Roving Students:

Primary Objective –

To bring reference services to patrons at point of need rather than point of service.

Secondary Objective-

Increase efficiency of student hours by including maintenance tasks on the reference floor.

Tasks and Expectations:

Rove the reference floor for periods of no less than 10 minutes.

• While roving students should pay close attention to patron load at the reference desk. If there are one or more patrons waiting, the student should return to the desk and assist any waiting patrons in the order of their arrival.

• While roving the student assistant should maintain an approachable presence: This means no texting or taking personal calls, maintaining a friendly demeanor, etc.

• If a patron seems frustrated or to be having difficulty, approach the patron and inquire if they need assistance (e.g. a patron at the print station seeming to have issues).

• Again, students should be attentive to the traffic at the reference desk, and return to the desk if a line of patrons is forming. 

• When returning to the desk between bouts of roving, students should remain at the desk for no more than 5 minutes – unless patron load demands otherwise.

• While roving, the student should take time to make sure that all computers on the reference floor are on, if a computer does not work to inform the librarian on duty.

• Students should pick up library items and return them to the shelving cart.

• Students should tidy the reference area by placing chairs where they should go, etc.

• Students should check information kiosks to ensure pencil and paper are available to patrons.

This document will be amended as needed.