| Student Worker Information
WELCOME
We could like to welcome you to the Northeast Community College Library Student Library Employee web page. We are happy to have you working with the library staff to provide friendly, high-quality information services for your fellow students, patrons and Northeast faculty and staff.
To insure this quality service, we need to work together as a team, according to the following guides. The purpose of this handbook is to inform you of the general provisions and regulations while working here. You may follow the links on the left to learn more about working at our library.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Attitude - We depend on you to promote good public relations by displaying a good public image. Remember that you represent Northeast Community College library to our customers, and your friendly, caring attitude is very important.
- Appearance – We expect student employees to maintain a neat and clean appearance. The way that we appear to the public is an important for of non-verbal communication which creates on others an impression about the Library as a competent and professional academic resource. Your clothing should be work casual. No hats or tee shirts with offensive language are permitted.
- Absences – All library student employees are expected to show up for scheduled shifts on time and ready to perform their assigned job duties. If you are unable to work for any reason, your absence must be reported. For evening shifts, please attempt to trade hours with another student worker. All schedule changes need to be reported to library staff. Non-emergency absences should be reported prior to the event (class trips, special assignments, etc.) In an emergency have someone call 844-7130 as soon as possible.
- Breaks– If you are working 4 hours in the evening and on the dormitory food plan, we realize that the cafeteria will not open before you would need to report to work at 5. Arrange a break time with your evening supervisor.
- Courtesy – Be courteous and respectful to students, patrons, faculty, staff and co-workers at all times. Your chief responsibility while at the circulation desk is to provide prompt and efficient attention to our patrons. Patrons who disagree with library policies should be referred to a library staff member. Never argue with any patron no matter how unreasonable he/she may seem.
- Commitment – By accepting a job in the library you are committing to maintain a regular work schedule throughout the entire semester. Check the online library calendar for changes in library hours that may affect your work schedule. This is not only a place to work during your college years, it is training for future employment and is creating a work history for your future resumes.
- Computer Use – Most jobs in the library involve computer use. While it is ok to briefly check your email or view something on the web, this should not interfere with your assigned job tasks. Playing games while on duty is not allowed. Student employees should also never download software onto library computers or change computer configurations.
- Evaluation of Performance – The library supervisor will periodically review your job performance. During the evaluation process, you will have an opportunity to discuss your performance and the evaluation with the supervisor. These evaluations are part of your work record and may be used when prospective employers request employment references.
- Friends visiting – Any visiting with friends while you are working should be limited and when necessary, accomplished quietly.
- Homework – If all of your work assignments are completed, homework may be retrieved from your book bag. Remember that if you are assigned to the circulation desk, serving the patron comes first.
- Mailboxes- You will find a mailbox with your name attached in the back work area. Your time sheets and nametags should be kept there. Be certain to check these boxes every time you work, as notes from Financial Aid and special assignments will be placed here for you.
- Name tags – Student nametags are provided. Wearing this nametag helps to clearly identify the student as an employee of the library and makes you more approachable by library users. These are kept in the mailbox area and should be kept there when not in use.
- Timesheets – The timesheets are available from the Financial Aid department. Timesheets are typically due by 5 p.m. every other Friday. Exceptions are listed on the schedule provided by Financial Aid. It is the employee’s responsibility to turn in completed timesheets to the Financial Aid office by the deadline. Please record your daily hours and keep in your assigned mailbox.
TIPS TO HELP ASSURE PAYCHECKS ARE REGULAR:
- Time sheets turned in late may result in a missed paycheck. (All hours will be combined and paid on the next check.) Timesheets may be turned in early.
- During your last scheduled shift, have your timesheet signed by the librarian and take it to the Financial Aid office. This is your responsibility.
- We suggest you sign each timesheet when established. In an emergency, a timesheet with your signature can be completed and turned in for you by Library staff.
- Work hours must not overlap with official class schedules. Occasionally, a class will dismiss early and you might want to make up missed hours. This will require a notation on your timesheet. Financial aid cannot pay you to work when classes are scheduled unless class schedule changes are noted on the timesheet.
Weather Emergencies - information about what to do in the case of a Weather Emergency.
PUBLIC SERVICE
- Circulation desk – When you are working at the circulation desk it is important to be attentive and SMILE. It is easy to be distracted by other students, and the environment around you. When a patron comes to the circulation desk, they deserve your immediate and complete attention. Establish eye contact with the patron and listen carefully to their request. Offer assistance when requested and if you are unable to help, refer to a library staff member. Offer as much assistance as you are comfortable giving and refer patron to a full time library employee after that. Studying is allowed if you have no other assignments, but must be considered secondary to service to the patron.
- Checking in/out materials – When a patron is borrowing an item from the library they are essentially entering a contract with Northeast. They are agreeing to return the item on time and in the same condition as when they checked it out. For this reason it is critical that you are very careful to ensure that each item is checked out correctly. Be certain to watch the computer screen and make sure that you are actually checking out to the patron you are helping, and that the item is the one that you have in front of you. Always verbally tell the patron when the item is due. Offer future assistance….”Let us know if you need any more help”
- Confidentiality – No private patron information should ever be given out over the counter. Reserve files, circulation files, interlibrary loan files, and fines records are strictly confidential. Do not give anyone the name of someone to whom a book is checked out…even if the book is overdue. Any inquiries in this regard should be referred to a library staff member. The federal Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) requires that student information be protected and kept confidential. If you gain access, through your job, to information about other students, you MUST keep it confidential. Sharing confidential information with others who are not authorized to receive it (outside the scope of your job duties) is serious federal violation and is cause for immediate dismissal, and could lead to further disciplinary action.
- Copy Machine & Copy Cards – The library has a copy machine available to the public. This is a coin operated machine that will accept nickels, dimes, quarters and dollar bills. There must be money in the coin machine for it to operate. Copy cards are also available for purchase for $1. Any amount that the patron wishes to put on these cards is their prerogative. Maximum of $20.00. Once the card is purchased for the $1, it remains the property of the buyer, and more money can be added at any time. A courtesy card if provided at the circulation desk and may be used to make copies for library staff, college employees or students with money for one or two copies.
- Database Training – There will be various times at the beginning of each semester that Library Orientations sessions will be offered. Each semester that you are employed in the library you will be required to attend these sessions. This training will help you assist patrons in their online research. Check library calendar for the scheduled orientations and fit one into your schedule. If this is not possible, contact the Instructional Librarian to set up a time convenient for you.
- Passwords
- Databases - you must log into HawkNet to get the Database passwords
- Work Flows - Ask a Librarian.
- Personal Items – Storage space is provided for coats and book bags in the backroom of the library. Cell phones should be left in the book bags. We ask that you limit emergency cell phone use to the backroom.
- Telephone use – NECC has a totally new telephone system as of 8-1-06. Everyone is learning to use these new telephones.
TIPS FOR COURTEOUS TELEPHONE SERVICE INCLUDE:
- Speak clearly with “Northeast College Library, May I help you?”
- Don’t answer phones until you know how to use them – schedule training session with Library staff.
- The main desk is the only phone you should answer, others are direct lines to staff and voice mail will pick-up if they are not available.
- Telephone communication is as crucial as face-to-face interaction. When answer the telephone you are speaking on behalf of the library.
- Test proctoring – The library offers a test proctoring service for instructors who have students unable to complete them in the classroom. For security reasons refer the student to a Library staff member to proctor the test.
SPECIAL TASKS
As a library work study student you will be requested to do various routine duties to help in the library. They will include the following and others as assigned.
Several newspapers are received on a daily basis. After these are checked in you may be requested to attach them to the newspaper rods provided for this purpose. Please do this in a neat and timely manner. On Thursday we received many of the local newspapers in our 30 county area. They will also be attached to the rods in their area. Care needs to be taken so that loose pages are attached to full with scotch tape so that they will not fall off the rod. .
Shelf reading is an ongoing project that must be maintained so that books do not become lost if they have been re-shelved inaccurately. Northeast Community College Library uses the Dewey Decimal system of cataloging and filing on the shelves. Individual training will be given for this duty.
- Re-shelving books & videos
When books and videos have been checked out and returned after use, you may be asked to return them to the proper location of the shelves. Accuracy in accomplishing this is very important. When you return a book to the wrong area….IT IS LOST. Check carefully the area you are returning the book to and then check again. Individual training will be provided for this duty.
The library home page on the college Web Site holds many links. We know that these can change or become “dead-links” at any time. You may be asked to check these links at a regular interval to insure accuracy and report any errors to a librarian.
Various routine duties may be asked of you to complete on a regular basis. These should be done whenever you complete another assigned task and are waiting for additional work to be assigned. They include the following: Straightening and dusting the magazine and video shelves; Straightening the study tables and chairs; Filling pencil holders; and other duties as assigned.
If your schedule includes working evenings in the library, you will be supervised by the librarian working that evening. She may assign you a regular duty for that evening that you will work on routinely. If you work 4 hours in a row, you will receive a 15 minute break.
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