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Department Overview:
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College Library is a lively teaching library that serves undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, patrons from the wider Madison community, the state of Wisconsin, and beyond. The staff of College Library continuously strive toward an inclusive environment that values varied perspectives, ways of knowing, and experiences.
Reference Student Assistants have two types of shifts at College Library, UW-Madison’s undergraduate library. Each Reference Student Assistant will learn how to provide reference service as part of UW-Madison Libraries’ Ask Services during weekday evening shifts. Each student will also be responsible for the oversight of the library as an Access Services Manager on Duty during weekend shifts. For more details about each shift, see below. |
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Anticipated Start Date:
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Monday, August 24th, 2026 |
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Anticipated End Date (If Applicable):
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Upon graduation |
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Remote Work Eligibility Detail:
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Not Remote
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Anticipated Hours Per Week:
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Minimum: 6 Maximum: 17 |
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Schedule:
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Total weekly Reference Student Assistant hours are based on a set, semester-long evening schedule, weekly team meeting, and rotating weekend shifts, so could vary, but will be between 6-17 hours per week (see schedule below for required shifts and detailed hours).
Each Reference Student Assistant will work all three of the following:
One or two set evenings per week. Shifts are four to five hours long and are scheduled between the hours of 5 pm and 10 pm, Sunday through Thursday
Approximately three rotating weekend shifts per month. Shifts are at least four hours long, no more than six hours long, and are scheduled between 10:30 am and 11:30 pm on Saturdays. Thursday and Friday evening rotations could be added to the schedule, based on service needs.
A 60-90 minute Reference Student Assistant team meeting every week
The above hours may need to be adjusted based on service changes and/or to provide coverage for colleagues in the event of absences/planned time off.
The shift schedule is built every semester based on Reference Student Assistants’ availability and service needs. |
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Salary/Wage Range/Lump Sum:
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Minimum: $17.00 |
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Number of Positions:
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3 or 4 |
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Qualifications:
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Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills. We recognize that these skills can look different for everyone.
Previous public, student, or customer service experience. Library experience is not required; comprehensive training will be provided.
Status as an incoming Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies student at UW-Madison’s iSchool. Successful candidates must provide the necessary work authorizations, if applicable. |
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Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
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These will be developed on the job:
Knowledge of information literacy skills appropriate to academic libraries
Knowledge of interpersonal skills and communication methods, including one-on-one teaching skills, specific to libraries
Knowledge of campus resources to which patrons may be referred
Knowledge of UW-Madison Libraries’ policies and procedures
Knowledge of undergraduate library services at College Library
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Position Summary/Job Duties:
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General Responsibilities:
Provide reference services (chat, in-person, phone, and email) at a high-traffic public service desk with colleagues as part of UW-Madison Libraries’ Ask Services
Work as Manager on Duty on rotating weekends and assume responsibility for library operations as part of UW-Madison Libraries’ Access Services
Work collaboratively with multiple teams and also make decisions independently
See below for details on shift responsibilities
Responsibilities on Weekday Evening Ask Services Shifts
Provide high-quality, point-of-need reference service. Primarily serve students, faculty, and staff of UW-Madison. Additionally, serve patrons from the wider Madison community, the state of Wisconsin, and beyond.
Interact with patrons via chat, phone, email, and in person to determine their information needs as well as determine appropriate resources for those needs
Instruct and guide patrons in the use of resources from the UW-Madison Libraries website, including the library catalog and a variety of databases.
Consult with colleagues and/or make referrals where appropriate
Provide patrons with information about the services and resources available in the Libraries
Responsibilities on Weekend Rotating Access Services Shifts
Understand, interpret, and enforce library policies
Respond to security issues, building maintenance problems, and emergencies by collaborating with colleagues across campus libraries
Manage library operations, including student workers in other units and opening or closing the library
Other Projects as Assigned
During scheduled shifts, work on projects such as training activities, research guide creation and maintenance, chat transcript analysis, public service statistics reports, and more
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Physical Demands:
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Sitting and/or standing at a service desk for extended periods, moving through the three-floor library during security rounds (an elevator or stairs are available), frequent movement around the first floor of the library to assist patrons. Ability to type quickly to provide chat reference service.
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Institutional Statements:
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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
UW-Madison is an Equal Employment, Equal Access Employer committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce.
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background-people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: diversity.wisc.edu
Accommodation Statement:
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website:https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/
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