LSU Libraries Student Assistant Handbook
Welcome to the staff of the LSU Libraries! Student Assistants are critically important to the Libraries, and we hope that your work experience here will be rewarding for you. Your contribution to our efforts in attaining the Libraries' goals will be appreciated by your supervisors and other permanent staff of the Libraries, as well as our many patrons.
As a SERVICE organization, our main goal is to help our patrons fulfill their informational needs. When you join the staff as a student assistant, you become a REPRESENTATIVE of the Libraries. Always make an effort to be courteous and helpful. If you cannot answer a question, find a staff member who can. Misinformation can be worse than no information. Directing a patron incorrectly can cause a great deal of frustration, especially if this happens repeatedly. Even if you never deal directly with patrons, remember that the CARE and ACCURACY you put into your work will help patrons locate what they need. We expect our student assistants to be considerate, responsible, and conscientious on the job.
Please read these guidelines CAREFULLY. The guidelines can be downloaded as Microsoft Office Documents here.
Part Two
BREAKS
A 15 minute paid break may be taken if you are working three or more CONSECUTIVE hours. Breaks may not be taken at the beginning or end of your shift. Your supervisor has the authority to schedule your break.COMPUTERS
Use of the computers by student assistants is limited to library business use only. Personal use for homework, e-mail, and browsing the internet is not permitted on work time.DRESS
Appropriate dress is required throughout the Libraries but some departments have more specific requirements. Ask your supervisor for the departmental rules.ELIGIBILITY
To maintain your eligibility to work, you must be a FULL-TIME student. This means that you must not drop below 12 credit hours per semester and remain on the payroll. Notify your supervisor immediately of any change in the number of hours in which you are enrolled. Students on academic probation may not work without the permission of the Dean of their college.SUMMER EMPLOYMENT: Only students who are attending summer school, OR who are pre-registered as full-time students for the fall semester and who were full-time the entire spring semester, are eligible to work during the summer.
FOOD/DRINK
Food and/or drinks are not permitted in any area of the Libraries, except the lounge and kitchens.ID BADGES
All staff members, including student assistants, must wear identification badges while on duty. You should report to Administrative Services (30 Middleton) to have your badge made during your first week of employment.PAYCHECKS
All employees are required to participate in direct deposit of their pay. Direct deposit can be checked on PAWS account. Your first paycheck might be at least a week or two late, due to the time involved in getting your forms processed through Student Aid and Student Payroll.RAISES
Raises are based on MERIT and given on supervisors' recommendations. Supervisors can give raises up to 25 cents per semester, but it is up to their discretion. The maximum wage allowed by the University is $8.00/hour.RECOMMENDATIONS
Student supervisors are often asked by potential employers to provide letters of recommendation for present or past student assistants. Although there may be little or no correlation between the skills required for your library job and your future career, your library job will provide you with the opportunity to showcase skills you already have or to develop new skills important to future employers. Dependability, the ability to work with others, initiative, problem-solving ability, and attention to detail are critical to almost any profession. Keep in mind that supervisors can provide you with valuable references in the future.SCHEDULES
Student Supervisors and the staff of the LSU Libraries recognize that your school work is, and should be, your first priority. Nevertheless, your ability to adhere to a certain schedule is a basic precondition for employment.Please provide your supervisor with a copy of your LSU-generated class schedule. You and your supervisor will draw up a schedule that you will be expected to maintain. If you cannot work a given shift or need to adjust your hours in any way, you must get permission in advance from your immediate supervisor. If you are ill or have an emergency, you MUST call your supervisor to let them know that you cannot work your scheduled hours.
The MAXIMUM number of hours you may work per week while classes are in session is 20. During intersessions, you may work as many as 40 hours per week but only with the permission of your supervisor. The University does not permit overtime. (If you have another job on campus in addition to your library job, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to see to it that your COMBINED weekly hours do not exceed 20 during the semester and 40 during intersession. Students who work in excess of 40 hours in one week are subject to termination.)
EXAM PERIODS: Your supervisor is prepared to adjust your work schedule during exam weeks. As with any other schedule modification, you MUST make arrangements with your supervisor in advance.
STAFF LOUNGE
You are permitted to use the Library staff lounge while on break and/or during lunch. The lounge is not to be used as a study hall. Please be considerate of others by leaving the area you use clean and tidy.TELEPHONES
Library telephones are for business use. If you must make a call, get your supervisor's permission and make it brief.TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
Please give your supervisor at least two weeks notice if you intend to leave your job.Certain rule violations in each department are grounds for IMMEDIATE dismissal. Your supervisor will make you aware of such violations at the start of your employment. You can expect to be given a warning for other violations.
TIME CARDS
Some departments use time sheets while others use time cards with time clocks. Your supervisor will show you how to fill out your time sheet or time card. It is imperative that you sign your time sheet or card AFTER you have worked your last day in a pay period, but by Monday, at the latest, of the week preceding pay Friday.
| Students occasionally forget to either punch in or out (sign in or out) for a shift. If you have forgotten one or the other, take your time card/sheet to your supervisor as soon as possible. Your supervisor will write in and initial your missing arrival or departure time. Your must also initial this change. Your supervisor will only be able to write in time that he/she can personally attest that you were at work. |
| If you forget to both punch in and punch out for a given shift, you WILL NOT BE PAID for that shift. Exceptions to this policy are made when (1) the time clock is out of order or (2) holidays require your supervisor to project your hours in advance. |
Your supervisor will calculate the time indicated on your time card each week and round it to the nearest 1/4 hour.
Administrative Services WILL NOT submit your time card or sheet for payment unless it is SIGNED BY BOTH YOU AND YOUR SUPERVISOR. If your time card or time sheet is turned in late to Administrative Services, your paycheck WILL be late.
