Vol 20 | No 2 | Spring 14
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Library STARs Pilot Program Develops Future Leaders

“The Libraries truly value the work of our student employees and have a vested interest in helping them develop as individuals and future leaders,”
In January 2014 the UCI Libraries kicked off a pilot program called Library STARs or STudent Assistant EnRichment Program. The program offers students who work at the UCI Libraries an opportunity to develop professional and leadership skills while earning extra money.

The Libraries is one of the top employers of students on campus. For many of our student employees, this is their first working experience, therefore, the skills they learn are foundational and often set the stage for future work or careers.

The program’s goals are: br />• To support the student assistants in their work and academic careers at UCI
• To develop excellent workers for the UCI Libraries
• To provide student assistants with skills they can use after graduation as they move on to their professional lives

Students are required to take six one-hour workshops ranging on topics from communication skills to customer service to proper handling of library materials. They are paid to attend the workshops in addition to their regular work hours and receive a certificate of completion as well as a gift card to the bookstore for their participation in the program.

Image“The Libraries truly value the work of our student employees and have a vested interest in helping them develop as individuals and future leaders,” said Kristine Ferry, the program chair.

The pilot program also affords the opportunity to get the word out to students about services offered by other campus units. Workshops are being offered by UCI Libraries’ staff, as well as staff from the Counseling Center and the Center for Excellence in Writing and Communication.

“The initial reaction to the program has been very positive,” said Ferry, “both from our student employees as well as from the departments we are partnering with to provide the classes. We anticipate the program will continue and are already finding ways to enhance it.”

For information about helping support the Library STARs program, please contact Julie Sully, Acting Director of Development, at 949.824.4658 or jsully@uci.edu.