Work at Penfield Library

Faculty & staff positions

All open positions are posted on the campus Human Resources Employment Opportunities page and will include the word "Library" or "Librarian."

Look for available faculty & staff jobs

Student positions

  • Penfield Library employs about 35 student assistants during the fall and spring semesters.
  • Positions are available for both work-study and non-work-study students. Note: work-study positions will not be visible to non-work-study students in Handshake.
  • Most students work about 10 hours a week. Please be aware that students can work a maximum of 20 hours combined for all campus jobs.
  • Student assistants are expected to communicate effectively with library staff and to be attentive to their assigned schedules. A successful candidate will be able to remain physically active throughout their shift, show attention to detail, and be self-motivated.

Students are hired to work in one of the following positions:

Access Services Student Assistant 1

What does an Access Services Student Assistant 1 do?

  • Checks out, checks in, and renews items for library users
  • Assists users with searching for items in the library catalog and / or on the shelves
  • Refers questions to the Research Help Desk or Computer Lab Assistant as needed
  • Sorts and shelves library materials
  • Moves library materials and book carts as needed
  • Other duties or projects as assigned

Does this unit involve interaction with library users? Yes

Are evening / weekend hours available? Yes; however, most available hours are between 8am - 5pm.

Access Services Student Assistant 2

What does an Access Services Student Assistant 2 do?

This position is for students who have worked as Access Services Student Assistants. This person is often the only student assistant on duty at the Check-Out & Reserves Desk, so they should have a thorough understanding of library services and procedures. This person will also be involved in opening and closing the building, so they need to have demonstrated exceptional dependability while working as an Access Services Student Assistant.

Does this unit involve interaction with library users? Yes

Are evening / weekend hours available? Yes; people in this position primarily work evening / weekend hours. Available hours are:

  • 5pm - 11pm, Monday through Thursday
  • 5pm - 9pm, Friday
  • 11am - 7pm, Saturday
  • 11am - 11pm, Sunday
Collection Management Student Assistant

What does a Collection Management Student Assistant do?

  • Opens packages and other mail
  • Processes library materials (this includes stamping, taping, labeling, etc.)
  • Repairs and reinforces materials
  • Searches for items in the library catalog and / or on the shelves
  • Moves library materials and book carts as needed
  • Other duties or projects as assigned

Does this unit involve interaction with library users? No

Are evening / weekend hours available? No; available hours are:

  • 8am - 4pm, Monday through Friday.
Peer Reference Assistant

What does a Peer Reference Assistant do?

  • Assists users with searching for items in the library catalog and / or on the shelves
  • Helps users identify and search the best database(s) for their research question
  • Answers basic questions about citations
  • Helps users request items from other libraries
  • Directs and / or refers people to other offices or services, both within the library and elsewhere on campus
  • Refers users to librarians for complex research questions
  • Assists with outreach activities (e.g. Research Parties, tabling at events, etc.)
  • Other duties or projects as assigned

Does this unit involve interaction with library users? Yes

Are evening / weekend hours available? Yes; people in this position primarily work evening / weekend hours. Available hours are:

  • 5pm - 9pm, Sunday through Thursday
  • 3pm - 7pm, Friday
Resource Sharing Student Assistant

What does a Resource Sharing Student Assistant do?

  • Packages and processes incoming and outgoing mail
  • Retrieves materials from all floors of Penfield Library
  • Scans materials
  • Processes requests in our Resource Sharing software
  • Other duties or projects as assigned

Does this unit involve interaction with library users? No

Are evening / weekend hours available? No; available hours are:

  • 8am - 4pm, Monday through Friday.
Archives & Special Collections Student Assistant

What does an Archives & Special Collections Student Assistant do?

  • Scans or digitizes original historical documents (or other media)
  • Completes inventory of collections
  • Shifts and organizes materials
  • Assists with research

Does this unit involve interaction with library users? Yes, but minimal

Are evening / weekend hours available? No; available hours are:

  • 8am - 4pm, Monday through Friday.

How to apply

Student employment in the library is very competitive. Applicants are evaluated based upon the needs of the library, the compatibility of the applicant with those needs, the flexibility of the applicant's schedule, and grade point average. Previous library experience is not necessary.

Look for available student jobs

All open positions are posted on Handshake. You will find job descriptions, any relevant information about schedules, current pay rates, and instructions on how to apply. We keep positions posted until all available spots are filled.