Description
The Student Library and Leadership Assistant for Indigenous Initiatives developed, planned, promoted, coordinated, and supported Indigenous library initiatives and engagement at VIU Library.
Position Overview
This work-op position offers an opportunity to contribute student leadership and support for campus community engagement with Indigenous initiatives at VIU Library. The Student Library and Leadership Assistant for Indigenous Initiatives serves as a valuable student member of the Decolonizing Our Services advisory team who will:
- Advise and contribute student perspective and leadership to developing strategy and programming for student-led collaborative Indigenous initiatives in the Library.
- Engage with Indigenous information topics and seek student feedback to inform and improve Library services and collections related to Indigenous community knowledges.
- Develop, coordinate, student-led Indigenous engagement opportunities, public speaking, workshops, and events in the Library and in collaboration with other campus areas.
- Liaise, support, and promote ongoing Indigenous initiatives in the Library related to Coast Salish artwork, Hul’q’umi’num’ language who plans, promotes and contributes to Indigenous initiatives at VIU Library.
- Additional weekly duties will include contributing to a welcoming learning space during the academic semester by:
- Implementing a communications plan to creatively promote Language in the Library by liaising with library staff, campus departments, and program areas.
- Maintaining an active and attentive presence before, during, and following sessions to anticipate and support the needs of Elders, facilitators, and participants within the space.
- Tidying, preparing and taking down the room setup.
- Booking and borrowing equipment.
- Cleaning and shifting tables and chairs.
- Using food safe practices to offer refreshments and snacks and serving as appropriate or needed.
- Greeting and connecting with participants as they arrive.
- Providing information about the space, facilities, and future events.
- Monitor communications in a shared inbox to draft, refer or respond to messages.
The position may include additional collaborative project planning and contributions pertaining to library and institutional decolonizing objectives and initiatives.
Position Requirements
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Clear and effective verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work independently and cooperatively in a team environment
- Organized and detail oriented
- Demonstrated integrity and professionalism in time management
- Familiarity with local Indigenous protocols and cultural manners
- Able to use collaborative applications for written assignments, communications, and file management
- Knowledge of sanitization and food safety practices
This position is ideal for students in Indigenous / Xwulmuxw Studies or Education programs, or with studies involving a high concentration of Indigenous course content, or to those intending to pursue opportunities in library and information studies. Applicants must have completed a minimum of two years of full-time study at VIU or be equivalent to third year standing in a VIU program.
Graduate Attributes Associated
- Oral Communication
- Collaboration
- Creative Thinking
- Capacity to Engage in Respectful Relationships
- Foundations for Lifelong Learning
- Indigenous Perspective
Sign Up Directions
For more information, please contact Patricia Geddes, Librarian & Strategic Lead for Collections at Patricia.Geddes@viu.ca