April 13, 2022
Contact: Deidra Ashley, ashleyde@missouri.edu
Allison Cathey
Hometown: St. Charles, Missouri
Major: History
Location: Zalk Veterinary Medical Library
What drew you to this job?
I wanted the work experience — I’m planning to attend graduate school for a master’s in library and information science.
What’s your favorite part about your job?
I enjoy decorating the library for special events and assisting the students. I’ve created designated spaces for borrowing office supplies and a box for comments and concerns. I’ve even drawn animals with inspirational messages on the white boards.
Lorelai Clubb
Hometown: Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Major: Communications and Political Science
Location: Ellis Library Help Desk
What would surprise people about your job?
We’re called peer navigators for a reason — we’re fellow students, not librarians. We’re people who’ve also needed to look for books. We’re people who’ve also needed to find certain information. And we’re people who’ve also gotten lost in the library at times. We’re people who understand exactly what it feels like to be unsure of where to go, and we want to help you!
What do you wish people knew about your job?
I love when people come ask me questions. You don’t have to make an appointment — just come right up to the Help Desk and ask us anything — from something simple, like “Where’s the elevator?” to the more complex things like “Where is this call number?” That’s what we’re here for, and I get excited every time I get a chance to help someone.
Alex Espinda
Hometown: Jacksonville, Arkansas
Major: Journalism and Political Science
Location: Journalism Library
What drew you to this job?
I’ve worked here since I was a freshman. I chose the Journalism Library because I knew I would get face time with my professors and other students in my major. It’s a good way to connect with people.
How has this job impacted your college experience?
With COVID, a lot of the classes went online. Having this job helped me stay social and talk to people. Without it, I wouldn’t have been on campus as much and wouldn’t have had those interactions.
Priscila Honorio
Hometown: Seropédica, Brazil
Major: Doctoral student in music education
Location: Ellis Library
How has this job impacted your college experience?
During the summer of 2021, I was working at Ellis Library while also working on the literature review of my master's thesis. Working at this job, I had access to a wide variety of books. When shelving the books, I found a book that described an interesting theory. It changed my whole literature review and gave me fantastic information to support my research.
What would you tell students who are considering applying for this job?
It is a peaceful job. The library is a quiet and calm place. My supervisor never puts pressure on me. They understand that we need to work but in a way that we should not get tired when coming back to our studies. Additionally, it is a great opportunity to learn how to use the library. It’s whole world full of resources to boost our studies and learning. It is a place every student should know well!
Nick Young
Hometown: Eldon, Missouri
Major: Secondary Education
Location: Engineering Library
What drew you to this job?
This is one of the most sought-after jobs on campus. You can do the work and help the students, but you can also work on your homework if there’s a lull. I’ve met new people here and made new friends. It’s just fun to interact with students, even though most of them are a different major than me.
How has this job impacted your college experience?
I was really struggling academically before I got this job. I was working somewhere else that required a lot of hours, and I didn’t have as much time to spend on my schoolwork. I was able to come here, help students, earn money and focus more on getting my grades up. It’s impacting me in so many good ways.
