Working in the Library

 

Payson Library seeks energetic, service-oriented students to join the team!

 

Library student workers play an important role in helping the library serve Pepperdine students, faculty and staff. The Libraries’ services and resources support the research, educational, and instructional needs of the campus community, and student workers help make this possible on a daily basis. Positions available for student workers can involve a wide variety of activities such as shelving library materials, basic data entry, and public service assisting patrons. Students also provide the majority of library staffing on weekday evenings and weekends.

How to Apply

For undergrad students wishing to apply for a position at Payson Library, please complete the online application.
For graduate student assistant positions at our Graduate Campus Library locations, please contact the appropriate Campus Library for additional information.

 

About the Payson Library Circulation Desk

Payson library is the largest Pepperdine University library. On average over 15,372 patrons are served, and around 820 items are processed through the circulation (Circ) desk every week. Library Employees are often the first library personnel patrons interact with; they are responsible for connecting the public to resources and information they need. The main emphasis of the job is on customer service, with precision to detail coming in a close second.

In addition to being friendly toward library patrons, Library Ambassadors help with Circ tasks including: check library materials in and out, troubleshoot printing issues, organize returned items, identify requests that should be transferred to librarians or other departments of the library, assist with closing the library during evening shifts, and other duties as specified.

Library Employees mostly work afternoons and evenings during the week.

The library accepts student employees with FWS and PWS awards, but it is not required.

Duties, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Dependable and punctual.
• Possess excellent service-oriented communication skills.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships internally and externally.
• Possess excellent detail- oriented skills.
• Ability to evaluate, interpret, and implement library policy and procedures.
• Motivated to utilize lulls, during their shift, to identify and complete Circ tasks.
• Eager to leave the desk in order to provide assistance to patrons needing directions, printer jams removed, help locating materials in the stacks, etc.

Application & Hiring Process

1. Complete the application, which includes answering a few questions and submitting your work availability.
2. If your availability meets our scheduling needs, we will arrange an interview time and request that you bring your resume to the interview.
3. If you are a good fit for the library's needs, you will be sent a job offer to accept or reject. Upon accepting, you will be sent instructions on how to meet with Student Employment for processing. 
4. Once Student Employment registers you in their system, the Library is able to hire you and will reach-out to schedule your training shift.
5. After completing your training shift you’re eligible to work your scheduled shifts as well as pick-up additional shifts.

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Working Behind the Scenes and in Special Collections

There are lots of people who help make sure the library runs smoothly; getting books ready for the shelves, putting books on shelves and helping us receive new material. If you are interested in working behind the scenes please apply for one of these positions in Technical Services.

Special Collections offers students an opportunity to work with unique items and University archives. Students interested in working in Special Collections will need to write a brief essay as part of their application.

Shelving Assistant

Shelving Assistants re-shelve returned materials, straighten book stack areas, stock and maintain book displays, shift books for space needs, and shelf-read the collection. This position requires some lifting and the ability to push full book carts.  Attention to detail and the ability to work independently are also required. Shelving assistants also assist with special projects as needed.  Click Here to Apply

 

Interlibrary Loan Assistant

Interlibrary Loan Assistants package items for mailing. They retrieve books from the library shelves. They scan and/or photocopy articles and book chapters. This position requires some lifting and the ability to push book carts. Attention to detail is required. They also assist with special projects as needed. Click Here to Apply

Technical Services Assistant

Technical Services Assistants sort, stamp, label and cover books, journals, magazines, and other library materials. Manual dexterity and attention to detail are required. This position requires some lifting and the ability to push book carts. Student workers also assist with special projects as needed.  Click Here to Apply

Special Collections Assistant

Special Collections Student Assistants complete various tasks and projects related to preservation and organization of rare books and archival materials. Projects may include retrieving and shelving rare books and documents, digitizing photographs and documents, completing inventories, entering data into special collections databases, and special projects. This position requires some lifting. Attention to detail, the ability to work independently, and the ability to work carefully with fragile materials are also required. These hours will be worked at Payson Library on the Malibu campus during the hours of 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Click here to Apply

Digitization Project Assistant

The Digitization Project Assistant's primary responsibility is to scan and upload historic photographs from the University Archives under the direct supervision of the Librarian for Digital Curation and Publication. Situated in Special Collections and University Archives (Payson 324), this is a 10 hours per week position, flexibly scheduled between 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. Requirements include an attention to detail, comfort with PCs, and the ability to work carefully with fragile materials.