Work Rules and Guidelines for Public Services Student Assistants

Student Assistants are a vital part of the Library Public Service Division. The Division needs you to keep things running smoothly! We also hope that you will use this opportunity to learn and develop transferable work skills that will help you in your current library employment and in the future. Positive job recommendations will be provided on request to students that follow the guidelines below. The following Work Rules are for the Public Services Division. In some cases there will be more specific procedures in your departments as indicated below. Students are expected to adhere to these work rules and guidelines. Failure to do so may result in termination.

1. You are expected to arrive promptly to work. You are expected to work all the hours that you are scheduled and to work your entire shift.

2. If you know in advance that you will not be able to cover your scheduled hours, you will need to arrange for a replacement. You are required to follow your department's procedures when finding a replacement.

3. If you are unable to work your shift or will be late due to an emergency, you are required to follow your department's procedures about whom to contact. You are expected to know the phone numbers to call if you are unable to work your shift.

4. You may be expected to be available to work during the following times: intercession, holidays, nights, mid-terms, finals, and weekends. Sign-ups and scheduling for these times will be arranged in advance by your supervisor. Exceptions will be made at the discretion of your supervisor for extended travel or other circumstances. If you aren't assigned to work during these times, please plan to be available to fill in on an as-needed, occasional basis.

5. The maximum number of hours you can work in one week during the regular quarter is 19. These hours include those worked in the Library and at any other jobs at UCI. You are expected to monitor the number of hours you work in one week at UCI and not to exceed the maximum number of hours. [The maximum number of hours you can work in one week during intercession and the summer is 40.]

6. You are expected to take a break during your shift as follows:

• In a work period of 3 or more continuous hours, take a 15-minute rest break.
• You are paid for rest breaks. On your timesheet, you do not need to indicate that you took a rest break.
• In a work period of 6 or more continuous hours, take at least a 30-minute meal break.
• You are not paid for meal breaks. On your timesheet, show the number of hours worked; do not include your meal break as hours worked.
• For example, if you are scheduled to work for 6 hours, you would work 5.5 hours and take a 30-minute meal break. Your timesheet would reflect that you only worked 5.5 hours.
• Your are expected to take your rest or meal breaks during your shift, not at the beginning or end.
• Leave your work area to take your break.

7. Upon arriving at work, you are expected to:

• Sign in or check in according to your departmental procedures.
• Put on your student badge.
• Read messages left by your supervisor or staff member.
• Follow departmental procedures for your work, including following the daily task list, if any. Be prepared to work on special projects as assigned.

8. You are expected always to be courteous and respectful to patrons, faculty, staff, students, and your co-workers.

9. You are expected to perform all tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail. Library work is exacting; if you are not clear about instructions ASK A STAFF MEMBER how to complete a task or assignment. An out-of-place book or item or an incorrect computer entry can create serious problems for library staff and users.

10. While at work, you are expected to refrain from:

• Using computers for personal e-mail, instant messaging, or web surfing.
• Engaging in lengthy conversations with friends or other student assistants.
• Using the Library telephones for personal calls without the permission of a staff member.
• Using your cell phone.
• Using the Library mail service for personal mail.
• Using the Library photocopy machine for personal copying.
• Using the Library FAX machine for personal use.
• Eating or drinking in any of the public areas in the libraries.

11. You are expected to follow these food and drink guidelines:

• Hide food/drink in bag when bringing it into the Library.
• Food can not have an odor that would spread into public areas or adjacent work spaces.
• Eat in non-public areas, which are out of sight of the public.
• Clean up after eating or drinking.
• Food and drink are kept off of shelves, computer workstations or work areas.
• Remove extra food/drink from the Library after your shift.
• Throw garbage in trash can outside the Library.

12. You are expected to wear appropriate attire for working in a public area.

13. You are expected to sign out at the end of your shift, to complete your timesheet and to leave the work area per your departmental procedures.

14. You are expected to print out and sign your timesheet at the end of each pay period.

15. You are expected to protect each Library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought, consulted or borrowed. Revealing to others what items patrons have borrowed or what topics they are researching is a serious matter and may be cause for dismissal. Also, any other records and files which you may view at work are considered confidential and should not be discussed. Please refer questions to your supervisor.


Thanks for all your hard work!

 

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