The Wesleyan University Libraries, under the direction of the University Librarian, are staffed by 17 librarians and 29 support staff. The staff acquires and manages materials in many formats - books, periodicals, music scores, sound recordings, videos, electronic journals, microforms, etc. - in all subjects. Research and reference services are provided to promote both immediate, efficient use of the libraries, at Wesleyan and elsewhere, and a comprehension of the structure of the information world that will be of lifelong value. In addition, more than 200 student assistants work in the Wesleyan libraries. They assist in a variety of department-specific jobs: staffing circulation desks, preparing library materials for use, shelving new and returned materials, and performing clerical and housekeeping tasks as needed. Their contribution is critical to library operations.