Library savings through student labor

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to briefly present current research and insight into the subject of student labor as a sharp cost-saving measure in the management of today’s library personnel budgets. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing from a recent empirical study on the subject, this article adds commentary from other researchers on the pitfalls and benefits of student library labor versus paraprofessionals and librarians. Findings – Although library student workers are commonly not seen as “ideal” employees, their demonstrated performance on many library tasks is compelling enough to consider hiring more of them in place of existing staff. Originality/value – This subject can be provocative for managers to simply mention to their staff or professional colleagues. There is little research in this area, and this article helps to broach the subject in a candid manor to spark more discussion among library staff looking to improve their bottom line.