Honoring AUS Library’s Student Assistants – Spring 2021

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Tuesday, June 01, 2021

 

Each semester the library recognizes graduating student assistants who have worked with us for 4 or more semesters in providing support to you our users. All our student assistants are very important to us.  Since inception of our program in 2007, 505 students have worked in the library helping to provide essential support.

As is our tradition, graduating students each select a book that now contains their name inscribed on a book-plate. Though only a small token, book-plates are a lasting reminder of the contribution each student has made to the AUS Library.

This semester we have 9 long serving graduating student assistants who have worked tirelessly for us. We asked each to reflect upon their experience and to consider the single most important thing they have learned working in the Library. Here is what they said.

Deema Al Refai (College of Architecture, Art and Design – Architecture)

  • Number of semesters working in the library: 6
  • The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
  • Call Number:  PQ9698.13.O3546 A4513 2014

“I would say, in one word: Responsibility. For me, working at the AUS library was another way of learning outside the classroom. I’ve learned so many things but the single most important thing is how to be a responsible individual. The SA job was yet another responsibility added to my life as a university student and I had to do what it takes to perform well in it while simultaneously not neglecting any of my other responsibilities”. 

Veni Viswam (School of Business – Marketing)

  • Number of semesters working in the library: 6
  • Book selection: 1984 by George Orwell
  • Call Number:  PR6029.R8 N49 2008

“The single most important thing I’ve learned working as a student assistant in the Library was a kindness. Somebody might be having a terrible day but one act of kindness towards them could have helped make their day a little better. I’ve learned this from watching my supervisors and librarians at work. Every time I had a bad day, I spoke to someone in charge and they were always kind and talked to me with a smile on their faces. Therefore, I learned to adapt that philosophy in my work”.

Zain Hussein (College of Engineering – Industrial Engineering)

  • Number of semesters working in the library: 6
  • Book selection: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
  • Call Number:  PQ9698.13.O3546 A4513 2006

“Working at the AUS Library helped me realize the importance of the library within the context of AUS and its students. It helped me feel like an important part of the larger AUS community because I had the chance to give back and learn to take on important responsibilities and help in any way that I could. I grew on both a personal and a professional level as I learned how to adopt professionalism in my attitude while assisting Professors, students, and the library staff.” 

Mohammed Hassan Imran (College of Engineering – Computer Science)

  • Number of semesters working in the library: 5
  • Book selection:  The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
  • Call Number:  PS3558.A42169 R45 2007

 “The ability to help others. This might sound like a cliché answer, but most students are too shy to ask for help. I learned how to approach people who look like they need help with something, and more often than not, they were really happy I approached them. I remember being helped by Student Assistants when I was a first-year student and I loved being able to fill that role”. 

Syeda Hiba Zaidi (School of Business – Finance)

  • Number of semesters working in the library: 5
  • Book selection:  Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
  • Call Number:  BROWN DIGITAL (Leisure Reading – first floor)

"I learnt many important things whilst I worked at the library as a student assistant. However, if I had to pick the single most important thing, it would definitely be “being organized”. Before working at the library as a student assistant, my daily routine would include attending classes, meeting up with friends and indulging in hobbies from time to time. Once I started working, that was an additional… you could say “errand” I had to fulfill. Due to this I had to come up with a different schedule and learn to be organized. Following a schedule and maintaining an order is something I learnt while working at the library. Even more so, though it may be a tiny detail, organizing books by the system was something I incorporated in my personal life as well. I started organizing things in my room or in the kitchen with a system to follow. I hope to follow the small things I learnt while working at the library in my life in the future as well!"

Yazan Taha (College of Engineering – Mechanical Engineering)

Yasmin Maher Mohamed (College of Engineering – Civil Engineering)

Lujain Salem (College of Architecture, Art and Design - Design Management)

  • Number of semesters working in the library: 4

Rana Mahmoud Taiem (School of Business – Management Information Systems)

  • Number of semesters working in the library: 4

We thank all our graduating student assistants for their service and wish them all every success in their future graduate and working careers. To all our current student assistants – best wishes for finals!

AUS Library Team.