Interview questions for Library Assistant

An Overview

Library assistants check in and out material at the circulation desk, receive payments for fines, shelve books when patrons return them and help process new material. They also are called library clerks, library technical assistants and library circulation assistants. A library assistant should lend & collect books, periodicals, videotapes and other materials at circulation desks. Library assistants job also known as library technician helps librarians acquire, prepare and organize books and tell rules of the library. They also do other tasks that are needed to run a library. He/She usually works at desks or computer terminals inside libraries and work in the library stacks while catalog or shelving books. Library Assistant must have at least a high school diploma, some experience in a customer role, basic computer literacy, outstanding organizational skills, attention to detail and good problem-solving ability, exceptional interpersonal skills and excellent written and verbal communication. When you’re interviewing Library Assistants, candidates should demonstrate an enthusiasm for books and be highly organized. Bad candidates will lack interpersonal skills and struggle to communicate effectively.

1. Please Tell Me What Are The Responsibilities Of A Library Assistant?

There are basic responsibilities like:
o Showing up for work on time and putting in expected hours.
o Making appropriate choices such as how you dress and how you interact with others.
o Being reliable to your boss, the people you work with and clients should be able to rely on you on a daily basis, especially during peak or urgent periods.

2. Tell us about your qualifications for the position of library assistant?

Always start with your experience. Experience means much more than your education, in my opinion. Have you been a library assistant before? Talk about your years of experience, how you have impacted student learning and encouraged reading. If you have never been a librarian, talk about your experience as a classroom teacher. If you have never been a librarian or classroom teacher, talk about your practicum experience or other experiences in the library.

3. Which book are you currently reading? What do you like about it?

Library Assistants should be avid book readers, since book readers tend to have more respect for the way books are treated, ensuring they are properly preserved. Look for candidates who demonstrate depth of thought in their answer.

4. How Important Is It To Possess Good Interpersonal Skills For A Library Assistant And Why?

It is very important for library assistants to possess good interpersonal skills. This is because they are constantly in touch with library patrons and often need to exercise tact. One also has to be patient and tolerant of patron’s interests and tastes so that no one is offended.

5. How would you integrate technology into your instruction as a library assistant?

This answer to this question may vary based on the technology available, but here’s a sample answer.
I will teach students to use the online library catalog to find books in our library. We will also learn how to efficiently and effectively find information online using online encyclopedias and search engines. I will regularly model the ethical use of information to students and teachers. I also plan to attend conferences and professional development events to stay up-to-date on the latest advances in educational technology

6. What Types Of Library Material Have You Worked With In The Past As A Library Assistant?

Books are an obvious answer but many libraries also include audio and video materials, microfilm, periodicals, cards and slides, etc. Sometimes these materials require treatment or cataloging systems which are different from those of books.

7. What Technology Do You Think Is Important To Be Familiar With While Working As A Library Assistant?

It is important to be able to work with library-specific cataloging systems. Library assistants have to work with spreadsheets so knowledge of Microsoft Excel is also important. Since working as a library assistant means that one has to assist patrons in looking for online information or through library records, it is important to be technically savvy as well.

8. What is your collection development and maintenance strategy as a library assistant?

I regularly survey students and teachers to find out the types of books they would like to read. I also seek out professional reviews from publications like School Library Journal and book list and read recommendations on collection development tools like Follett Titlewave. I try to regularly read children’s books for consideration. I also regularly weed the library’s collection to make room for the most recent and relevant information

9. What Are Your Favorite Children’s Books As A Library Assistant?

Bring a list. Always. Trust me, your mind will go blank in this moment. It’s happened to me before and I’m pretty sure it cost me that position. Name and describe a few of your favorite titles and why you enjoy them. I think it’s nice to choose some books that maybe are not award winners or super well known. If you have worked in an education environment in the past, share student reactions to the books as well.

10. What are your favorite children’s books as a library assistant?

Bring a list. Always. Trust me, your mind will go blank in this moment. It’s happened to me before and I’m pretty sure it cost me that position. Name and describe a few of your favorite titles and why you enjoy them. I think it’s nice to choose some books that maybe are not award winners or super well known. If you have worked in an education environment in the past, share student reactions to the books as well.

11. How Do You Deal With Discipline Problems As A Library Assistant?

This question also comes down to personal preference, but here’s what I do. I put behavior procedures in place starting on day one. You can find all my library behavior information when you sign up for my free library lesson plans. You can find all the resources that go with the lesson plans here. You can also check out my post about behavior management in the library and my podcast about how class dojo is Changing My Library. I think the main concern with this question is that you are able to handle your own classroom issues, with the exception of extreme cases.