Operational Library Assistant Interview Preparation Guide

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There are basic responsibilities like:
★ Showing up for work on time and putting in expected hours.
★ Making appropriate choices such as how you dress and how you interact with others.
★ 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.

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.

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.

It is important to be able to perform some book repair and maintenance activities. It is also important to ensure cleanliness of bookshelves which involves dusting and arranging and rearranging books and resources in the library.

Speak about your past good experiences working in a team with good examples of project implementation. If you led a team in the past or were a key member that has a potential of leading a team, then talk about that.

Provide short interesting success stories from your background. Explain the way you manage your work-time to cope with high work load. You can also tell about the techniques you use to overcome stressful situations and difficulties.

If you can't answer this calmly and with enthusiasm you are off to a rocky start. Highlight your skills and accomplishments that relate to the position and give yourself a plug.

Now's your chance to sell yourself. Tell the interviewer how you are an excellent match with the needs of the company.

You should have put thought into this prior to the interview. It is a question that is asked often so be ready. Of course you need to be sincere.

Have at least a couple of quotes from co-workers. Tell about the previous job colleague's quotes about you and your work.

You can mention a number of activities including self-improvement, and of course any job related activities.

Provide a basic time-frame. The preferred answer is as soon as possible.

Always say "yes," and then give a quick explanation that includes things like you set goals, are an achiever, etc.

Talk about the methods you utilize for solving problems with some good past examples.

Work at the library requires the ability to use computers, the internet and software like Word, Excel and any library-specific catalog programs. The ability to type is desirable. Assistants should be able to operate computers themselves and instruct visitors whenever necessary.

Be honest about your strengths. In general, employers are looking for people with the best leaning agility (quick learners) and those who can better adjust to changes and new jobs. Provide one of your strengths. Explain your professional strength and how it contribute to your work performance.

Make a short list of all your strengths and added value and create a paragraph comparing the job requirement to your advantages.

You want to progress in terms of interest, duties, position and financial matters. Be practical and describe a career curve planning.

Library assistants may be responsible for book repair and maintenance.

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.

Being a library assistant does require a degree of interpersonal skills, if only to be tactful and quick to help patrons locate desired material. Patience and tolerance for other people's tastes and interests is important if you do not wish to offend people.

One important characteristic is detail orientation, library assistants are highly organized and detail oriented. They work with files, know where materials are on the various shelves and keep customer accounts correctly updated. Strong memory is another desirable characteristic.

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.

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.

I always say that math is a weak point for me and jokingly add, "that's why I became a library assistant." Then I follow that up by talking about how technology has helped me improve my math skills through a love of working with data in spreadsheets (nerd alert!). I might not be very good at math, but Excel does not make mistakes.
I don't recommend using a weakness that could be viewed as a strength, such as, I am a total workaholic! I love my job so much and would rather be here than anywhere else. To me, this is totally fake, desperate, and untrue. Just don't do it.