AU Libraries Logo General Information for Student Employees

Go to [ Attendance/Leave ] [ Time Sheets ] [ Paychecks ] [ Breaks ] [ Lunch/Dinner Breaks ] [ Food/Drinks/Library Employees Lounge ]
[ Exam Periods/Semester/Session Breaks ] [ Holidays ] [ Personal Appearance/Dress ] [ Personal Behavior ] [ Use of the Telephone ] [ Visitors ]
[ Lost and Found ] [ Photocopiers & Microform Reader/Printers ] [ Public Printers ] [ Policy of the Use of Tobacco Products ]
[ Privacy Act/Confidentiality ] [ Suggestions for Improvment of Library Service & Collections ]
[ Services and Access for Patrons with Disabilities ]


Attendance/Leave

    Always report to work promptly for your assigned library work schedule. If you are aware that you need to miss work, make appropriate arrangements with your supervisor. If you are going to be absent due to illness or an emergency or over 10-15 minutes late, call and inform your unit, department, or branch library. If possible, speak directly with your supervisor. You should be aware that two (2) unexcused absences may result in the termination of your employment by the Libraries. If you cannot cover your scheduled hours, certain departments (usually Reference & Instruction Services and Access Services) require that you find a replacement from among your co-workers. It is your responsibility to do this following unit, departmental, or branch library guidelines. Most units, departments, and branch libraries require students to work during finals week. Check with your specific unit, department, or branch library regarding their policy.

Time Sheets

    Note: Upon installation and implementation of the Biometrics time keeping system, these procedures are subject to change!

    Check in with a full time faculty/staff member when you arrive for work. Time sheets must be filled out each time you report to and leave work -- not at the last minute or at the beginning of the payroll period for the whole period. Upon arrival at work, fill in your time sheet with the time you arrived at work (to the nearest 5 minutes), not the time you were scheduled to arrive. Round "Hours Worked" to the nearest quarter hour (15 minutes). IMPORTANT: Your signature must be on your time sheet in order to receive your paycheck. Sign your time sheet in permanent ink at the beginning of the payroll period instead of at the end to avoid delaying your paycheck and causing extra work for supervisors (i.e., tracking/calling students to come in to sign time sheets). Remember that your signature indicates that the information on the time sheet is accurate. Supervisors may not sign your time sheet for you. The Libraries are not responsible when a student assistant employee does not receive his or her pay checks promptly or if the amount is incorrect as a result of the employee's failure to record time correctly, to sign the time sheet, etc. Falsification of time sheets will result in termination of employment.

Paychecks

    All library students employees are paid every two weeks (biweekly). There is a one week lag in payroll, with checks arriving on the first Friday of the pay period. This paycheck covers time worked during the previous pay period. Students are paid minimum wage upon hire. If enrolled less than six (6) quarter hours, a student is subject to social security tax of 7.65%. The employment of such students, except for their "vacation" or summer session, will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Every student assistant employee is required to either sign or initial a document indicating that he or she has received or picked up the appropriate check.

Breaks

    Fifteen minute breaks are normally allowed with the approval of the supervisor for each four hours worked consecutively. The time of the break is left to the discretion of the supervisor. University policy states that break time is not cumulative. You are not allowed to save breaks for time off at a later date. We also do not allow breaks to be taken during the last hour of a shift, i.e. so that employees may leave early.

Lunch/Dinner Breaks

    If you work eight (8) or more consecutive hours you must take a lunch/dinner break of at least one-half hour. Remember to note the time you leave and return from lunch on your time sheet. Lunch/dinner is not considered a paid break.

Food, Drinks, and Stacks Cafe

    Food and drinks are not allowed in public/work areas of the library. There is a lounge (Stacks Cafe) with vending machines located nearby on the ground floor which you may use while on and off duty.

Exam Periods/Semester/Session Breaks

    Most departments and branch libraries within the Libraries require student employees to work during finals. Please see your supervisor for department or branch library specific policies regarding finals week. Depending upon the availability of funding, you may, but are not required to, work during semester or session breaks up to a maximum of 40 hours per week with prior approval of your supervisor.

Holidays

    Holidays recognized and celebrated by Auburn University include: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, 2 days at Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Additional holidays are often announced by the University President throughout the year. The Auburn University Libraries are closed on University sanctioned holidays. If the holiday falls on a Saturday the Libraries will be closed the Friday prior to the holiday and if it falls on a Sunday the Libraries will be closed the following Monday.

Personal Appearance/Dress

    While there is no formal or written dress code for student employees in the Libraries, keep in mind that a patron's first impression is often based on appearance. Dress sensibly while at work. Portable television sets, radios, and CD players with or without headphones are allowed with the permission of your supervisor. Always remember that you represent the Libraries. Act and dress accordingly.

Personal Behavior

    The Libraries' main function is to provide reference and information services and resources to the students, faculty, and staff of Auburn University, as well as members of the general public. Service is emphasized. When dealing with any patron, be as courteous and helpful as possible. If you cannot correctly answer a patron's question(s), refer them to the nearest librarian or staff member.

Use of the Telephone

    Library telephones are for business calls. Do not make or receive personal calls unless it is absolutely necessary and then keep it brief (maximum of three minutes). Absolutely no long distance calls are allowed. The caller will be charged for the call and employment may be terminated. Patrons should be encouraged to use the public pay phones located by the elevator on each floor. There are also pay phones on first floor by the parking deck entrance and on the ground floor. There are public telephones located near each of the branch libraries.

Visitors

    Visitors are not permitted at work. If anyone -- a visitor or another library employee -- stops by to talk on a non-work related subject while you are working, please inform them politely and quickly that you need to continue working and that you cannot talk. Please direct visitors inquiring about other library student employees to the Administrative Offices on second (2nd) floor. If those offices are closed, direct them to your supervisor.

Lost & Found

    Circulation/Reserve/Security Services maintains the Libraries' lost and found. Lost & found items should be taken to Circulation Desk on the 1st floor as soon as they are turned in by other library users or when you find them. Patrons who ask for lost items should be directed to the Circulation Desk on the 1st floor.

    Each of the branch libraries maintain separate lost & found areas. Refer to your supervisor.

Photocopiers & Microform Reader/Printers

    Self-service copiers are available on each floor of RBD Library and in the Photocopy Center on the second floor of the Library as well as the branch libraries. Copies are ten cents each for both letter and legal size copies and twenty cents for 11x17 copies. There is a color photocopier located in the Library of Architecture, Design, and Construction (LADC) in Dudley Hall. Charges for color copies are higher.

    Photocopy debit cards for use in all library photocopiers and microform reader/printers can be purchased at the Photocopy Center or in Circulation/Reserve/Security Services (first floor). The cards will enable users to make photocopies for the reduced rate of eight cents a copy (sixteen cents for microformat copies). Two change machines near the Information Desk (second floor) will change one and five dollar bills and quarters. Using a departmental debit card or photocopier code for personal copying is not permitted without prior approval from your supervisor. Upon approval, you will be expected to reimburse the Library for any personal copies.

Public Printers

    Each AUBIEPlus computer offers printing to a laser printer. There is a charge of 8 cents per page printed. A debit card must be used to activate the printer; however, the same debit card can be used in the regular photocopiers, the reader/printers for microforms, and the AUBIEPlus work stations.

Policy on Tobacco Products

    It is the policy of Auburn University to prohibit smoking of tobacco in those areas where non-smokers will be affected. As a result of this policy, smoking is not permitted in any area of Auburn University Libraries, including the branch libraries. The "chewing" of tobacco products is also not permitted.

Privacy Act & Confidentiality

    The Educational Privacy Act, also called the Buckley Act, has several ramifications affecting our jobs at RBD Library. Philosophically, most librarians have always been committed to freedom of information and privacy of circulation transactions. The Education Privacy Act has merely formalized and legalized what most librarians have always believed in and fought for. Since this is now the law, we avoid giving out unnecessary information about people.

    Specifically, we DO NOT:

    1. Leave patron information on screen longer than necessary to conduct transactions.
    2. Reveal the identity of one patron to another. Anyone who needs a book which is already checked out may place an on-line recall. Conversely, when the book is returned, we take some pains not to reveal the identity of the person who placed the recall, even inadvertently (as by allowing the person to see the printout for the recalled book.)
    3. Access patron records for personal use. We do have access to some information which is considered private. If it could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that information has been obtained on the job, the employee would not only be subject to immediate dismissal, but possible legal action as well.
    4. Book lists of materials charged to a patron and billing/fine information are normally given out only to the patron him/herself.
    5. We also avoid giving the full names and home telephone numbers of other employees, whether of our department, the Libraries, or the University at large. Refer callers to your supervisor, Foy Union, the War Eagle Directory, or the Auburn Telephone or City Directories. Only the supervisor can offer to take a person's name and number and call the employee at home with the information. DO NOT take this upon yourself to do.

Suggestions for Improvement of Library Services and Collections

    The Suggestion Box is intended for use by Auburn University faculty, staff, and students. There is a box located on second (2nd) floor adjacent to the Interlibrary Loan (near the second floor Circulation Desk) in the RBD Library. On the reverse of the Suggestions for Improvement form is a Book Order Request form. Use this form if there is an item you would like the Libraries to consider purchasing. There is also an online suggestion form accessible from the Auburn University Libraries home page (AUBIEPlus).

Services & Access for Patrons with Disabilities

    The libraries are committed to providing access to information resources and services to all library users on an equal basis. If you have questions about arranging appropriate individualized services have the patron contact the Humanities and General Information desk on the second floor at 844-1738.




Return to Auburn University Libraries Student Employee Manual.



Return to Auburn University Libraries.

For additional information or to send comments about the Student Assistant Employees Manual, send e-mail to WebManager@mail.auburn.edu