The University Library has chosen four freshmen from the Provost Leadership Academy to become Peer Library Tutors, a new program to get an undergraduate perspective on the library.

The four freshmen chosen for this position are education major Ashley Smith; psychology major Lauren Miller; aeronautics major Shane Loper; and architecture major Kimberly Micheller. The students will meet with University Library Dean James Bracken Friday and plan to start Feb. 15.

“These students were chosen from a group of 60 to 100 motivated incoming freshmen,” said Jamie Seeholzer, first year experience librarian. “We only hire graduate students at the reference desk. This is a chance to get undergraduate students involved in the library.”

Each student was chosen based on leadership, motivation and grades. The four tutors will work 10 to 12 hours a week and be given an iPad to use throughout the semester.

“The iPads will help the Peer Library Tutors with quick updates and reference questions,” Seeholzer said. The four students do not get to keep the iPads at the end of the semester.

Peer Library Tutors will be paid and will mostly work during peak library hours, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Seeholzer said the library hopes the four students chosen will stay with the program for their remaining three years at Kent State.

Peer Library Tutors will greet and welcome students in the main library entrance and be available for questions or help.

“Our Peer Library Tutors will be there to lend an extra hand in the library,” Seeholzer said. “Their job is to help people who look confused, (be) quick reference help and to help make the library a friendly place.”

Contact Cassandra Beck at [email protected].