LIBRARIES IN TRANSITION-12th ANNUAL CONFERENCEOF CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF LIBRARIANS IN

AFRICA-K

Held at Milele Beach Hotel, Mombasa, Kenya (July 22-26, 2013)

Libraries and Student Assistants: Friends or Foes?Libraries By Ephraim Mudave

University Librarian, Africa International

 

Economic conditions have left libraries of all sizes and types struggling with inadequate staffing. Student library assistants are considered a stop-gap measure to address this situation, but practically end up being a long term solution as well. By analyzing LIS literature, this paper discusses the rationale for library student assistants, the process of recruitment, training, tasks done by student librarians. Studying the historical development of the practice, this paper suggests some practical approaches that would enable libraries maximize the use of student librarians.

Abstract

Different titles: student librarians, student library assistants, student library helpers or student workers

Who are they in the library?

Started in American universities early 1800s and has since become a popular and common phenomenon in academic libraries

Andrew Melnyk (1976) They are both “blessings and headaches.”

White (1985:94) viewed: as expediters, unofficial colleagues, and people selected and trained with the aim of developing potential librarians.

Background

Economic necessity – cheap and additional staff in times of budgetary constraints Farrell and Driver (2010:186); Black (1995:78)

Library able to open longer and weekends (O’neil & Comley, 2011:110)

Need for temporary employment to release professional librarians to attend to technical duties.. Short-term labour intensive projects

Students at home with colleagues, than staff

Significance/rationale

Possible career exposure to librarianship Student income for upkeep/tuition Work experience for CVs - ready for job

market (Farrell & Driver, 2010:186) Maxey-Harris, Cross, & McFarland (2010)

have declared that without student workers, libraries cannot provide essential services to the college or university community.

Mentorship - deJager (2004)

Significance…continued

From clerical to now required to show initiative, ability to perform in different circumstances and be responsible (Walton, 2010:117).

Tasks: Shelving, clerical, circulation, data entry, searching, reference desk….

Titles: Include shelving assistants, library monitors, library supervisors (Walton, 2010:118)

What do they Do?

kept changing with the changes in the general hiring personnel procedures

Some to do specific duties, while others are hired for general duties

Post(s) advertised and students apply, or students register with HR dept. and are assigned jobs as they arise, either for pay or as work-study.

It involves administering tests to get the most suitable candidate for the earmarked duties. (White 1985:96)

Selection…

Since the first impression of an organization is critical, the students at the circulation desk must be properly trained because they are the first contact to many patrons (Black, 1995).

Training methods vary with the type and size of the library and the need.

Include from basic, brief orientation of new student assistants to elaborate and examinable tests (White,1985:96).

Training

Examples: individual instruction, small groups, workshops, seminars, on the job training and use of videos and other new technologies. ICT use ensures a standardized preparation, free staff time, flexible hours for instruction, self-spaced learning among others (Rawlings, 1982).

Training enhances student assistant retention (Clark (1995)

Training…

Training must start with the basic duties in the library without assuming that the students already know about the library (Tolppanen & Derr, 2009)

Kathman and Kathman (2000: 176) argue that the investment in training student assistants in the library is worthwhile because it determines both the effectiveness of the service the library offers and the image of the library projected to patrons

Training…

if not well supervised students assistants easily fall into the tendencies towards concessions to their friends, and if not well trained leads to incompetent service delivery.

(White, 1985:94) They struggle to balance between their family, work, academics & social lives. This affects their concentration on the job and may compromise their productivity.

Challenges of using Student Assistants

Students stay at the college or university for 3 or four years and view the job as a very temporal engagement, sometimes taking it to meet a financial need. Commitment to the job is therefore affected because they do not really see it as a real job.

Training them can be cumbersome and very time consuming, yet needed for quality service (Farrell & Driver, 2010).

Challenges…

Students stay at the college or university for 3 or four years and view the job as a very temporal engagement, sometimes taking it to meet a financial need. Commitment to the job is therefore affected because they do not really see it as a real job.

Challenges….

Pre-Employment ◦Well-written job descriptions. Be very

clear on what you want them to do

◦Well written performance measures showing expected output

◦Well written job interview questions- help to eliminate those who may not be fit

Factors to consider for a successful student assistant programme in libraries

After Employment◦Good Communication is key. Supervisors

need to clearly state expectations and responsibilities (Slagell & Langendorfer, 2003),

◦Adequate job orientation including a clear description of the library’s mission, goals and objectives, policies, procedures, rules, etc.

◦As best ambassadors of the library and the institution at large, students need a thorough training (Kathman & Kathman, 2000: 176)

Factors to consider…

After employment..◦Establish an annual feedback mechanism

for training (Kathman & Kathman, 2000: 176)

◦Evaluation of staff – regular meetings for review of progress and performance, followed by compliments (verbal and written) where due

Factors to consider…

Role recognized- “A university library should have on its staff a variety of personnel professional, clerical and student-assistant staff” Standards for University Libraries (1979).

With structures in place for hiring, training, utilization and evaluation, student assistants will remain a needed part of academic libraries.

Their significant roles in literature show student assistants as friends of the library who have a great stake in the success of the library mission if managed well.

Conclusion

Black, William K. 1995. Libraries and student assistants: critical links. Journal of Library Administration, 21(1995), 3/ 4.

Farrell, S.L. & C. Driver. (2010). Tag, you’re it: hiring, training, and managing student assistants. Community and Junior College Libraries, 16(3), 185-191.

Guilfoyle, M. (1984). Computer-assisted training for student librarians. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 10(6), 333-336.

deJager, K. (2004). Navigators and guides: the value of peer assistance in student use of electronic library facilities. The Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, 34(3), 99-106.

Kathman, J. M. & M.D. Kathman. (2000). Training student employees for quality service. Journal of Academic Librarianship,26 (3), 176-182.

Maxey-Harris, C., J. Cross & T. McFarland. (2010). Student workers: the untapped resource for library professions. Library Trends, 59(1), 147-165,374,377.

Melnyk, A. (1976). Student aides in our library (blessings and headaches).Illinois Libraries, 58 (February 1976), 141.

Reference List

O’neil, F. & J. Comley. (2011). Models and management of student employees in an Australian University Library. Australian Academic Research Library,

41(2), 100-112. Power, J. L. (2011). Training 2.0-library assistants in the age of information.

Journal Of Access Services, 8(2), 69-79. Rawlings, S.M. (1982). Technology and the personal touch computer-assisted

instruction for library student workers. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 8 (March 1982), 26-39. 

Slagell, J., & J.M. Langendorfer. (2003). Don't tread on me: the art of supervising student assistants. Serials Librarian, 44(3/4), 279-284.  

Standards for University Libraries. (1979). College & Research Librries News, 40(April,1979), 104.

Tolppanen, B. P., & Derr, J. (2009). A survey of the duties and job performance of student assistants in access services. Journal Of Access Services, 6(3), 313- 323.

Walton, G. (2010). University libraries and student engagement. New Review of Academic Librarianship, 16, 117-120.

White, E.C. (1985). Student assistants in academic libraries: from reluctance to reliance.The journal of Academic Librarianship, 11(2), 93-97

References…

Thank You for Listening…