Reference Point

> Development Column Lasting relationships Many student employees support Libraries long after graduation As I meet CMU alums who support the Libraries, I often fi nd that they were employed in the library during their student years. For this reason, I'd like to recognize and acknowledge current and past library student employees. Student employment at the library has provided many generations of CMU students with rich experiences that have enhanced their academic and future careers. Sometimes great and enduring relationships have been formed between fellow co- workers and between employees and their supervisors. The library staff is continually grateful for the hard work done by student employees on a daily basis to make our services a success. Megan Moreno semester at CMU. As part of the application process, student employees are asked to write an essay regarding how working in the Libraries has benefi ted them, and their responses are extensive and impressive. During the Annual University Campaign in 2010, the library staff founded a scholarship for library student employees; it awards two students with funds toward their next We are happy that we can provide such wonderful experiences for students through employment and are pleased to contribute fi nancial assistance toward achieving their academic goals through the future of the Library Student Employee Scholarship. Furthermore we appreciate that, as alums, many former student employees have decided to give back to the university by supporting the Libraries with their fi nancial gifts. It's a pleasure to speak with donors and discover that many of their great memories about CMU come from their time spent as a student assistant in the library. For example, 1949 alumna and former library student employee Helen (Holz) Rooney has been a great supporter of the Libraries and shared with me fond memories of her time working under Catherine O'Connell, head reference librarian, with whom she developed a rewarding relationship. The continued support of former student employees means a lot to the Libraries and has allowed us to create and grow funds essential for our continued success in serving the information needs of the university. If you're a former student employee of the Libraries, let us know. You're part of a big club, and one that we appreciate very much. We'd love to hear from you and update you on what's new at the CMU Libraries, even beyond what you'll fi nd in Reference Point. Feel free to contact me at 989-774-1826 or via email at brook1mr@cmich.edu. Megan R. Moreno Director of Development and Community Outreach 6 A tale of two CMU library student employees includes Helen (Holz) Rooney, '49, as pictured in a CMU yearbook, and current senior Kate Caszatt, as she checks in several books. Common connections Nearly 65 years separate the graduation dates of Helen (Holz) Rooney, '49, and Kate Caszatt, who will graduate in May 2012. They've never met – Rooney is from Bad Axe, Caszatt is from Shepherd – but they'd have plenty to talk about should their paths ever cross. They share experiences as student employees at the CMU library circulation desk. While the core of their responsibilities is similar, including reshelving and checking out books only to check them back in, facilities and technologies have evolved over the decades. Rooney reported to work when the University Library was located in Warriner Hall, and Caszatt always has clocked in at the current Charles V. Park Library. Gone are the days of the card catalog Rooney once helped to maintain manually, which has been replaced by an online computer-based system that Caszatt references with the click of a mouse. But the common thread connecting the two is the enjoyment that comes with working in a service role at the library and the respect they have for their supervisors. For Rooney, her library employment was a great way to meet other students, and she developed a close relationship with her supervisor, Catherine O'Connell. For Caszatt, she has developed close relationships with her co-workers and supervisor, Jane Morey. "I know I will keep in touch with my co-workers and my supervisor, Jane, long after I graduate, says Caszatt, who was among the fi rst Library Student Employee Scholarship recipients. "It has been a great opportunity to work here, and I am extremely grateful for it." • "

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