The University of Delaware Library thanked its many library student assistants at the Library Student Assistant Appreciation Reception held Thursday, April 27. The library also recognized 41 graduating library student assistants for their academic achievements.

The library could not function without all of the 157 student assistants who work approximately 27,066 hours per year, a representative said. This is the equivalent of 14 full-time staff.

The reception provided an opportunity for library staff to thank the student assistants who performed essential “front-line” services such as checking-out library and reserve materials; shelving new and returned books, journals, and newspapers; checking-in new journals, newspapers, and other periodicals; processing interlibrary loan requests; assisting library users with multimedia equipment; providing assistance to users at a service desk; and many other information-related duties.

The highlight of the reception was a display of books selected by and honoring the graduating library student assistants. The books were selected from recent library acquisitions and had special bookplates noting the student’s name and year of graduation.

The selected titles reflected the personal and academic interests of each of the graduating library student assistants as well as current events. Examples of books selected by members of the Class of 2016 include: Bling Bling Baby by Nadine Barth; Beyond Bruce Lee: Chasing the Dragon through Film, Philosophy and Popular Culture by Paul Bowman; and Cartographics: Designing the Modern Map by Lin Shijian.

Pratigya Paudel was presented with the 2017 Library Student Assistant Service Award in appreciation for having worked more than 2,300 hours.

Jessica Brannen received the 2017 UDLAPS Library Student Assistant Scholarship in recognition of her outstanding student service, commitment to librarianship, and leadership potential. The $750 scholarship supports Brannen’s graduate library education. The scholarship is funded by private donations from the library staff and coordinated by the University of Delaware Library Assembly of Professional Staff (UDLAPS).