Summary
About this role
Job Title: Student Assistant for Teaching and Outreach Support
Classification: Student Employee (non-exempt)
Name and Address of Employer: St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Ave, Northfield, MN 55057
If the position requires the student to work off campus, provide the name and address here: N/A
Department Name: Rolvaag Library, Distinctive Collections & College Archives
Unit Number (5 digits): 14001
Length of Position: See Employment Authorization
Contact Person/Supervisor: Kristell Benson (benson4@stolaf.edu)
Wage Range: $11.75-12.75/hour
Description/Purpose of the Position:
Student Assistants will help increase public access to and use of primary source materials in Distinctive Collections and College Archives. They will work with the Distinctive Collections Engagement Librarian to create exhibitions and instruction sessions that promote and educate people about our collections. All Distinctive Collections and College Archives student staff may be trained in and asked to assist with the duties of their student colleagues. This position also offers the possibility of full-time employment during the summers.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Curate both formal and informal physical and digital exhibits
- Assist with class preparation by pulling and staging items for student viewing
- Help plan and staff Distinctive Collections and College Archives outreach events
- In your final year, you will play a leading role in training your successor
Transferable Skills:
- Customer service skills
- Leadership, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills
- Ability to evaluate information and their sources
- Critical thinking and problem solving skills
- Written and verbal communication skills
- Time management and organizational skills
- Ability to prioritize objectives
Work Schedule:
Term: Full Year
Shift: Flexible work schedule based on availability
Preferred Qualifications:
- Preference will be given to students who can commit to two or three years in this position
- Enthusiasm for curating physical and virtual exhibitions of primary source materials
- Comfortable using software to design exhibition and event materials
- Have an eye for visual and spatial design
- Proper handling of fragile and/or rare materials in the collections
- Attention to detail
- Creative and persistent problem-solving skills
- Ability to work independently, and with minimal oversight
- Research skills, including critically considering alternative routes for locating information, knowing when to ask questions, and knowing when to stop
- Time management skills, including the ability to balance multiple requests and tasks
- Strong interpersonal and listening skills
- Ability to work with sensitive and confidential information
- Good decision-making skills
- Careful, but timely follow-through on processes and procedures.
- Comfortable learning and using multiple technologies, systems, and data management tools
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Impeccable organization skills
- The ability to improve upon established processes
- Ability to work efficiently and supportively on a team of student staff
- Communication with peers and your supervisor in a professional setting
Reasons you should apply:
- You have a strong interest in archives and/or library science
- You enjoy working independently and are good at time management
- You know when to ask for help and when to research a problem
- You are flexible, creative, innovative, and willing to learn
- You want a dynamic job
This position requires a commitment to continue to serve in the position through graduation. It requires 6-8 hours each week, and with supervisor approval, can accommodate a flexible schedule that can include evenings and weekends.
This job description is for general information purposes. It is not intended to list all duties and responsibilities of the position. This job description is subject to change at any time by St. Olaf College, with or without prior notice.
Physical and Environmental Factors
(Indicate frequency required in a typical shift for this position.)
| Physical Activity | Not Applicable | Rarely | Occasionally | Frequently | Continually |
| Sitting | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ |
| Standing stationary | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Walking/traversing | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ |
| Crouching (bending at knees) | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Kneeling/crawling | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Stooping (bending at waist) | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Twisting/pivoting | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Climbing/balancing | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Reaching overhead | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Grasping/handling | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Pushing/pulling | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Lifting/carrying (< 20 lbs.) | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Lifting/carrying (<50 lbs.) | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Repetitive motions (constant for 15+ mins; typing, etc.) | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ |
| Driving | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Other | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Sensory Activity | Not Applicable |
Rarely | Occasionally | Frequently | Continually |
| Talking in person/on phone | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ |
| Hearing in person/on phone | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ |
| Vision for close work | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ |
| Vision for distance or depth | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Distinguishing color | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ |
| Feeling by touch | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Loud noise (need raised voice to be heard) | ☐ | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Other | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Environmental Exposures | Not Applicable |
Rarely | Occasionally | Frequently | Continually |
|
Respiratory (dust/gas/fumes/steam/odors/ poor ventilation) |
☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Chemicals (includes solvents and oils) | ☐ | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Vibrations (exposure to oscillating movements of extremities or whole body) | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Wet or humid conditions (indoor) | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Extreme cold (below 32 degrees) | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Extreme heat (above 100 degrees) | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
|
Proximity hazards (moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, etc.) |
☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Heights or cramped quarters | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Protective equipment required (mask, gloves, eyewear, ear plugs, steel toe shoes, respirator) | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Other | ☒ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
Travel: 0% of time Operate Hand Tools: ☐ Yes ☒ No Operate Equipment/Machinery: ☐ Yes ☒ No
Required Dress Attire: ☒ Business Casual ☐Business Formal ☐ Uniform ☐ Other:
Comments:
Other facts
About St. Olaf College
What you'll do
- Student Assistants will help increase public access to primary source materials and work with the Distinctive Collections Engagement Librarian to create exhibitions and instruction sessions. They will also assist with outreach events and train their successors in their final year.
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