Posted 3:08 p.m. Thursday, April 11, 2024
Murphy Library Celebrates Student Workers
By Teri Holford, interim Outreach Librarian
It’s not always easy being a student. Between academic performance pressure, finding a way to fund a college education, and well, life, it’s a balancing act.
That’s why Murphy Library would like to take the time this week to celebrate and recognize our student workers who contribute to the amazing functioning of the library all while attending college. This week, April 7-13, is National Student Employment Week. There are many ways in which student employees demonstrate their critical role in keeping the academic ship afloat: library workers, res halls, dining services, research assistants, teaching assistants, tutors, peer mentors, administrative aides, etc. The list goes on!
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over half (55%) of students in two year institutions and almost half (44%) of students in four year institutions work in some capacity for their campuses.
The National Student Employment Week was started by the National Student Employment Association (NSEA) to amplify how student workers benefit campuses across the country.
Today, Murphy Library is highlighting administrative office student workers, Eleanor Tezak and Macie Ferguson.
Eleanor Tezak
Eleanor is a Media Communications and a Creative Writing minor and works in the library administrative office. She first found out that students could work in the library through the UWL work study program. When asked whether she would recommend working in the library as a student, she agreed wholeheartedly, saying “I would absolutely recommend working at the library! Everyone here is really supportive and fun to work with which makes you excited to go to work everyday!” In terms of sharing some of the skills she’s learned, she has this to say:
“Working at the library, I've learned a lot about Microsoft Excel and other data systems that will be extremely helpful once I graduate, and have already been helpful in classes and in making spreadsheets to organize things for myself. I've also learned a lot about what kind of environment I like to work in, and that's something I'll keep in mind when applying for positions following graduation.”
Macie Ferguson
Macie is a Math Education major, also working along with Eleanor in the library administrative office.
She found out about the option of working in the library through the Federal Work Study program (it was one of the prompts).
Macie would recommend working in the library to other students: “The library is such a fun and relaxed environment. At least on my end, the scheduling is flexible, and they're always so understanding when I can't come into work. Plus, when you don't have anything to do, you're free to just work on homework or any other activities/hobbies.”
Macie has learned a little about invoices, spreadsheets, and office organization that she thinks could all be beneficial after she graduates.
Murphy Library thanks Macie and Eleanor for their cheerful and helpful presence!
For more stories about student workers on campus, see the following post:
More than a campus job in Campus Connection