Student and Faculty Support Services

With the Library serving over a million visitors a year and fielding thousands of inquiries each year, the library's skilled, friendly student assistants play a critical role in meeting Cal Poly's needs for books, articles, and information.

Circulation and course reserves assistants
Over 20 student assistants help staff the library from 7 am to 2 am and on weekends. They help check out and renew books and course reserves, provide basic information about the library's services and collections, shelve and maintain the library's book and journal collections, and help open and close the library.
Interlibrary services assistants
The Library borrows about 20,000 books and articles every year from other libraries around the state and the world, to support Cal Poly faculty and student research. Five students make this possible, by retrieving, scanning, processing and packaging materials for interlibrary borrowing and lending. Hours are generally M-F before 5 pm.
Reference services assistants
Excellent customer service skills, good listening and communications, curiosity, and skill using the web and library databases are among the traits we seek in the three Library Reference Assistants who provide front-line help in person and via Instant Messaging. Most hours are on weekends and evenings (5-9 pm).
College Librarian assistants
Up to three College Librarian Student Assistants are hired each year, developing skills valuable for research and scholarship under the direction of highly trained and experienced information professionals. Duties are varied and flexible; student assistants may create and maintain materials for instruction, outreach and marketing; provide orientations, tours, and basic library instruction; or assist with library marketing or other special projects. May also assist library users at the Research Help Desk.
Data and GIS assistants
Student assistants work closely with the Library's GIS Specialist to help students and others with using GIS software in senior projects, research, or other special applications. They also help support campus access to geospatial data and data sets.