The library as a service to student employees
Most college students work that extra job to help pay living expenses and to attend school. Siobhan Hicks is one of those students. Not only does her work study help her to work in the library, but thanks to a new scholarship opporunity – it may even help some more. TV2’s Robert Carroll has the story.
[bbrvideo width=”350″ float=”left” caption=”Siobhan Hicks takes advantage of work study and employment services on campus to make ends meet. Now there is a new scholarship to also help” ]BBR_01A_Carroll_LibraryServices[/bbrvideo]
What most college students have to do – get a part-time job, and pay for their own things. Siobhan Hicks, Senior Public Health major, is no different from the others.
Hicks uses her work-study, which allows her to work in the University Library, to help make ends meet and pay down some of that college debt.
Thanks the student service of employment, the university library employs nearly 150 – 200 students each academic year, said Jim Bracken, Dean of the University Libraries. Bracken said he has nearly a $500,000 student budget – up from $300,000 in 2010.
The library is the second largest student employer on campus, next to food services as number one.
…This is a good way for me to get to know the library more, and even meet other students from my major. -Siobhan Hicks, library student employee
Bracken said he hopes the scholarship will save students from working that extra job at McDonalds, and come back to work at the library again. “Our fear is that they will take the scholarship money, and never work for the library again, “ said Bracken.
Hicks is thankful for the new scholarship opportunity. “It will give more students like myself the chance to continue being able to work for the library, and take pride in the work we do.”
Bracken said they contacted the national advisory board, and raised $25,000 to help establish the scholarship fund. He would like to give out a scholarship each year forever. “That will probably not happen, but it is wishful thinking,” said Bracken.
In the end, it is all about making the students happy to be working for the library. The central idea is to continue attracting more students to the library, and encourage its use.
Bracken has hopes to be able to hire more library assistants in the future, and like Siobhan Hicks, make their work-study come handy with a rewarding library experience.