Student- TUSC Reference Desk

This position begins as soon as agreed upon for the semester and ends on a determined basis. Available for the Fall into the Spring 2027 semester, with no more than 20 hours per week allowed for all combined student positions.

About the role

Student assistant to work at the Reference Desk of Tulane University Special Collections (TUSC), located in room 202 of Jones Hall. TUSC is open to the Tulane community and the general public weekdays 10am–4:30pm. Appointments are strongly encouraged, but walk-in patrons are welcome. We provide access to the library's Rare Books collection and archives from the Hogan Archive of New Orleans Music, Louisiana Research Collection, Southeastern Architectural Archive, and University Archives.

Schedule

Shifts are available during operating hours from 9am–4:30pm. Student assistants are expected to work 10–20 hours per week, with a preferred schedule of 3 to 4 hours per shift.

Pay

Hourly wage begins at $12 per hour. This is an in-person position.

Responsibilities

• Greet patrons and direct them to assigned tables
• Provide guidelines on proper handling of archival materials
• Offer basic research assistance using the library catalog and Archives Space
• Page additional material for patrons and assist with scanning services
• Answer reference telephone calls
• Reshelve materials
• Fulfill duplication requests via email
• Assist with projects, social media, exhibits, and special events
• Perform basic archival processing tasks and data entry

Requirements

• Active enrollment as a student at Tulane University
• Ability to push book trucks and lift heavy boxes (up to 20–30 lbs)
• Basic technical skills using scanners, printers, and Microsoft Excel
• Strong customer service skills—direct interaction with researchers required
• Reliable and punctual
• Familiarity with Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal System preferred but not required
• This position is limited to students with Federal Work Study (FWS) funding

Required with application: a cover letter detailing your experience, a screenshot of your class schedule from classschedule.tulane.edu, and a screenshot of your work-study acceptance and amount from Gibson if applying with FWS.

About Us

Howard-Tilton Memorial Library strives to be a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space. We’re looking for outgoing students who thrive on public interactions and enjoy showcasing the library’s resources.