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.
An important question to ask is how the individual feels today's libraries should impact the community. You will be looking for someone who wants to make the community stronger, make connections with members of the community, and understands the power a public institution can have within the community. A good candidate will be enthusiastic about reading and writing literacy programs, job fairs, and free computer literacy classes.
Customer service is an important part of any staffing role. Libraries are open to the public, and not all patrons are easy to get along with. Staff must be adaptable and have the right temperament for the job. Going the extra mile is part of the job. Librarians are regularly called on to help patrons with research projects and explain the way works are categorized.
It's easy to give a general answer to the question of customer service, so the person doing the interviewing might ask the applicant to give a concrete example of how he or she handled a difficult client. You are looking for someone who knows how to remain composed in a difficult situation and has problem solving skills.
Asking how the job applicant would handle assisting college students with research will give you an idea of how qualified he or she is. You need to have people in place with an intimate knowledge of what resources are available at their location. The staff must be able to help students with requests for books available at other libraries within their system. Staff members must be resourceful and organized.
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.
An important question to ask in today's media savvy culture is the place of social media in a public institution. You are looking for someone who has experience with different social media platforms and marketing. You also need an individual who understands the importance of targeting a specific 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.
An important question to ask is how the individual feels today's libraries should impact the community. You will be looking for someone who wants to make the community stronger, make connections with members of the community, and understands the power a public institution can have within the community. A good candidate will be enthusiastic about reading and writing literacy programs, job fairs, and free computer literacy classes.
Customer service is an important part of any staffing role. Libraries are open to the public, and not all patrons are easy to get along with. Staff must be adaptable and have the right temperament for the job. Going the extra mile is part of the job. Librarians are regularly called on to help patrons with research projects and explain the way works are categorized.
It's easy to give a general answer to the question of customer service, so the person doing the interviewing might ask the applicant to give a concrete example of how he or she handled a difficult client. You are looking for someone who knows how to remain composed in a difficult situation and has problem solving skills.
Asking how the job applicant would handle assisting college students with research will give you an idea of how qualified he or she is. You need to have people in place with an intimate knowledge of what resources are available at their location. The staff must be able to help students with requests for books available at other libraries within their system. Staff members must be resourceful and organized.
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.
An important question to ask in today's media savvy culture is the place of social media in a public institution. You are looking for someone who has experience with different social media platforms and marketing. You also need an individual who understands the importance of targeting a specific 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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