Student Assistant Orientation

Student Assistant Orientation Art & Architecture Library Fall 2005

Washington University Libraries http://www.library.wustl.edu/  http://www.library.wustl.edu/aboutlibs.html 

 The

mission of the Washington University Libraries is to support learning, teaching, research and creative expression at the University by providing timely and effective access to information for the broad University Community.

Art & Architecture Library 

Unit Page: http://www.library.wustl.edu/units/artarch/

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Student Assistant Page: http://library.wustl.edu/units/artarch/studenta

Benefits of Working Here Good work experience  Looks good on resume  Good pay  Rewarded for good performance  Open and respectful work atmosphere  Meet interesting people  Develop skills you can use in future jobs  Opportunity to advance to “Senior” level  . . . 

Job Description 

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All student assistants in the Art & Architecture library have public service responsibilities. They are expected to learn basic library tools and to help library users locate information in the library, as well as to shelve and shelfread. In addition, they may be assigned to staff the service desk without full-time staff present, and to open and close the library without full-time staff present. “Senior” level students and/or graduate students are expected to possess additional library and/or subject skills which will be used in helping library users. They may also be asked to take on special projects or to have an increased level of responsibility. Semester increases are based on performance and range from .10 - .25 The summer period counts as one semester; in order to receive the increase for that semester, a student must work at least seven weeks.

Location & Hours 

Steinberg Hall, 2nd Floor

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Regular Hours    

Monday – Thursday: 8:30 a.m. -11:00 p.m. Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Staff 

Ellen Petraits

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Carmen Doering

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Louis Artime

Art & Architecture Librarian, Library Administration, Collection Development – Studio Art & Art History Reference Librarian, Reference Questions, Collection Development – Art History & Architecture Library Assistant - Service Desk, Student

Assistants

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Adrienne Brennecke

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Vacant

Library Assistant - Circulation, Maintenance, Collection Management Library Assistant - Reserves, Technical Support, Visual Resources

Contact Information 

Main Library Telephone # 935-5268

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Departmental E-mail: [email protected]

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Louis, Adrienne, or vacant # 935-4315

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Our home and/or cell phone numbers are in the student drawer if you need to reach us on nights or weekends.

Policies 

Confidentiality of patron records

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Food & Drink policy

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Access/Circulation policies

Confidentiality All records that identify the library material borrowed, used, or requested by an individual or any records that identify individual library users are confidential and will not be released. There are very specific instances when these records can be released. Please review the student manual for details. Requests of this nature should always be referred to a fulltime staff member.

Food & Drink 

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All library staff are expected to enforce the “No food or drink allowed in the library” policy. Staff may have drinks in closed containers under the desk. Food should be eaten in the staff room. If there is a problem, please request the patron’s compliance. It may help to explain the reasons for the policy: - We’ve had numerous complaints from library users about food and drink problems (smell, spills, bugs). - Food and drinks attract bugs which literally destroy our collection - Direct them to alternative sites, i.e. the lounge outside the library - Water fountains are in the hallway

Access & Circulation The Art & Architecture library collection includes both circulating and non-circulating materials. Borrowers with current WashU IDs have borrowing privileges for circulating materials. In addition, there are “courtesy” patrons with borrowing privileges.  Faculty – 90 days  Graduate students – 60 days  Undergraduates – 28 days  Courtesy & MOBIUS borrowers – 21 days Please see the student manual for a detailed description of borrowing privileges. Non-circulating materials: reference materials, materials designated as “Library use only,” Periodicals, theses and dissertations, special collections materials. (Some exceptions are made for faculty and graduate students) Limited circulation materials: videos, DVDs, and CDs circulate for one week (non-WU users are limited to library use only), Periodicals can circulate to faculty for one week and to grad. Students for one day, library use only materials may circulate to WU faculty for one week. Renewals are granted unless another patron has requested the item. Borrowed material may be recalled after 2 weeks. Fines for overdue items accrue at the rate of 20 cents per day, per item. Rates are different for items that have been recalled or are on reserve. See manual for details.

Service Desk 

Library Webpage

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Student Assistant Manual

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Binders and Forms

Paperwork 

Be sure to fill out all the necessary paperwork for the position so that you are on the payroll. (appointment form, an I-9 form, and a W-4 form).

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International students have additional paperwork and will need to meet with Sharon in the administration office

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Make sure you understand the timesheet procedure - - they have to be completed and signed before the last day of the pay period, otherwise I cannot turn them in and your paycheck will most likely be delayed.

Guidelines & Expectations  

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Arrive to work on time If you will be late for a shift, call and let someone know. Your late arrival affects other people’s schedules (we’d prefer that you call the library first and if you cannot reach anyone, then use the departmental e-mail address) If you’re sick and unable to come to work, let a staff person know the day before or as early in the day as possible so that another person can take your shift. Fill in your timesheet at the beginning of each day you work. Your timesheet needs to be complete and signed before it can be turned in and your paycheck can be issued. Weekend workers are responsible for opening and closing the library on time. Cell phone use is not allowed in the Art & Architecture library. Please turn off your cell phone while you’re working. Cell phones may be used on your breaks in the lobby area outside the library. Friends and/or classmates are not allowed behind the desk or in any staff areas.

Guidelines & Expectations     

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Do not prop your feet up on the front desk. Playing computer games at the desk is not allowed. Log off Instant Messaging programs when your shift at the desk is finished. Because the front desk computer is a shared machine, do not download or save any files on it. Save to disc only. Be alert and watch for patrons. Make every effort to provide an answer or a means to an answer. Refer any questions you are unable to answer to a full time staff member or librarian. Anyone working 4 hours at a time is entitled to a 15 minute break. While on duty, you may use the staff room. Desk hours can be arranged around your meeting, conference, and/or exam schedule. Please notify Jennifer as soon as possible, a week ahead at least would be best. Also, let Jennifer know about vacation plans or any other scheduling issues. We will try to be as flexible as we can, but within reason. We do rely heavily on student assistants, especially for the night and weekend shifts.

Guidelines & Expectations 

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Homework may be done at the front desk after all other duties are complete. Food and visible drinks are not allowed at the front desk. Drinks in closed containers are the exception. Please keep them out of sight on the shelf under the front desk. Headphones and/or listening to music at the front desk is not allowed. You may listen to music while shelf-reading. It is your responsibility to assure prompt, courteous, and knowledgeable assistance to our patrons. If you are unable to work your scheduled hours, let someone know in advance. At slower desk times, when all shelving is complete, shelf read for 30 minute intervals.

Shelving & Shelf Reading 

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the arrangement of the collection and the various locations of materials (i.e. special collections, art storage, oversize, etc.)

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Precise shelving is very important! We want you to feel confident about how call numbers work. Please ask us if you are unsure of the ordering of call numbers. It can be tricky with the decimal points. (please see handout)

Reference Library accounts  Catalog searching  Databases and e-journals  MOBIUS  ILLIAD  Article-linker  Reference help 

Reserves 

“2 hour” and “personal copy” reserves do not leave the library.

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“PAM files” have barcodes on the front of the folder that are scanned like other reserve materials. The whole folder is checked out to the patron. All PAM files are 2 hour reserve.

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It is very important to be aware of the whereabouts of reserve materials. They need to be returned to the reserve shelf every time. If there is a stray book on the service desk counter, always check it in to see if it might be a reserve book.

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Victoria is the “go-to” person for reserves and she may have more instructions for you when she returns.

Procedures 

Circulation

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MOBIUS

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Opening & Closing

Customer Service 

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Think of the best and worst customer service experiences you’ve had as a customer or as a service provider. What can you learn from these experiences? Be sensitive to patron needs and courteous at all times. Be mindful of how difficult it can be for patrons to ask for help. Patrons may have had negative experiences or may feel vulnerable. Be kind and show effort. Greet each patron with a friendly, open and helpful attitude. Be on time for your shift - - it shows respect for your co-workers and patrons. If you will be late, please call to let someone know as soon as possible. View our library patrons as the job, rather than an interruption of it.

Customer Service   

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Treat your co-workers with respect. If a patron is frustrated or angry, let them vent. Avoid telling them to calm down. Try to listen without taking it personally. When dealing with a “difficult” patron, try to be empathetic and ask yourself what they really need and how you might be able to provide some help. Be proactive about solving patrons’ problems - - use questions and active listening to gather more information or details about what they need. Listen attentively and double-check your understanding of the facts by mirroring the information back to the patron. Make it a habit to go out of your way to help patrons. Try to always offer some alternative if you’re not able to directly solve the problem.

Welcome !