I'm reading TWMF once again and after reading this piece I couldn't help but ask myself, why would so many students bother with being a scriv doing such tedious work?
Just like a city, parts of the Archives teemed with activity. The Scriptorium held rows of desks where scrivs toiled over translations or copied faded texts into new books with fresh, dark ink. The Sorting Hall buzzed with activity as scrivs sifted and reshelved books. The Buggery was not at all what I expected, thank goodness. Instead, it proved to be the place where new books were decontaminated before being added to the collection. Apparently all manner of creatures love books, some devouring parchment and leather, others with a taste for paper or glue. Bookworms were the least of them, and after listening to a few of Wilem’s stories I wanted nothing more than to wash my hands. Cataloger’s Mew, the Bindery, Bolts, Palimpsest, all of them were busy as beehives, full of quiet, industrious scrivs.
My first guess is that they're getting paid to do it, just like Kvothe at the fishery. But then there's Ambrose who works there too from time to time. Why would Ambrose need to work there at all? Is it mentioned somewhere what their reason is exactly?