Student Employment in LITS

Jobs in Library and Information Technology Services (LITS) offer an opportunity to develop real-world work experience with professionals in library and information technology fields.

Eligibility: usually undergraduates must be in their second year or above, and can work up to 17.5 hours per week when school is in session and full-time during breaks and vacations. 

How and when to apply: The application period for most jobs (academic year and summer) is in the spring. All open positions will be listed on the . The open application period will be announced in the Daily Digest. We encourage undergraduate and graduate students to sign up for JobMail alerts in JobX for jobs listed in LITS and the Library because jobs may come open at any time during the year. Jobs intended solely or primarily for graduate students will be announced through graduate email listservs.

  • Academic year positions: open positions in LITS for the following year will be posted on or near March 1. The application period will be announced in the Daily Digest and will remain open for at least three weeks.
  • Summer positions: open positions will be advertised on or near April 15. 
  • Some LITS departments also host summer internships/fellowship programs, which have different deadlines and application processes. 
  • Jobs that have restrictions on applications are not listed below (for example, student circulation manager jobs that require prior circulation desk experience).
  • Some of the LITS jobs listed below are also open to graduate students (see the JobX advertisements). Not all jobs for graduate students are listed here.

Academic Year Positions

Job Number of Positions Hires Per Year Duties Other information
Circulation Assistants (Canaday) 24-30 6-12 Provide service at library circulation desk, process circulating materials No experience required. At least 6 hours per week with 2 hours during a business day. Students can hold only one circulation job at a time.
Circulation Assistants (Carpenter and Collier) 35-40 6-15 Provide service at circulation desk, shelving, stacks maintenance, shifts in both Carpenter and Collier Libraries

No experience needed. At least 6 hours per week with 2 hours during business hours. Students can hold only one circulation job at a time. Graduate students are welcome to work during breaks and holidays. Review of application begins April 3rd.

Shelving Assistants (Canaday) 5-10 2-4 Shelving, inventory, shifting No experience required. Self-scheduled. At least 6 hours per week with 2 hours during a business day. 
Help Desk Technicians (Canaday) 15-18 2-6 Answering technology questions by email, phone, in person No experience required. Minimum 8 hours/week with 2 hours M-F 8-4.
Telephone operators (Canaday) 5-6 1-2 Answering and routing calls to BMC; Help and Circulation Desk backup No experience required. Minimum 6 hours/week, M-F 9-5.
Special Collections Rare Books, Archives, and Manuscripts  Assistants (Canaday) 6-8 2-4 Reading room oversight; work with collections No experience required; prior library experience or relevant coursework considered. M-F 9-5. 
Special Collections, Art & Artifacts Assistants (Canaday, Old Library) 2-4 2-4 Inventory, research, cataloging, exhibit preparation No experience required; prior library experience or relevant coursework considered. M-F 9-5.
Book Processing Assistants (Canaday) 8-10 2-3 Journal and book laminating, labeling, mending No experience necessary; M-F 9-5.
Interlibrary Loan Assistants (Canaday) 6-7 3-5 Processing ILL/EZ-Borrow requests. No experience required; prior library experience considered. M-F 9-5. Involves moving between libraries and lifting up to 30 pounds
Acquisitions Assistants (Canaday) 1-2 0-2 Processing book and media purchases  No experience required. Open to undergraduate and graduate students.
Research Office Assistant (Canaday)  1 1 Assist librarians with book and DVD shelving, book displays, and special projects Knowledge of Tripod, call numbers preferred, but not required. Max 8 hours/week. M-F 8am-5pm only.
Visitor Access Coordinator in Special Collections (Canaday) 1-2 1-2 Reading room supervision; organizing/describing manuscript and/or art collections

Graduate students only

Digital Scholarship Project Assistant (Carpenter) 3-8 0-5 Aiding with digital scholarship and digital collections projects No experience required. Scheduling flexible, but M-F 9-5 preferred. Project-based positions hired as needed during the academic year. 

Summer Positions

Job Number of Positions Hires Per Year Duties Other information
Circulation Assistants (Canaday) 5-10 1-3 Provide service at library circulation desk, process circulating materials, shelving No experience required. Must be available some nights and weekends. Students can hold only one circulation job at a time
Circulation Assistants (Carpenter and Collier) 12-15 0-6 Provide service at circulation desk, shelving, shelving, work shifts in both Carpenter and Collier No experience required. Preference given to students continuing from the academic year. Graduate students welcome to apply.                                               
Help Desk Technicians (Canaday) 4-6 2-4 Answering technology questions; email, phone, in person Minimum 8 hours/week with 2 hours M-F 9-12 & 1-5
Special Collections, Rare Books, Archives, and Manuscripts (Canaday) 2-4 0-4 Reading room desk; shelving; scanning; research Experience not required, but previous experience or relevant coursework considered. M-F 9-5 only.

Special Collections,
Art and Artifacts (Canaday, Old Library)

2 0-2 Cataloging, inventory, rehousing objects, research; exhibition and course prep Usually full-time. M-F 9-5 only.
Book Processing Assistants (Canaday) 3-4 3-4 Journal and book laminating, labeling, mending No experience necessary; M-F 9-5 only
Interlibrary Loan Assistants (Canaday) 3-4 2-4 Processing ILL/EZ-Borrow requests. No experience required; prior library experience considered. M-F 9-5. Involves moving between libraries and lifting up to 30 pounds

Acquisitions Assistants (Canaday)

1-2 0-2 Processing book and media purchases

Graduate students also welcome to apply.

 

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Canaday Library in the snow.

Contact Us

Library and Information Technology Services

Canaday Library
101 N Merion Ave
÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥, Pennsylvania 19010

Office of the CIO:
610-526-5271