We all know that the Library plays a huge role in the lives of McMaster students as the go-to place for research and study, but did you know that the Library also employs 70-80 students each year? Student Library Assistants work in many different areas of the Library, doing everything from signing out books and answering questions at the help desks in each library, to scanning archives and other documents for researchers, providing alternate format materials for students with disabilities, participating in marketing and social media activities, and assisting with multi-media software. We wanted to introduce some of our hard-working students and asked them some questions about their work experiences:
Faiza Ali, Hons. Life Sciences, Level IV
Why were you interested in working in the Library?
I love books and I am a people person, so for me, it was like two worlds colliding. Ever since my first year at McMaster, I have been coming to Thode Library to study, so I was excited for the possibility of being able to work here as well.
How has working in the Library helped you as a student?
It has helped me significantly with my research skills. I have become more aware of the many different sources of information which are available to students. This goes beyond just books and online articles and reaches out to old journals, Inter-library Loans (ILLs) as well.
What is the most important thing you've learned in your job?
It is important to pay attention to the details, no matter how small, and to put forward your best effort. It's the little things that count, and learning to pay attention to details is helpful in so many aspect of life.
Michelle Pickett, Hons. Gerontology & Health Studies, Level IV
Why were you interested in working in the Library?
As students, we are required to use the libraries for our research, and I knew that working there would expose me to the resources offered by McMaster Libraries so I could utilize them at full capacity. In addition, I knew working part-time on campus would be beneficial not only to my bank account but would also improve my transferrable skills.
How has working in the Library helped you as a student?
It has taught me how to manage my time and remain organized when school becomes stressful. It has also taught me communication skills.
What is the most important thing you've learned in your job?
The most important thing I've learned from my job is collaboration. Working with others is something that I will be able to use for the rest of my life.
Justin Raudys, Hons. English, Level IV
Why were you interested in working in the Library?
As an English major, most of my undergraduate work has been of a highly literary nature: working in the library presented not only an environment I am familiar with, but also one in which I could gain valuable experience to complement my future career goals.
How has working in the Library helped you as a student?
I believe that forming an intimate knowledge of our library network here at McMaster has been one of the keys to my academic success. Working here has done even more to bolster my knowledge of the wide variety of services and content offered by McMaster’s fantastic library system.
What is the most important thing you've learned in your job?
From the perspective of life skills and experience for my future career path, I would single out the technical expertise I’ve gained in this position as the most important knowledge I’ve achieved. I suppose this answer is two-fold: the technical expertise, but also the confidence and skills I’ve developed in the way I achieved it.
Hiral Patel, Hons. Biology & Psychology, Level III
Why were you interested in working in the Library?
There are many soft skills acquired through the library assistant position, which are vital for most jobs after graduation. For instance, the ability to work alone on a task or in pairs, to be able to successfully address students’ concerns, being attentive to detail, and executing specific tasks assigned by supervisors are all required skills in the medical field (which I plan to pursue).
How has working in the Library helped you as a student? Before working at Thode, I wasn’t aware of the various resources that the McMaster Libraries have to offer. Specifically, RACER has allowed me to borrow books that are required for my courses.
What is the most important thing you've learned in your job?
This job has taught me that being excellent and/or passionate about your job is not the only variable in the job satisfaction equation. The necessity to build strong relations with your co-workers is just as important as passion and job expertise.
Ayesha Nisar, Hons.Bachelor of Commerca, Level III
Why were you interested in working in the Library?
I became interested in working for the library mainly due to the convenience of being able to work and study in the same environment. Along with that though, I really wanted to contribute to the McMaster community on a larger scale and working for the library seemed like the best way to do so!
How has working in the Library helped you as a student?
Working for the library really opened my eyes to all the resources we have access to as students. There’s so much I didn’t know about study areas, course resources and general help before I began my role at the library!
What is the most important thing you've learned in your job?
My job has taught me how to stay accountable to my responsibilities and superiors even when I’m not under direct supervision. A lot of the times as students we’re told exactly what to do and how to do it but in my particular job I had the flexibility to choose my own hours and workload.
Umna Islam, Hons. BSc., Level II
Why were you interested in working in the Library?
I volunteered in a library for 2 years, and liked the atmosphere. I figured working on campus would be convenient and could help me expand on my previous experiences.
How has working in the Library helped you as a student?
It has taught me the one thing students lack: time management. I have begun to be more productive and make wiser choices with my free time.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned in your job?
The importance of paying attention to detail. It is so easy to shelve a book in the wrong spot and then no one can find it when they need it for their research.
