Now that you have all of the Circulation Assistant tasks under your belt, you have the option to try to advance to the next tier of student employment in our department – Peer Research Advisor. If you successfully complete this training, you may be considered for promotion to Peer Research Advisor this coming fall.
What is a Peer Research Advisor (PRA)?
Peer Research Advisors are Tier 2 student employees, which means they are trusted to answer and triage more complex questions at the desks. We will also lean on you to field questions from newer student employees and help guide them along as they become oriented to working at Foley Library.
As the name suggests, we will also train you to become research advisors for your peers, which means you will be equipped to identify, triage, and answer or refer questions related to research and reference. As the job description states, PRAs “provide circulation, information, peer consultation, ready reference, and research referral service for the library.”
There is also a wayfinding component to this position. We will train you to become experts on referring people throughout the building.
Before you continue, please read the job description for PRAs below.
Position Title: Peer Research Advisor - Tier 2
Purpose: Provide circulation, information, peer consultation, ready reference, and research referral service for library at the Information Desk.
Location: Foley Library, Information and Checkout Desks
Key Responsibilities:
Position
- Answer informational and basic reference questions in person and via chat and phone.
- Provide step-by-step directions and information for library patrons.
- Refer in-depth research questions to library faculty and staff.
- Track stats of Information Desk questions and answers using library statistical software
- Shelf-read and shelve Reference books.
- Assist community users and visiting students with computer access.
- Backup Circulation Desk as needed.
Departmental
- Act as first point of contact for library and building.
- Mentor new student employees and provide guidance at the desks.
- Greet library patrons as they enter/exit the library, maintain approachable demeanor.
- Answer phones and transfer calls.
- Maintain front desk tidiness – wipe down desk area/keyboards as needed.
- Monitor paper in all four library printers and refill as needed.
- Assist patrons with troubleshooting library technology and equipment.
- Maintain confidentiality of library records.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- 1 semester experience working in the library (Chastek, Foley, or GIF – one year preferred)
- Service oriented and/or a background in customer service
- Basic computer and keyboarding skills
Educational Outcomes
- Interacts with patrons (including peers, university faculty and staff, and community visitors) in a friendly, respectful and interculturally sensitive manner.
- Uses a wide variety of sources to answer questions, including databases, library catalogs, as well as referring to librarians.
- Analyzes patron questions and provides effective solutions using sound judgment.
- Demonstrates understanding of building operations and department locations on campus.
- Demonstrates understanding of and commitment to the university mission and library mission.
