Will Work for Books

June 10, 2009 8:34 AM

ZOMGLibrarianfilter: Help me get this library job!

I've scored an interview for a basic library assistant job. It's entirely entry level and is more or less a customer service role with no diploma required. I'm jack of working in retail, and would really like to make the best impression possible.

So! Librarians of the Hive Mind! What do you look for in this sort of hire? I read like a maniac and know my LoC from my Dewey. I've also got a BA in Communications sitting around - is it worth harping on about that too much? It's a city council role, so there's an opportunity to get my Actual Library Certification - should I talk about that?

Help me, O Blessed Knowledgeable Ones!

posted by Jilder to work & money (9 comments total)

I don't know Dewey or LoC and I'm okay at getting library jobs. Welcome to libraryland. Here's some advice

- On the one hand, wanting to go further in the profession is terrific, on the other hand, they'll want to know that you will be okay in the job, aren't overqualified, etc. SO, think about that contextually. That is, if you have goals to being a full-on librarian, that's great but make sure you make it clear that doing this job in the meantime is also something you're psyched about and not "how quick til I can become a REAL lirbarian]
- Public service library jobs are often about managing not onyl whatever your workload is, but also sometimes weird rules and weirder people (staff and patrons) so you want to be seen as someone who is okay with that sort of thing. Not afraid of people, okay at being firm but also being able to manage expectations of the library (and their rules) and the patrons (and whatever their issues are). If you have a lot of retail experience, that's going to be great. On the other hand, think a little about what things in retail are going to be different (less salesmanship, more bureacracy, etc) and be able ot talk about that. Being able to tell a mom with two hollering kids that she can't check out a DVD because she owes the library $1.11 is a real pain in the ass, can you do that with tact and civility?
- No one cares much about whether you love to read, generally, but having a wide variety of interests generally and an "I don't know but let's find out!" attitude goes a long way. You know LoC and Dewey, that's interesting, why is that? You might want to be ready to talk about it.
- How are you with technology? If you're on MeFi you're ahead of most librarians in my area. Be willing to deal with crappy technology [possibly] at the library again with equanimity and grace. If you really like it, be willing to teach patrons and/or staff in kind and pleasant ways.
- The BA in communications is not such a huge deal but having been to college will be generally. If you think you may go on to library school, mention that (better if you've looked at schools a little and/or know what sort of thing you mgiht want to study, people enjoy seeing a brain at work) and try not to get hung up on the differences between "real" librarians and everyone else who works in the library. Depending on the library that may be a big deal or not such a big deal and you'll want to be able to follow their lead somewhat.

The best thing about working on a library is that you can really tell afterwards whether you want to go on and work in a library some more. I find the work pretty enjoyable and interesting, but I tend to do other thigns for a paycheck. Good luck!
posted by jessamyn at 8:49 AM on June 10, 2009

Usually we look for previous library experience so we don't have to start from scratch, but being personable and intelligent are also huge pluses. If you don't have any library experience, be very easy to talk to and emphasize what a quick learner you are. If I were interviewing you for a position in my [public] library, I couldn't care less about your BA in Communications.

Also, is there anything you've done previously that can relate at all to what you'll be doing in this job? If so, draw the connection for them, because they might not be able to see how it's relevant otherwise. For instance, you said you worked retail -- most library jobs have a large customer service component. Play to that.

Good luck.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:51 AM on June 10, 2009

I've previously worked as a Library Assistant. In order to get the job, I stressed my customer service experience, how much I love to learn and how good I am at it, that I learn computer systems and programs very quickly (and discussed my experience with different database programs and POS terminals).

My experience working in a library was an odd fusion of a customer service job and office work. If you can manage in those environments, you should be able to manage in a library. The trick is to just figure out how to make your previous work experience sound relevant. For example, I hadn't put my job of working in a video store in high school on my resume, but it came up in the interview and they were excited to hear about it, because it showed that I can interact with people, use computer software to access accounts and . . . reshelve stuff, I guess!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:03 AM on June 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

Being able to deal with angry patrons is a big part of being a library assistant. You will spend your days interacting with people who swear they returned that book, try to bargain with you to get their fines reduced, and curse at you for not letting them check out that DVD because they owe $245 in overdue charges. A thick skin is a definite plus. I have seen several of my library's better assistants reduced to tears by patrons. The current economic climate has put the general public even more on edge, in my observation.

Computer skills are another big plus. Simply having the curiosity to figure out how the library's various computer systems work puts you far ahead of most of the library employees I have come in contact with.

If you can demonstrate that you can perform in these two areas, you'll be in good shape.
posted by oozy rat in a sanitary zoo at 10:11 AM on June 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

I'm a library assistant (and am typing this from work right now, heh). At our place, which is a bit atypical, we look for people who are willing to try random things, research like fiends whenever strange questions pop up, and are willing to do a lot of bitchwork because we are geographically isolated from the main campus. (In my first month, I had to fix a microfilm reader. I hadn't used one since elementary school. Stuff like that.)

Good luck! (I love my job.)
posted by sperose at 10:37 AM on June 10, 2009

Remember that just about anybody can come into a public library, and, sooner or later, just about anybody does. You will need to deal with situations that you probably have not encountered in previous jobs, unless you've worked in a porn store and/or crisis intervention, and handle them with aplomb. Some of the challenges peculiar to the profession include the person who thinks that he pays your salary, all of it, with his taxes, and the person who does not understand that the library does not have the selection and/or the speed of acquisition of Amazon. Quite often, they are the same person. If you've never worked in a civil-service type job, there are special challenges that go with that, including co-workers that have risen to their level of incompetence and/or should have retired long ago.

WRT your library certification (not sure exactly what you mean by that, but I assume that it's something that could or will eventually lead to promotion), some employers will not be happy about it because you may use it to leave as soon as you're qualified, but that may be a moot point if the economy in Oz is anything like it is here at the moment, and you also have plenty of library bosses that are happy to see that people are developing their skills and not just sitting on their arses waiting for their pension. If they ask in the interview what you'd like to be doing five years from now or in the future in general, you should probably bring that up.

Best of luck to you.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:41 AM on June 10, 2009

They might also try to throw you some trick questions to see how what you think of say, internet filtering, or letting somebody check out a book you don't personally agree with. Part of the answer is that you'd do whatever the library policy indicates and defer to somebody in charge if you aren't sure. But they're also trying to see if you can get behind librarian freedom of information ethics. We're an idealistic bunch, and take these ethics seriously. So read up on some of this stuff from ALA Freedom to Read Statement to get a feel for the sort of things that are important.
posted by dipolemoment at 4:13 PM on June 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

Hah!: Halloween Jack - I have worked in a porn store. For the last six years. Who knew that could be a plus?

Jessamyn: I pretty much lived in public libraries when I was growing up, and got my nerd on in a big way learning the classification system. You know, the quiet kid that would hole up in the reading room for hours? Too many loud siblings at home. When I got to university and found that they used LoC instead of Dewey, it was like finding out they wear their pants on their head there or something, so I learned as much as I could about that too.

Thanks to everyone for the advice! I've got till Monday to think on it.
posted by Jilder at 7:01 PM on June 10, 2009

yeah actually, having worked in a porn store is probably a big plus!
Make sure to mention it, in a tasteful way. :)

I think in general really loving people will get you a lot farther in the public library business than really loving books. Also, do not expect it to be quiet and peaceful.
posted by exceptinsects at 2:56 PM on June 12, 2009