You see many of them every day as you enter the library or when you check out a book.  Many you do not see, but if you receive a book through interlibrary loan, check out a government publication, or notice a library flyer or web graphic, you've benefited from their efforts.  

"These dedicated and hardworking students are the unsung heroes of the library," remarks Dean of Libraries Vicki Bloom. "The libraries simply could not operate without them."   

A positive, public face
 

Circulation Student Assistants are a very public part of the library, but checking out materials is not all that they do.  

"Circulation Student Assistants are responsible for customer service interactions both at a point of service and within the building. For shelving materials (some weighing as much as 10 pounds); filing and general clerical duties; answering multi-line phones; maintaining data records; monitoring security gates; making announcements; processing money transactions; and other duties as assigned," said Katherin Plodowski, Circulation Supervisor.

The Circulation Student Assistants have a fan in Associate Professor of Art History Andrea Rusnock.  

"My experience with the student workers has been great," she said. "I have yet to encounter a student worker who isn't an asset to the library. They often go above and beyond their job description as they have secured boxes for me to carry a heavy load of books, have helped get me carts to move materials, and have even offered to help get my books to my car...The student workers are a good face for the library."

This doesn't surprise Plodowski.  

"Our students go the extra mile all the time, " she confirms. "MaKayla works at the bookstore.  Prior to classes starting she was often walking students to the sub-basement of Northside to pick up web orders because the students were told at the bookstore to 'go downstairs' for pickup [and ended up in the library via the tunnel access].

Carl is awesome at making anyone feel like they belong regardless of age, background, or culture.  

Katie goes the extra mile to make sure anyone with an issue receives some sort of resolution."  

Plodowski also commented that some of the Circulation student assistants are great advocates for other campus services as well.
 

"Shayla works as an R.A. (Resident Assistant) in housing.  She's frequently taking the time with students to introduce herself and market Student Life events on campus or at housing while she handles our front desk.  

Quida works at the Student Services Career Office. She spends time directing students to the proper department to ask questions within Student Services, giving specific staff names.  

Jasmine and Sardius make sure students know about the Black Student Union organization and events as well as the Arts programs for dance and choir."  

Plodowski also relates that Alex has actually been a member of the IUSB community since she was a baby.  "Her mom was taking classes at IUSB when Alex was born.  Her uncle Tony worked for the library in the late 1990s.  Alex was enrolled in the Child Development Center on campus. When Alex was ready to go to college, I guess we were a natural option... a bit of home away from home.  As an artist, she's been a great addition to the group, bringing a different perspective from traditional humanities majors." 

Hidden Gems

While the Circulation Student Assistants are the most well-known of the student workers in the Library, there are several students who work behind the scenes assisting with interlibrary loan, graphic design, government publications, and special projects.  

Noticed the READ posters featuring student groups such as Honors, Dental Hygiene, and Dance? Student Graphics Assistant Julie Johnson, a senior majoring in New Media, has taken most of the student group photos and done the design for these group posters.  She also creates flyers for library events and web graphics for the Library home page. 

"Julie is a tremendous photographer and graphic artist," said Julie Elliott, Associate Librarian and Coordinator of Public Relations and Outreach. "We are so lucky to have someone so skilled to help us with these outreach projects.  I think working at the Library is a good experience for her as well, providing additional pieces that she can add to her professional portfolio and use in her job search after graduation."

While Johnson is relatively new to working at the Schurz Library, some workers, such as recent Russo Scholarship winner Bri Hensley, who works for Government Publications and Reference, Instruction, and Outreach (RIO), have been here for most of their IU South Bend education. Bri spends most of her time assisting in government publications. Director of Reference, Instruction, and Outreach (RIO) Linda Fisher boasts, "she's a great worker, always ready to try new tasks."

Some students work in more than one Library department. Jasmine Allen and Sardius Giden (who is one of several Giden siblings to work at the Schurz Library over the years) work in both Circulation and in Interlibrary Loan.

Their favorite aspects of working in the Library 

Aside from a convenient job on campus, the Schurz Library and Wiekamp Educational Resource Commons (WERC) student workers enjoy assisting their peers and being part of the information center of campus. 

"I like being able to help other students and make their experience at IUSB a little easier," said Jane Wise, an English major who works in the Schurz Library Administration Office as well as in the WERC. 

" I feel that if IUSB were a person, the Schurz Library would be the 'brain' and I like being a part of that" said Alex Manderfeld, a fine arts major who works in the Circulation department.

"I love the wonderful librarians, relaxed atmosphere, vast amount of services available, and diversity of patrons  [here at the Library]" said Elizabeth Miller, student worker in Circulation.

Working here in the Library, our student workers have a few services and resources that they highly recommend to others. These are:

Wise: "Interlibrary Loan. Many times it is overlooked by students and it is such a valuable resource because it allows people to check out books from other IU campuses that IU South Bend may not have. It can be a life saver!"

Manderfeld: "Reference Librarians!  They are here to help you.  If you are struggling with a research assignment, make an appointment with a Librarian, and they will help significantly."

As a way to give back to our excellent student workers, the Friends of the IU South Bend Libraries established the student worker scholarships in 2002. Any student who has completed at least 3 semesters of employment at the Library or WERC, is not in an appointed position, has at least a 2.7 GPA, and currently is enrolled in six or more credits may apply. Applicants need to also submit an essay and letters of recommendation from a Library supervisor and faculty member or academic advisor.   

In 2010, upon Dean Russo's retirement, the scholarship became endowed as the Michele C. Russo Student Worker Scholarship. 

During the past 12 years, 18 student workers have received this award. Last year we caught up with some of these students as part of our 25th anniversary celebration. 

They are:

Michele C. Russo Library Student Worker Scholarship Winners

2014: 

Jasmine Allen (pictured above right): Still working for the Schurz Library, studying elementary education. Plans to graduate in the Spring of 2016.  

Brianna Hensley (pictured above left): Still working for the Schurz Library, studying dental hygiene. Will graduate in May 2015.

2013: 

Eric Walerko: Graduated Spring 2014. Enrolled in the Master's of Library Science Archives program at the University of British Columbia. 

Friends of the IU South Bend Libraries Student Employee Scholarship Winners

2010:

Houssam (Sam) Mourad: Currently working for Crowe Horwath. Mourad had the following to say about his time at IU South Bend: "I found the Schurz Library to be the perfect mix of support and independence. Being surrounded by its friendly and intellectual staff made working at the library such a great experience that I will never forget."

Read about Mourad's time at IUSB in this Schurz Library News article from 2010 (page 6). 

2008 & 2006: 

Naoko Fujimoto: Naoko is working in the Japanese machine-tool industry in the Chicago

area. She is the first sales assistant for Team Mexico and Brazil, along with being the primary contact for Japanese customers. She still publishes poetry, with recent poems being published in a magazine from UC Berkeley. She recalls about her time working at the Schurz Library: "The people at the library always supported and encouraged me, even when I made my first announcement over the PA and nobody understood my strong Japanese accent. They also supported me when I had broken hearts over the years, and when I decided to become a poet. Through my college life at the library, I made lifetime friendships with people from all over the world. Working at the library gave me confidence and pride in being an IU South Bend graduate." 

2007: 

Amanda Groendyke: Amanda is currently living in Ohio, where her husband is pursuing a PhD in biochemistry. She is working part-time as a reference assistant at the local public library, doing most of her work in the children's department, which she describes as "just plain fun. It seems I can't stay away from libraries!"

2004: 

Anthony Smith & Sandra Romero: "When thinking of my time as a student worker, one memory stands out more than any other," said Smith. "On my first day of work at the library, I arrived early and waited in my vehicle parked next to an old aqua-colored Saturn which, I would learn soon, also contained another student worker on her first day, Sandra Lucero Romero. I helped her fill out her W-4 that morning and after an off and on two-year relationship, we married. We're still going strong 8 years (and one precious daughter) later."  Sandra is now a Senior Accountant at Credico in Chicago.  In addition to her degree from IU South Bend, she has a master's from the Keller Graduate School of Management.  Tony is an Archivist in the aerospace industry.

2003: 

Wolalak (Mong) Boonrasri: Mong is an investor and stock market trader in Thailand. She is married with one child.

Roxann Litteral: Roxann is the mother of three children, ages 5, 7 and 8. "I adopted them two years ago after being their foster mother for a year and a half," she said.  "I absolutely love my 'job"!'