When St. Lawrence College students have a hard time finding that key piece of information, they go to the library. More often than not they’ll speak with Jill Baker, the college librarian.
But as of January 12th, all of that will change.
The position of Librarian will be replaced by an Associate Director of Libraries and Student Success. The person in this role will oversee various departments, with only 20 per cent dedicated to the college’s libraries.
After 13 years of helping students, Jill Baker will be out of a job.
“It was heartbreaking,” Baker said of finding out her position was being eliminated. “I love my job, I love what I do here, working with the students and working with faculty.”
Union representatives say the move was done as a cost-cutting measure, which they believe is further proof that the Ontario colleges are being run more like businesses than places where students go to learn.
“It’s a challenge for us,” OPSEU Local 417 President Grant Currie said. “Over the past ten years, there’s been a 50 per cent increase in administration and management positions and only a 12 per cent increase in faculty positions with a 20 per cent increase in student enrolment.”
In a statement to CKWS TV, the school says this is all part of a new ‘student success model’.
“The new service model is aimed at making services even more accessible to students by integrating them and offering them in an updated and expanded service environment,” the statement read.
As for the new position, Baker said she wasn’t approached by the school about taking it, but after seeing the job description, she’s not sure she’d want to.
“Only one-fifth of it is related to the library and library services, so it’s not really something that would have been near and dear to my heart.”
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