1. Making Student Employment Meaningful to Student Employees; 2. Motivating and Retaining Library Student Assistants in Access Services

Abstract

PRESENTATION 1 ABSTRACT: Making Student Employment Meaningful to Student Employees - Jennifer A. DeVito, Stony Brook University. Increasingly, academic libraries use student employment to help students to develop job skills and build their resumes while also providing needed support in the library. The Access & User Services department at Stony Brook University Libraries employs between 40-60 students each semester. Over the years, we have grown our student employee program from being one in which we trained solely for the tasks in the library to one in which we use online training, in person training, encourage professional development, and work with the student employees to identify and develop transferable skills that they can use to build their resumes. This presentation will demonstrate how we set expectations for student employees, incorporate feedback, and set the stage for progressive career development. The presentation will also include areas for improvement and our process for continually updating the student employee program.

PRESENTATION 2 ABSTRACT: Motivating and Retaining Library Student Assistants in Access Services - Catherine Paolillo and Christopher Marcum, University of San Diego. Looking for tips and tools to help you successfully motivate and retain academic library student assistants? This session is for you! Join two Access and Outreach Services Librarians to learn about their robust program for evaluating and recognizing a diverse team of 25+ Access Services Student Assistants. Our program encourages and empowers students to succeed in school, at work, and after graduation by focusing on three key areas. First, by offering job training that allows students to work confidently, as well as learn and develop new skills. Second, by conducting performance evaluations with empathy and compassion. And finally, by creating value-added programming such as career workshops, a scholarship program, and work projects tied to individual students’ career interests. Our average student assistant retention rate from 2018 to 2020 was 98.5%. Attendees will get practical tips and tools to help them implement similar strategies for success at their home institutions.