Interview questions for Northfield Reads & Counts and
the Off-Campus Work Study Program Participants
Katherine Rieck ’11
Hometown: Waseca, Minnesota
I work as an assistant librarian at the Northfield Public Library. In my position, I pretty much do a bunch of random projects that no one else has the time for. Lately I have been working on organizing the Northfield High School Periscope, inventorying books, making/updating book lists and brochures and helping at the reference desk. There are tons of benefits to holding a position in community-based work-study. Getting off campus for work gives you a break from campus and lets you meet people in the community that you normally would have no idea were out there—and the only challenge is getting there. Also, I love the librarians and I love my job and the people.
I have established wonderful relationships with my coworkers at the library and gained a number of transferable skills from this experience. I’ve been able to build a great relationship with the library director. She always talks to me, assists me, helps me, makes sure I am doing well in my position, and is always there for me. I have learned how to work with co-workers and patrons. This experience pretty much directly transfers to my future goals, being that I would love to be a librarian. This experience also helps me feel needed in the community and that I can accomplish something outside of St. Olaf.
I work ten hours a week. It is really the perfect amount. I love being busy and having things to do. Managing my time is not really a problem. The librarians have me do odd jobs that they don’t have time for. So these odd jobs are very essential, they get done and I can help in little ways. St. Olaf has made it very easy. I never had a hard time, besides for transportation, at St. Olaf or at the library. I never feel like an “other” because I do not work on campus or anything.
