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Public Services Student Assistant - Spencer Research Library

Position Overview

This position is in the Spencer Research Library which houses rare books and manuscripts. The building is located behind Strong Hall. The position duties include paging, shelving, and carefully maintaining the materials. Students will staff the reception and reference desks on a rotating schedule. Cleaning, shifting, and special projects will be assigned on a regular basis. Special projects can include setting up events, assisting curators with collections, shifting in the stacks, developing temporary exhibits, and contributing to the Spencer Blog.

Job Description

50% - Stacks Maintenance and Collection Care:

Paging, shelving, and carefully maintaining archival material, rare books, and manuscripts.
Cleaning and maintaining stacks and public areas.
Shifting books and some heavy lifting (up to 40lbs).

40% - Public Service and Patron Assistance:

Covering reception desk: answering the telephone, registering and interacting with patrons.
Assisting Reference Librarians in Reading Room as security backup and helping patrons with handling materials as well as microfilm and Bookeye machines.
Assist in set up and tear down of special events held at Spencer Research Library.

10% - Library Research Support (as assigned)

Assisting Spencer Staff in special projects by collecting and transcribing data.
Writing blog posts and developing small displays related to collection materials.

Required Qualifications

High School Diploma or G.E.D.
Availability to work at least 2 hours at a time as evidenced by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous library experience and/or knowledge of KU Libraries as evidenced by application materials.
Knowledge of microfilm and reproduction equipment as evidenced by application materials.
Experience with rare books, manuscripts, and/or archival material as evidenced by application materials.
Experience working in customer service as evidenced by application materials.
Experience requiring being reliable and maintaining a weekly schedule as evidenced by application materials.
Great attention to detail as evidenced by application materials.

Position Requirements

During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).

Employment Conditions

(1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.

(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.

Additional Candidate Instructions

Resume and cover letter addressing how the required and preferred qualifications are met.
Names and contact information for 3 professional references.

To ensure consideration apply before the application review starts on Monday, 3/30/2026. A review of applications will continue and is ongoing until a pool of qualified candidates is identified.