College and Research Libraries KEITH M. COTTAM Student Employees in Academic Libraries As part of the American higher education system, college and univer- sity libraries are subject to the same restless disruption as the rest of the campus. In view of this turmoil, the present paper considers the potential role of student library employees in successful library man- agement. Suggestions are made which can help to minimize dissatis- faction among library student assistants and improve their ability to contribute to the library enterprise. AT A TIME WHEN STUDENTS throughout the country are concerned and agitat- ing for more personal involvement and responsibility, it seems appropriate to ask what responsible voice a student might have in the management of col- lege and university libraries. This ques- tion has already been discussed in the literature as it relates to student library committees ( CRL, November 1965), but there has been limited published discussion of the role of the student employee in libraries. The expression "responsible voice" is at best vague and abstract, and it might be more appropriate to set up an ob- jective like "achieving the maximum po- tential of student employees for library efficiency," or "personal personnel rec- ognition for more effective library ad- ministration." At least with these we could get some measurement of wheth- er or not our aims were being accom- plished. However, "responsible voice" should not be put aside lightly, be- cause it has an implied relationship with the success of student personnel parti- cipation. It can relate directly to a student's outlook on libraries when he is Keith M. Cottam is Social Science Li- brarian at Brigham Young University. 246 / hired into a library, the way his attitude toward the responsibilities of his job progresses, and the way he views the functions of the library when he leaves. For example, a student knows better than anyone else what interests him and how some thing~ can be accomplished, and this can critically affect the amount of energy and effort he is willing to ex- pend. Much time can be spent in trying to get people to do something they do not want to do. On the other hand, if a student assistant recognizes the impor- tance of something and decides for him- self that it is worth doing-or better, discovers a way to improve upon it- there is little need to motivate him or to establish irrelevant standards. The prob- lem then for administrators becomes one of capturing the imagination and inter- est of the student assistants. Surely there are objections which can be raised against student workers par- ticipating to any substantial degree in the actual problems of library adminis- tration, among which are doubtless their immaturity and lack of depth in under- standing library management. However, there are certainly also some problems in relying entirely upon professionally mature librarians or fully experienced clerical assistants for all decision mak- ing. The immaturity of students is pre- ~ I J j cisely the reason why they should be given a voice. They cannot possibly grow in their understanding of them- selves or of their library opportunities without new challenges. The fact that libraries change slowly always leaves some librarians condi- tioned by old-fashioned images and fears that can only threaten innovative and creative librarianship. Even in our controversial times intellectual, in- volved, and committed librarians in many situations still end up struggling against influences which restrict crea- tivity and produce conformity. The gen- eral state of the library profession, re- strictive administrative conditions, sta- tus consciousness, the threat of internal or external controversy, personal inse- curity, and perhaps most important, the personality traits of librarians them- selves all combine to form a complex system which often seems to impede the progress of all but the most persist- ent among us. Students working in li- braries naturally find themselves at the bottom of this pile, with very little re- course unless a conscientious effort is made to aid them. They are often to all appearances trapped, and one might well ask just what can be done about it. First, the majority of American col- lege students have always manifested optimism, faith, and hope in a future full of opportunity for anyone with suf- ficient drive and integrity to take ad- vantage of it. Libraries can apply that dynamic spirit as well as their ingenuity, energies, and willingness to work on the most difficult problems and situations. The opportunity is there if librarians will but delegate responsibility to those student assistants who have the capac- ity to assume it prudently. Librarians, of course, must remain scrupulously within the limitations of their own level of responsibility, but they can at the same time permit wide exercise of ini- tiative and freedom of action on the part of the student assistants who look Student Employees I 247 to them for direction. The contributions of student assistants may take many forms: new perspectives on and pos- sibly even solutions to longstanding problems, improvements on traditional procedures, or a fresh outlook on pol- icies which may be having an adverse effect on the academic community in general, as well as on themselves as stu- dents and employees. The second thing that can be done grows from recognition of the fact that higher education does not end in the classroom. Indeed, it can sometimes best be attained through the application of knowledge in meeting new situations, through venture into new experiences, and through realistic exchange of ideas. Librarians can foster this kind of ex- periential education of their student as- sistants by encouraging them in self- discipline and informative communica- tion. Students should be given signifi- cant tasks in their library experience, work which provides them with respon- sibilities commensurate with their abil- ities and is capable of promoting critical analysis and decision making. They can be successfully given direct contact with the public through information desks and other service points, they can plan and coordinate many different types of projects and programs, they can super- vise fellow students, they can work with communications through such things as staff bulletins and committee meetings, they can do creative work with displays, and they can compile bibliographies. This involvement can enhance library service as the talents of participating students continue to grow and develop. Third, student assistants can be ac- cepted as colleagues-as companions in learning-and the serious and capable student will both profit from and con- tribute to it. There are, of course, ex- tremist attitudes and behavior among some students as there are among adults, but if a student is capable of learning in positive ways, he should be 248 I C allege & Research Libraries • July 1970 accepted in positive ways. Through this type of association librarians stand only to gain. Finally, a willingness to seek the opinions of student workers and then to listen to them is a major step in finding that "responsible voice." In all situations librarians should open lines for commu- nicating, caring always about what stu- dent assistants have to say, considering carefully their proposals for solving prob- lems, and, perhaps most important, as- suming with them jointly a responsi- bility for the character of the library in which they work to achieve well-bal- anced and integrated service. Order and progress in library management does not just happen; it evolves through thoughtful, critical analysis and im- proved understanding, and after objec- tive consideration of the alternatives available which may lead to better di- rection. Student assistants in college and uni- versity libraries have a stake in this di- rection, and it is doubtful that any li- brary, as a major resource for teaching and learning, can reach a maximum level of service without full utilization of the capabilities, opinions, talents, and background of capable part-time student employees as well as of its full- time staff. Librarians are in the business of edu- cation and in developing people for the future of the profession. Regardless of day-to-day commitments and pres- sures, they should apply the widest pos- sible latitude to their utilization of stu- dent assistants if they aspire success- fully to accomplish their goals. ••