embrace the Libraries Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Commitment Statement – Penn State University Libraries is committed to disrupting racism, hate, and bias whenever and wherever we encounter it and to creating the most inclusive and diverse community that we possibly can.
• All members of the University Libraries community are responsible for, and expected to, exemplify and promote civility by following the University Libraries Civility Statement and Guidelines .