Information Desk Student Worker Guide

Student Assistants may provide answers to inquiries based on the two types of questions listed below. ALL other questions should be referred to a Librarian. If none is available, provide the individual with the appropriate Librarian trading card.

All questions will be coded for either number 1, number 2, or a referral.
Place an appropriate tic mark under the category for 1, 2, or referral to a Librarian. 

Please note that these do not include questions concerning circulation transactions and accounts, or questions referred to Information Desk staff.

•    Answers that require the least amount of effort; 
•    No specialized knowledge skills or expertise; 
•    No consultation of resources; 
•    Less than 5 minutes;

Examples 
•    Directional inquiries; i.e. Where is the restroom/library lab/stacks/Oliver Classroom?
•    Library or service hours; 
•    Service point locations; 
•    Rudimentary machine assistance (locating/using copiers, how to print or supplying paper). 
 

•    Answers given which require more effort; 
•    Require only minimal specific knowledge skills or expertise; 
•    Answers may need nominal resource consultation.

Examples 
•    Call number inquiries; 
•    Item location; 
•    Minor machine & computer equipment assistance; 
•    General library or policy information; 
•    More complex machine assistance (how to save to a disk or email records, launching programs or re-booting). 

*Modified from the READ Scale (Reference Effort Assessment Data) developed by Dr. Bella Gerlich

• Tim Berge: Natural Sciences, English
• Nancy Falciani-White: Health Professions
• Laurie Preston: Social Sciences
• Lynda Wright: Arts/Humanities
• Lily Zhang: Instructional Design & Technology