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What's University Libraries secret to success? Hiring outstanding student assistants

University Libraries student assistants serve a critical role in the success of the Libraries

Students working at the @One

Students working at the @One at the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center

What's University Libraries secret to success? Hiring outstanding student assistants

University Libraries student assistants serve a critical role in the success of the Libraries

Students working at the @One at the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center

Students working at the @One

Students working at the @One at the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center

University Libraries offers ÁùºÏ±¦µä students many opportunities for on-campus jobs. Students looking to gain valuable professional experience while studying for their University degree are always welcome to apply for jobs with the Libraries. Student assistant jobs range in scope and skill. The jobs are diverse and interesting. Students working in the Libraries conduct essential business in the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center, DeLaMare Library, Savitt Medical Library, and the Jon Bilbao Basque Library. All Departments within the University Libraries system employ student workers. Student assistants work for Building Operations, the @One, Teaching and Learning Technologies, Special Collections and University Archives, Library Information Technology Administration, and many other departments.

Students assist with a variety of jobs including, but not limited to: shelving books, helping students, faculty and staff print and scan materials in the @One. They assist with cataloging and archiving materials and much more.

“Having an on-campus job is convenient because of the ability to go straight to work from class,” @One Multimedia Technician Emmanuel Joseph "EJ" Lorica Papa said. “Students who work on campus, particularly with University Libraries, also have access to a multitude of resources.”

Working at the Knowledge Center provides students with a way to get experience and make a living while also furthering their education, which for some students wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

The Knowledge Center has many resources for students to use. Whether that’s getting help from a librarian or using the databases the Knowledge Center has, there are many opportunities for students to get help with their education.

Meet our student assistants

Challen Wright

Challen Wright

Challen Wright, photo taken by Samantha Lowe

Challen Wright was recently hired by Special Collections to assist them with processing collections, social media and scanning articles until he leaves for Graduate school in the fall. Wright recently graduated from ÁùºÏ±¦µä last semester (Fall ’18) with a major in English Literature and a minor in Math. He worked as a Libraries and Information Technology Administration student assistant in the Knowledge Center for two years before graduating.

“Through my job as a student assistant I made good connections and met faculty members,” Wright said. “I came to the University for a degree but the most valuable thing I gained was the on-the-job experience I received through my job.”

Wright said that working at the Knowledge Center was rewarding. He said the work experience gained was essential to his ability to land a job right after graduation. His work as a student ignited his passion for librarianship. “Now I can’t image doing anything else,” Wright said.

Wright said the faculty and staff at the Knowledge Center create a caring atmosphere.

“They make sure students know how much the employees care about them succeeding both in the classroom and on the job, Wright said. “They are always willing to help, are flexible with hours, and while working, you learn a lot of skills that can be applied to life.”

Connor Filbin

Connor Filbin

Connor Filbin

The Knowledge center is flexible with hours for students which makes it a convenient place to work while trying to balance work with classes.

“On campus jobs provide the most opportunity to get an education and have a job at the same time,” Lead Building Monitor and Knowledge Center student assistant Connor Filban said. “I can work minutes up to the start of my classes because my job is on campus.”

Filbin works as a building monitor which means some of his tasks include but are not limited to: manning the information kiosk, setting up for events, doing building maintenance, and doing statistic work such as taking head counts of the number of Knowledge Center patrons on each floor.

Hannah Huntley

Hannah Huntley holding a camera

Hannah Huntley

Hannah Huntley has been working at the Knowledge Center’s digital media checkout for five years. Here, students can check out different equipment such as cameras, audio equipment, laptops, lighting equipment, and much more.

 “I’ve met some of my closest friends through this job,” said Huntley. “The Knowledge Center has become like a second home to me.”

Emmanuel Joseph “EJ” Lorica Papa

 Papa is a journalism major who has been using skills learned on the job in his classes. He has been working at the Knowledge Center for three years and has learned a multitude of skills that have assisted with his major. He said through his job at the @One he has learned graphic design skills that are essential to his future career.

“The most important thing I learned has been how to provide good customer service,” Papa said. “Working at the @One has taught me how to be professional. These skills are useful to me now, and I know they will benefit me in the future.”

Working in the Knowledge Center has its benefits

Whether it’s access to educational resources, research librarians, or the convenience of working on campus Libraries student assistants not only gain a paycheck and real-world experience, they gain access to amazing things and people as a result of where they work.

EJ Papa working at the @One

EJ Papa working at the @One

 “Working at the Knowledge Center exposed me to the diverse resources available to students,” Papa said. “I have used a multitude of resources found in the @One. Each one has helped me in my course work.

Student assistant Hannah Huntly agreed with her colleague EJ Papa.

“Being able to work in between my classes has been very convenient,” Huntley said. “To be able to fit work into my school schedule instead of school into my work schedule has made it so I can get an education while having a great job.”

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University Libraries embrace intellectual inquiry and innovation, nurture the production of new knowledge, and foster excellence in learning, teaching and research through scholarly resources, creative learning spaces, cutting-edge technology, and world-class service.

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