Interview Questions You Need To Ask When Library Staffing LA Public Institutions

By Kathleen Fox


Americans do not read the way they used to. In just the past four years the numbers have reduced significantly. The way a lot of people read has changed. Many are choosing electronic books over traditional material. The eighth grade level is as high as half of Americans can go when it comes to reading today. For libraries to survive, the staff has to embrace new ways of thinking and doing. Interviewing potential candidates for library staffing LA administrators conduct need to reflect this.

One such question should pertain to the library's place in the community. You want staff that understands the importance of this public institution's standing in the community and its responsibility to reach out to community members in an effort to make the community stronger and more vital. Good candidates for the staff will have enthusiasm for organizing job fairs, writing and reading literacy and computer literacy programs.

You need to know what an applicant's attitude is toward customer service. Public libraries are open to anyone and not everyone is easy to deal with. You want staff with the right temperament, adaptability, and a willingness to go the extra mile. Librarians are employed to assist clients with research projects and to explain how works are categorized.

You might ask a job applicant for a specific instance when he or she had to handle a difficult patron. The answer will give you a good sense of the applicant's ability to remain composed under pressure. You can also assess the skill level the applicant has reached when it comes to problem solving.

A question involving assisting college students with their research will tell you a lot about the applicant's qualifications. Here you want to see someone with knowledge about what information is available in this particular center and how a student can request other books within the library system. It is important for the staffer to be organized and resourceful. The librarian's responsibility is to point out the resources available, not do the work for the student.

You might want to ask the candidate how he or she would go about improving current library conditions to make them more conducive to learning, without regard to the patron's age, status, or gender. One valid answer might be creating stations with easy chairs, good lighting, and healthy plants in pots. This area, as with all the facility, must be kept free of clutter. The hours the library is open to the public should reflect the fact that many of the patrons are working adults.

No interview would be complete without questioning applicants about the role they think social media should play in libraries. You want to hire an individual with enthusiasm about the positive aspects of social media, who has some experience with the various platforms, and understands how to market the library's resources to a targeted audience.

Libraries can't survive by clinging to their tradition as a repository for books that only card carrying patrons can check out. They must be interactive and forward thinking. Libraries need staff willing to recognize the distinction and build on it.




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