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LADC Student Employees Guide

This website is intended to provide information regarding the various tasks, duties, and functions performed by student workers at the LADC.

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PROFESSIONALISM

It is a wonderful thing to be able to work in a library!  Few other professions afford such a quiet, serene environment with patrons that genuinely love our workplace as much as we do.  That being said, it is important to be aware of some of the pitfalls in professionalism that can easily occur unless we remain intentional in our distinction as library employees.  In the quiet of the library, it is easy to forget that we are hired and paid because there is always something that we can and should be doing.

A blue circle with the words, "Librarian At Your Service" encircling the top 2/3rds of the circle. in the center is a picture of an orange generic person reading an open white paged book. The orange circle of the person's head has a white, open, smiling mouth and six stars around their head, three on the left and three on the right. As the stars descend they become larger stars.

BE PATRON-FOCUSED

 

NEVER NEGLECT PATRONS!
  • Your first priority as a student employee is to assist patrons in accessing the books, materials, and information that we safeguard here at the LADC
  • Have a cheerful willingness to help everyone!
  • Have the courage to take action when needed!
    • They had the courage to ask for help, so we need the courage to try and assist them in any way that we can.
      • Try to help them on your own, but if after trying you still cannot resolve the issue, ask for further help.
        • Stay with your fellow employee if possible so that you can learn too! 
        • If you need to ask library staff to cover desk while you learn, we will be happy to do so!
        • BE A CONTINUAL LEARNER!  Part of being confident in helping others is being confident in yourself and the knowledge and ability you possess. 
          • Continue to grow in your ability to be a librarian by studying and mastering the LADC Student Employee Guide and the LADC Student Handbook!

BE PRESENT AND PATRON-FOCUSED
  • Be aware of Patrons as they pass the desk.
    • If they approach; make eye contact, smile, and ask them what you can do for them
      • I.e., something along the lines of, "What can I help with you today?".
    • Never force a patron to have to pull your attention away from something non-work related!
      • Talking with friends, doing homework, watching videos, etc., are all secondary to helping patrons!
  • Never leave the circulation desk unattended!
    • Whether you have to step out or are shelf-reading, make sure you have a fellow employee at the desk.
      • If you are the only student worker, tell library staff if you have to step away and we will be happy to cover the circulation desk for you until you return.
      • Tell people where you are going before stepping away from the desk.
        • The fewer uncertainties there are between employees the better.
    • "Unattended" does not always equal having a person never leave the desk.  Leaving the desk to assist a person at the printer while keeping an eye on the desk counts as "attending to" the desk.  Going upstairs to shelf-read and leaving the desk empty does not.
  • EARBUD AND HEADPHONE POLICY
    • NEVER wear both earbuds at work!
      • As previously mentioned, you are expected to be aware of everything going on around you.
      • REMEMBER: This is also a safety issue if you are not aware of what patrons are doing.
        • Emergencies begin or happen in seconds!

DISTINCTION BETWEEN PATRONS AND EMPLOYEES
  • Being a Student Employee means that you are agreeing to being distinct from our patrons, not only in function, but in professionalism and behavior.  You represent the library whereas patrons and friends do not. 
    • THEREFORE: We expect library employees to:
      • NEVER ALLOW NON-EMPLOYEES BEHIND THE DESK
        • All behavior behind the desk reflects Auburn University.  If non-employees reflect Auburn poorly behind the desk, it reflects poorly on whomever is working the desk, and, by extension, everyone working at the LADC.
        • PATRON PRIVACY
          • The sharing of private information, whether intentionally or unintentionally, is a fireable offense! As an employee you are trusted with private patron information that cannot be seen by, nor shared with, non-employees.
            • Remember, if you turn on the patron-facing screen, remember to turn it off after you finish the transaction with the patron.
          • If you are unfamiliar with what constitutes private, confidential information, please review Auburn University's "Policy on the Confidentiality of Student Records Pursuant to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act".
      • COMPLETE ALL WORK-RELATED TASKS BEFORE WORKING ON PERSONAL TASKS
        • We understand that here at Auburn you are students first and we want you to succeed. As a paid student employee, we only ask that you keep up with the duties and functions you are hired to complete before working on non-work related tasks.
          • i.e., you have shelf-read, books on the cart have been reshelved, etc.
          • Never be on devices or non-work-related material if books need to be shelved!
        • Working on homework is acceptable only when the main duties of your position have been kept up with;
          • Friends are not allowed behind the desk, even when working on projects! 
            • If you need to share a screen, utilize the patron facing-screen. Just be mindful of protecting the sensitive data of other patrons and turn off the screen when helping patrons.
      • REMEMBER: When at work, Patrons come first, even if you are in the middle of working on a homework assignment.

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BEING OUTSTANDING CO-WORKERS

BE PRO-ACTIVE
  • As an employee, it is our duty to know the tasks we are expected to perform and to seek to perform them to the best of our ability.
  • Be familiar with each task and pro-actively take steps to keep them as completed as possible.
    • i.e., record every interaction in LibAnswers, check the book drops on every shift, re-shelve books on the book cart, pick-up any trash that we see, shelf-read when the opportunity presents itself.
  • "Be the change you wish to see in the world." is a quote often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi that is applicable here. If you see something that needs doing, be the one to take action and get it taken care of. 

BE MINDFUL OF WHAT FELLOW EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING ON

EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF LABOR

  • Always be on the look-out for ways to help your co-workers. 
  • Most people do not want to ask for help, but will gladly accept help.
  • Never let another employee do all of the work.
    • If you notice a fellow employee is doing a disproportionate amount of the work, offer to help, or claim a task you know needs doing.
      • I.e., split the closing duties, offer to re-shelve the next books returned, take the initiative to check the book drops, ask them if they can cover the desk while you take your turn shelf-reading, etc.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY
  • Communication is key!
    • The first thing a marriage counselor will tell you is that people are not mind-readers.  If you need help, politely ask for help.
  • If you feel you are the one doing a disproportionate amount of work, politely take steps to bring what needs doing to the attention of others.
    • Helpful phrases include:
      • "Could you do me a favor?"
        • Most people are willing to do someone a favor. This phrase implies you are willing to help them in the future since favors are mutual.
      • "While I do this, would you mind taking care of _________?"
        • Most people want to be helpful and might simply need direction.
  • Library staff are here to help make your jobs run effectively and smoothly.  If there is a recurring problem that we are not aware of, bring it to our attention and we can help mediate a solution.
    • If BASIC issues arise, rely on your teammates first, library staff second, and the Head of the LADC last
    • Refer all intensive research-based questions to the Head of the LADC

SHELF-READ FOR 30 MINUTES ON EVERY SHIFT
  • Everyone must Shelf-Read.  Library staff is required to check the logs to make sure all student employees are shelf-reading and that a fair distribution of duties is being carried out by everyone.
    • Remember to make sure at least one person knows that you are leaving the desk to shelf-read.
    • Remember to never leave the circulation desk unattended.
 
 

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