Have you got a library assistant job?

[Tumbleweed101]

I'm wondering what the pros and cons are of this job role (not considering wages in this as have a good idea how this compares.to my current role).

Just the day to day... do you enjoy it? Any particular challenges? Anything you hadn't expected before starting?

I have an interview for a part time role that includes some children's and elderly activity groups. Just want to be sure I make any decisions (if I get offered it) having a good idea what to expect and not just what I imagine it to be like!

Thanks 😊

Watching with interest as Ive just applied for the same type of job. It's my dream job in theory so would be good to hear from anyone with experience.

I worked in a library for 5 years. The thing that shocked me when I first started was the disgusting condition some borrowers returned books in, covered in every bodily function you could imagine. It can honestly be a filthy job. I lost count of the amount of unpleasant people who would be rude to my colleagues and I and then proclaim ‘I pay your wages with my taxes’.
On the other hand I had great fun working for the mobile library service for a while.

It's interesting the kind of thing you wouldn't think of - the books being grubby is one of them! And exactly why I asked the question lol.

I've just been offered the position today so need to make that final decision tonight!

I used to and I absolutely loved every minute. It is poorly paid but it isn't stressful at all and is really, just, pleasant? Doing stuff with kids and older people is so nice. All the schools come in too. And regulars. You can get really close to some, like a confidant.

I have regularly wondered about this ut is quite a pay drop from teaxgung and from previous threads worried its a bit of a career-end so hard to move onto something better!

However I'd love the groups and the people I think.

How rude are people?

Id love to be able to leave everythung at work and have home time as genuinely my time.

Fwiw, I rarely had rude customers. Many eccentric ones of course, but rarely rude. And I don't live somewhere posh! Plus it's a good laugh with the other staff. I teach now which is a good salary but commensurate with the stress. I really miss the library days sometimes. Perhaps when the kids have left home....

Beattie looks like we're job swapping! Im not coping with the stress.

Do you find you have to be "on" all day in the libary as in teaching. As the public are there. (Not really a wfh job...)

Would you get bored compared to teaching?

@OutlookStalking

Beattie looks like we're job swapping! Im not coping with the stress.

Do you find you have to be "on" all day in the libary as in teaching. As the public are there. (Not really a wfh job...)

Would you get bored compared to teaching?

Ah nice! No, and much less so than teaching where it's six shows a day with an audience that hates you, lol. Of course the holidays aren't as generous, but I honestly loved every minute of the library.

I’m working in a library (part time) and enjoy the work. Firstly I get on with my colleagues really well and we’ve become good friends which is great as we chat a lot during quiet periods.
Our customers are generally lovely and appreciate our help. You have the odd one who’s a bit less respectful but nothing major.
The only issue we currently have is school kids coming in during the holidays to use the library as a hang out place and use the pc’s. Groups of teens together are not always great customers and we do regularly have to ask them to leave because of swearing/being loud etc. That can be a bit stressful but not every library has to deal with that.

All in all it’s a lovely job and loads of staff remain in the job well past retirement age.

I did for a bit when I was straight out of Uni and I loved it. Would definitely do it again if the timing/Money was right.

I loved being a library assistant, apart from not being able to afford anything...

I worked as bank staff in a library. As alot of the transactions now are done via self serve machines, we didn't have much customer contact. I found it really dull!

I work in a library and love it. It can be hard work and is often romanticised by people but it is a lovely place to work. The community spirit is still really strong and I really like my colleagues, managers and regulars you can have a chat with.

I'm currently working in early years and it's poorly paid and can be quite stressful. I have a lot going on outside of work so it would be nice to do something a little less 'intense' for a while. The team I work with and my manager are lovely though. Its a tricky decision.

I re-trained in my 30s as a librarian, and had to really keep my eye on my hayfever symptoms. I was aware that my allergy to dust mites was quite severe, but I hadn't realised just how much it would affect me until discussing how awful I felt with my allergist, and he pointed it out. It did improve when I realised I had to take precautions.

This probably wouldn't apply to you, but I thought I should just mention it.

I worked as a part time library assistant , really enjoyed it. Nearly all the people who came in were lovely, I knew quite a lot of them as I had previously worked as a GP receptionist very near by.

I'm not a librarian, but I work in a building which houses the town's central library. As well as working with the books, much of the work is showing users how to use computers and helping them to print etc. I have to say that some of our users can be challenging at times but it is also rewarding when you've helped somebody to apply for a job or helped an asylum seeker to photocopy documents so that they can claim benefits. You are often making a real difference to peoples lives. You get to know the regulars as well which is lovely.

Would love to know if you accepted the job op? I would absolutely love a position like this but the local ones to me always have funny working times that wouldn't really work for me. I imagine it's such a lovely job though, especially after having worked in early years .. the quietness would be amazing

I've got an interview for a library assistant job next week and I would be soo grateful if anyone on this thread could tell me what kind of questions they might ask at interview so I can prepare. I had a stress-dream last night that I failed the interview because they wanted me to read "conversational French" and I couldn't do it, so I think I am feeling a bit nervous...!

They asked me what I knew about borrow box, what type of stock ordering I think would need doing, how I would make the library inviting and accessible to everybody, they said because it can sometimes be quite a monotonous role, what would I do to keep myself self motivated.

I'm so bad at remembering interview questions, it's like when I walk out my brain just erases them all but if I remember any more I'll let you know. Just think about costumer service questions and I think they ask how you would handle a situation where somebody is being quite disruptive quite a bit too