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| by Sushiela Naidoo |
For many years academic libraries have employed
hundreds of students to maintain crucial functions in the Library. Student
employees, also recognized as student workers and student assistants, have played
a pivotal role in the library environment and they occupy a large portion of
the library staff complement. Over the years, UKZN library personnel
have realised that without student assistants/ workers, the libraries would not
be able to provide essential services to the university community. The UKZN library
is one of the largest employers of students in the university. Each year a
percentage of the library budget is allocated for the employment of student
assistants.
The Library recruits student workers and equips them
with the necessary skills to perform responsibilities that are vital for the
functioning of libraries in the absence of permanent library staff. Without the
student assistants, the library could not remain open 24 hours during the
academic terms of the university; costs for staffing the circulation desk would
increase, and assistance to students after hours would not be possible.
Around the middle of October each year, the various UKZN
libraries advertise the positions of student library assistants for each of the
five campuses. Statistics have indicated that an overwhelming number of students
respond to the advertisement. The number of student assistants employed by the
library in 2020 across the five campuses is just below 200. Students are
employed to ensure that the libraries offer a service to the university
community on weekdays from 16h00-08:00 and on the weekends and public holidays from
08:00. A 24/7 library service is only possible
with our student assistants helping to keep our libraries operational.
Over the years it has been found that student
assistants are drawn to library jobs and stay for a variety of reasons. Some
mentioned the atmosphere and the working environment, others enjoyed helping
patrons, and others mentioned they were encouraged by a friend or relative, and
for many financial assistance.
From the library’s perspective, students gain
practical work experience, as well as team building, organizing, and supervisory
skills. In addition to meeting the library’s needs, student employment in the
library also impacts students who are financially disadvantaged to continue
with their academic studies at the university. As a result, students are
instilled with positive social
integration and persistence [RK1] [SN2] at
the university. Students who are faced with financial challenges in particular
are given an opportunity to work at the library. Students are able to use the
revenue generated from working at the library to assist with their meals,
photocopying and purchasing of resources to ensure that their academic needs
are met.
Students who have worked
at the library have always expressed their gratitude in terms of the income
received from the Library. One of the previous students employed by the library
indicated that “the income she earned from working at the library did not only
help to pay for the completion of her academic studies but she was able to
purchase a door for her home to protect her family”.
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1Edgewood student
assistants with Shirley Pillay, Colin Chetty, Mukesh Kemrajh, Sithembile
Ngobese & Zanele Mthembu
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The UKZN Library staff are always proud to be part of
the student assistant’s journey at the university. One of the student
assistants who worked at the library during the completion of his Master’s in
Education degree has always expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to
work at the library. He has said that working at the library had given him an
opportunity to develop his confidence and helped him persevere with his academic
studies.
Mr Clinton
Chidiebere Anyanwu has completed his doctorate and he is
currently employed by the Edgewood campus as an academic. On behalf of the library staff, we would like
to congratulate Mr Clinton
Chidiebere Anyanwu on his achievement. The UKZN library staff extends
its appreciation to all past, present and future student assistants and thanks them
for their contribution in helping to assist the university community.
References
Benjamina, M. & McDevitt, T. 2018. The benefits
and challenges of working in an academic library: a study of student library assistant
experience. The Journal of Academic
Librarianship, 44(Issue 2,), 256-262.
Fuller, F. Jay. 1990. Evaluating student assistants as
library employees. College &
Research Libraries News, 51(1) 11-14.
