Any librarians about?

[Cocolapew]

If so can I ask what type of questions to expect at an interview?
DD has one in a couple of weeks.
TIA

Do you mean actual librarians or library assistants ?
I feel there is a fairly big difference. Also these days you will find libraries often have a library manager rather than an actual professional librarian.

Oh. I don't know. Its a job in a library that's all I know.

It depends on the library; bookmobile might be run by a very knowledgeable clerk, school library ditto, or is it a local library, university library, library embedded in a ministry. We need more details!

Just a local library.

My last library interview was over 10 years ago but I remember being asked about dealing with awkward customers. Also have some ideas for getting more people to use the library, clubs, events etc and have some ideas for how those would work in lockdown too. What does the library do except books and what else could they do? How do you get more people to join?
Then the usual time management, keeping busy when it's quiet, self motivation examples etc.

They might quiz on the Dewey decimal system or do a timed shelving test - I had to do one of those.

Hope that helps!

Oh and "Tell me about your favourite/current book". My mind always goes blank.

Libraries are less about borrowing books and more inclusive social community places, she might be asked a range of questions about books/organisation/community spirit/customer service/self motivation etc.

She needs to research the library she's applying to and the wider council community of libraries and the initiatives they're currently running and any future plans they might have. Having well rounded knowledge of the library will really help when it comes to answering any questions that crop up.

There are Facebook groups for librarians which might be worth a look into, CILIP in particular.

When I applied for a local library, the interview day was broken down into different activities.

We had to write a book review
Read a children's book to an audience
Shelve books into order
Take a pretend telephone call
Talk for 10 minutes about a random object, mine was a bin bag
Take part in a topical debate

Throughout the day, applicants were told if they had made it to the next stage, and at the end of the day, if you had passed everything then you had the interview. It was a lot for a part time job and I didn't get it even though I passed all stages.

I had an interview for NHS libraries which was based on the values of the Trust , they were all competency based questions and I got the job!

Thank you these are great, its only half an hour and socially distanced so I don't think she'll be interacting with anyone much.

If she has no library qualifications and it's a local public library she'll be going fur a general assistant. She'll need to emphasise that she is non-judgemental (everyone welcome even the rude ones, smelly ones, condescending ones, homeless ones, rambunctious kids, busy bodies and lonelies); physically strong (moving stock), good with detailed tasks (keeping physical collections in their well ordered places) and whiz with IT (using special management systems, running public access workstations, teaching people how to use them, fixing hardware and bodging up outdated machines and systems); cleaning (sometimes the public are disgusting on purpose or by accident and cleaners don't visit every day); tidy & safe & careful with publically owned assets and have excellent customer service skills on the phone, email and in person.
Know how the council manages their libraries, how many branches and what cooperative schemes they're in with neighbouring councils.

Oh and, you should like books and reading, be well read, a graduate, maybe even multi-lingual - and willing to work for near minimum wage all your life.

She works in a toy shop so is used to children and obnoxious adults

Examples of working with the public
How would you handle a difficult member if the public (argumentative / disruptive etc.)?
Mention happy to deal with all ages from babies to pensioners.
Examples of working with money (accepting payment)
Are you a team player?
Willing to travel to other libraries to cover occasional absence?
Comfortable with IT (helping members of the public on public computers / printing etc.)
The ability to run events the children (such as crafts or toddler story time / rhyme time)
Possibly hosting class visits
GDPR is important (she needs to understand about handling people's information confidentially)
Friendly, confident and willing to learn and give new things a go (such as story times etc mentioned above)
Look into the libraries online rental system and online audio books (these have become hugely popular over lock down) know a little bit about their system.
What is the last book you read / tell us about a book you'd recommend.
Do you know what a daily fine is your a late book? (Other charges too, like reservation charges)
Can you explain what the Dewey system is?

Any discuss interest or talents could help, such as being very arty (craft club) or musical (rhyme time) or strong on IT (coding club for kids or IT support for elderly customers)

Young and energetic staff who are used to change and 'up on' technology are always an asset. I think libraries are purposely trying to lose the stigma of grumpy librarians always telling people to shush. Libraries are a community hub now and not just about books.

Is also imagine there may be some questions on COVID safety.

What Menaimna said. It’s all about dealing with sometimes difficult people and software. A lot of libraries have a minimum typing speed required as well.

Thanks for all the replies, I'll pass them on 🙂

She needs to come up with answers to questions like

• what’s the last book you read?
• what’s your favourite book and why?

Etc

What do you think is the most important skill for a librarian?

Answer - communication skills

@RunningFromInsanity

She needs to come up with answers to questions like

• what’s the last book you read?
• what’s your favourite book and why?

Etc

They'll never get her to stop talking if they ask her this ..

Hmm. My last interview was more concerned with managing volunteers and promoting the service through social media. Nothing about books at all.

Emphasize customer service skills don't talk about books too much. Ensure you know off by heart all the services your library offers. Should be on the website.

@MenaiMna

If she has no library qualifications and it's a local public library she'll be going fur a general assistant. She'll need to emphasise that she is non-judgemental (everyone welcome even the rude ones, smelly ones, condescending ones, homeless ones, rambunctious kids, busy bodies and lonelies); physically strong (moving stock), good with detailed tasks (keeping physical collections in their well ordered places) and whiz with IT (using special management systems, running public access workstations, teaching people how to use them, fixing hardware and bodging up outdated machines and systems); cleaning (sometimes the public are disgusting on purpose or by accident and cleaners don't visit every day); tidy & safe & careful with publically owned assets and have excellent customer service skills on the phone, email and in person. Know how the council manages their libraries, how many branches and what cooperative schemes they're in with neighbouring councils.

Oh and, you should like books and reading, be well read, a graduate, maybe even multi-lingual - and willing to work for near minimum wage all your life.

This. Working in libraries is not for the shy and retiring bookworm. Dealing with the public is challenging, you need to be happy doing promotional work and it is often dirty, heavy work moving stock around. If you have a talent for it, you will find it very rewarding.

Working in libraries is not for the shy and retiring bookworm.
Yep

@RunningFromInsanity

She needs to come up with answers to questions like

• what’s the last book you read?
• what’s your favourite book and why?

Etc

They won't ask questions like that. It's a common misconception that people that work in libraries just sit round reading all day. It will be more like what Pechanga said and possibly a shelving test so make sure you know the Dewey system.