1. Power and Convenience; 2. Unifying the Student Experience

Abstract

PRESENTATION 1 ABSTRACT: Power and Convenience: Methodological and Ethical Considerations for Student Workers and Assessments - Manda Sexton, Kennesaw State University. The use of student workers as the initial (or beta) testers seems to be a growing trend in academic library assessment. While this convenient sample might allow for “impromptu” testing for the assessments, the use of student workers as these testers not only puts the students in a place of negative power-differential, it also does not allow for accurate initial testing of these various assessments. These ethical and methodological considerations are often ignored. Librarianship is already on the fringes of the academy and if we continue to do things, like use convenience sampling to justify our existence, we continue to perpetuate our positions on the edge of what is considered a “legitimate” academic profession. This presentation details an upcoming paper in the Journal of Academic Libraries which calls for librarians to take those extra steps to promote strong ethical and methodological results and suggestions on how this might be accomplished.

PRESENTATION 2 ABSTRACT: Unifying the Student Experience: A Library Wide Supervisors Committee Approach - Amanda Peters, University of Michigan. The University of Michigan Library is a large organization that hires hundreds of student employees each year. Decentralized hiring practices lead to variations in hiring, job training, policies, and opportunities for students to engage with the library. In 2018, a Student Employee Task Force was given a one-year charge to investigate how the library might improve student employees’ experience and engagement. Now a standing library committee, the Student Employee Engagement Committee has facilitated student supervisor conversations around student employment, piloted a program to offer professional development opportunities for student employees, and coordinated end of year appreciation gifts for student employees. We also have a larger goal of making our hiring and training process more standardized and consistent. During this session, presenters will talk about the challenges the committee has faced, the goals we’ve achieved, and our future plans to make working for the library a richer learning experience.