Hiring librarians an inside look at library hiring. This set of pages has information on how to do library research. The reference interview is considered very important in the reference process since it enables the librarian to understand the exact information need of his clientele. This process helps our librarians stay informed on the needs, goals, and direction of the community, allowing us to showcase our skills and services in a new way. Shows librarians how to combine creativity with professional expertise to improve customer servicereference and research book news. What type of information do you need books, articles, etc. I can locate pretty much any kind of information, but ferreting out a patrons actual information need is tricky. The american library associations reference and user services association, states that the reference interview is the heart of the reference transaction and is crucial to the success of the process.
Advanced questions should be referred to one of the subject specialist librarians. And how to make a good impression with your interview answers. What challenges face librarians during reference interviews. The reference interview is the heart of the reference transaction and is crucial to the success of the process. We can check to see if our library has a copy of the book available. Mary is the one with the reference need, as she is looking for advice on graduate library science degree programs, and her library colleagues are all helping her out. Librarian interview with a future administrator a win win. Later, the telephone based reference interviews also became popular. I am the instructionliaison librarian for the sciences. The reference interview living in the library world. Library philosophy and practice 2008 february 2 the answer to that question will differ greatly depending upon who the patron is. Reference or research librarians help people doing research to find the information they need, through a structured conversation called a reference interview. Getting hired for a post of a librarian requires a certain level of qualification and experience and, other than that a candidate needs to prepare themselves for the interview process.
Students beginning to learn these resources in class, but the learning process continues throughout their career, both because new resources become available, but also because patrons present questions requiring new resources. It is not as a common interview, in this post a candidate will be interviewed on the level of knowledge about different books and their study materials. The reference interview is used to clarify what the patron needs. Neither conducting the reference interview nor reference andiinformation services in the 21 st century. Scheduled chat sessions during the course will model interviewing techniques using sample dialogues. So your job is to go from that initial contact with the patron to actually. Commonly asked library interview questions sample interview questions pdf from the university of north carolina at chapel hill libraries. Catherine ross talked about the value of the reference interview and how it affects the reference process when it does not take place. Ive been having problems with insomnia, and i think a book might help with that. Primarily, i provide reference assistance for the majority of the science departments at trinity. Think a phone interview is easier than an inperson one.
Meeting the reference expectations of esl students. Sample interview questions for librarians and information professionals general questions. Reference experience outside of a library setting i just got my first fulltime permanent library job yay. This class is intended to give an introduction and basic overview of the reference interview. Tailored for support staff, library technicians, newly hired reference librarians, and librarians looking to brush up on their interview skills, the ecourse is geared to cover issues of interest to staff in all type of libraries. The numbers that librarians use to identify specific books and. Join us as we break down the process into simple steps and discuss solutions to common problems. During the reference interview, the librarian works with the patron to determine her needs and then recommends online or inlibrary sources for further research. Librarians evaluate books and other informational resources for consideration as additions to collections. Reference interview 101 kaukauna public library staff training day use clarifying questions to refine or narrow the question. Five great questions i was asked as a reference librarian. Traditionally reference interview was a facetoface interaction between the librarian and the user. The librarian must be effective in identifying the patrons information needs and must do so in a manner that keeps patrons at ease.
We believe, most of our visitors can become more likely to succeed in. My school provides me a kindle and an audible subscription. In my opinion, you could cut 89% of all reference books and just go electronic on that. Reference librarians have found the reference interview to be problematic in the email environment, since the interaction is asynchronous and it may take several days to elicit all of the information that is needed to respond satisfactorily to the inquiry. We know that librarians are passionate about reference and research and are wellsuited to provide expert research assistance at little or no additional cost to the community. Barriers to information access table 1 the reference interview process. Danikas post that asked how well we would do on the booksellers quiz show got me thinking about some of the best questions i was asked when i worked as a reference librarian. A librarian serves as a point of reference who can influence and direct others in their quest. The tenyear window was chosen to roughly measure the impact of. The intent of is for our users to build confidence for their job interview, by using our thousands of interview questions and answers as they practice and prepare for their interview. Why do reference librarians need to know more about interviewing. He or she may also offer a remote access via internet to virtual sources. Everyone who lives and works in your community needs information.
Interview questions repository user submitted questions from hiring librarians library and technology jobs. This article helps you prepare for a telephone interview. Ask this question to learn how much importance a candidate places on maintaining a customeroriented space. Using a structured reference interview, the librarian works with the library user to clarify their needs and determine what information sources will fill them. The reference interview can be thought of as a conversation where one person asks another for help in finding information about a topic which they may know little about and have a harder time trying to describe what it is they want to know about it. Indiana libraries the helpless by supplying wholesome books. A practical, handson guide to business reference for readers who function as librarians, professionals, and researchers will make an excellent addition to any business collection, reference collection, or businessfinance collection at an academic library community college or fouryear collegeuniversity and public library. This handbook offers information and tips for librarians on conducting the reference interview. Making contact with the user is the first step in what is known as the reference interview. Jan 21, 2020 in our blog segment interview with a librarian we sat down with our newest librarian, grant hardaway, to find out more about him. Reference librarians recommend, interpret, evaluate, andor use information resources to help patrons with specific information needs. We as librarians must always be alert to respond appropriately to the distinct contributions that the given library user brings to that question.
Two examples of actual telephone reference interviews best demonstrate why librarians need to know more about interviewing. The librarian maintains the books collections of the library as well as other material such as. Interviewing is a skill that requires understanding and practice and is always dependent upon the patron that is seeking help. And of course, a librarian never talks down to a patron or talks at them without listening while doing a reference interview. Reference interviews helping patrons at the reference desk is one of the hardest things i do as a librarian. Following the steps of the reference interview can help library customers articulate what information they really need. Great resource for librarians who want some practical advice on how to conduct a reference interview which should be all librarians. Oct 30, 2019 join us as we break down the process into simple steps and discuss solutions to common problems. The aim of the interview is to translate the patrons questions into one that can be answered with the librarys resources. Librarianpatron interaction in the virtual environment evelyn l. But what really causes almost half of all reference interviews to go sour. Oct 11, 2010 roving reference librarians learn to tell by body language and other nonverbal cues when a user is experiencing difficulty and often initiate a reference interview by politely asking if the persons needs are being met. As a result, proper reference interview skills must be developed.
Jun, 2012 this process helps our librarians stay informed on the needs, goals, and direction of the community, allowing us to showcase our skills and services in a new way. The earliest serious attempt to outline the reference process and. Interview with librarian grant hardaway coates library. Library users can consult the staff at the reference desk for help in finding information. Reference librarians help these patrons find and select appropriate reference sources, usually after completing a reference interview. The goal of the technology reference interview is to figure out how much the patron knows already so the librarian knows where to begin. In implementing an inclusive staffing model for todays reference services, they describe stepbystep how to transition from the traditional librarianstaffed reference desk to an inclusive reference model where nonmls personnel are equipped and empowered to answer reference questions wherever these questions might be asked. This article provides job interview questions with suggested answers for the job positions of school librarian, reference librarian and academic. Curry texas womans university abstract this paper examined the reference interview literature over the past 10 years to determine how thinking has changed regarding the process. King is an assistant professor at the uni versity of minnesota library school. The help may take the form of research on a specific question, providing direction on the use of databases and other electronic information resources. Roving reference librarians learn to tell by body language and other nonverbal cues when a user is experiencing difficulty and often initiate a reference interview by politely asking if the persons needs are being met. In small libraries all librarians may be called upon to perform reference duties.
In all cases, once you have located sources, be sure to evaluate them, using the evaluation guides. In our blog segment interview with a librarian we sat down with our newest librarian, grant hardaway, to find out more about him. Useful for all freshers and expert level professionals interviewing for positions like head librarian, library assistant, interns etc. Both these studies were conducted in a public library setting. Library interview questions from florida state university libraries.
Its also an interesting take on a reference interview for and by librarians. Common librarian interview questions with answers wisestep. At a time when the reference desk has been pronounced dead, many public services librarians have watched in dismay the disappearance of the reference librarians place of prominence in the library world. The thesis is that this moment in time within a given reference interview occurs only once, regardless of how many times a librarian has heard the question. For instance, if the patron is a biology graduate student studying cancer, his needs would be scholarly, scientific, current. In other cases, however, students see the reference desk as akin to a fast food drive though window, where they can wait and chat with friends while the librarian scurries into the stacks to fetch a book. With my newly minted mls, i thought i better do a good reference interview. Upcoming csl in session webinar conducting the reference. Librarian interview questions and answers covers important knowledge, situation, behavioral and experience based interview questions on topics like discipline, digitalization, social media, procuring right books for library etc. A man approached the reference desk and asked a simple question. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. A reference interview is a conversation between a librarian and a library user, usually at a reference desk, in which the librarian responds to the users initial explanation of his or her information need by first attempting to clarify that need and then by directing the user to appropriate information resources. What books are you reading currently, or read recently, and would you recommend one or more.
We have compiled brief guides to the resources available both online and offline on these topics. He asked if he could interview me about the future of libraries and librarians and their role in curriculum from the perspective of a school administrator. Some students are delighted with all aspects of using the library, from interacting with the librarians to checking out books. They list the questions they were asked, what they asked, and other things to note about each interview. The academic library interview process in a tight economy.
This question about ones favourite books is not like any other simple interview questions for librarians that the employer presents in front of the candidate. Reference questions and search strategies interview. Jul 01, 2011 there are many definitions of the reference interview, but they all boil down to the same thing. This article will focus on how to determine what kind of information the patron needs through the reference interview. The class is aimed at frontline staff and librarians.
The steps of the reference interview state library of iowa. Well, are you looking for books on any specific type of poultry. This book is highly recommended for all libraries, academic ones in particularjournal of academic librarianship. Nevertheless, the literature on the role of questions in the reference interview has been relatively sparse. These are examples of the questions librarians receive at the reference desk. Library interview questions library interviews and salary.
It features models of communication such as sensemaking and microtraining, exercises for avoiding read more. Think like a librarian and conduct a reference interview. A free inside look at librarian interview questions and process details for 184 companies all posted anonymously by interview candidates. Participants will leave with a 6step tool kit to asking better questions so customers leave happy. As we can see from the video, its rarely as simple as it seems. I said i liked to work with books and i like the environment. It is beyond the scope here, and certainly not the place, at the very end of a paper, to begin to conjecture. So naturally, in a technology interview the librarian will be talking with the patrons. Requests for assistance often occur in person at the library, reference is increasingly conducted by phone, chat and email.
If we have reference librarians with the proper ethos, the character appropriate to their professioneducated, intellectually curious, driven by a desire and equipped with a capacity to solve information problems, practiced in the appropriate ways to respond to various audiences, adaptable to changing circumstancesand a culture that. The interview establishes the patrons initial query and allows the reference librarian to dig deeper to uncover the true information need. The reference interview defined the reference interview is the process that determines the information needs of the customer. The reference interview is the most important aspect of a reference librarian s job because it establishes rapport and clarifies what the patron is actually interested in finding out, and how the librarian can assist in the process. You are not alone maybe before you ask us a reference question, check this handy list of frequently asked reference questions to see if your question is a popular one that we have answered many times before. Reference interview graduate reference assistant program. They organize resources so that patrons can easily find. I asked the librarian if they would give me an email interview. I started this blog in february 2012, so we have been going for nearly 4 years. A free inside look at reference librarian interview questions and process details for other companies all posted anonymously by interview candidates. The first year, i found the topic so interesting that i was happy to spend a good deal of my free time working on it. There are many definitions of the reference interview, but they all boil down to the same thing. Apr 27, 2018 this is a database compiled by librarians currently in the interview process.
Thank you so much for reading, sharing, supporting, and ranting about hiring librarians. I prefer e books and audiobooks thank goodness for technology. Sep 09, 2019 reference librarians require a significant amount of formal education. I am happy to speak with a possible future leader about school libraries and librarians.
How do you, the reference provider, work together with a patron to figure out what it is they need to know and how to help them find it. Her research findings, which take place over several years, including before and after the widespread use of the internet, demonstrate that the reference interview is the essential component of reference success. Reference librarians conducted reference interviews that helped students and patrons get to more indepth information on a topic. It features models of communication such as sensemaking and microtraining, exercises for avoiding common pitfalls, and examples of both successful and problematic interviews. I immediately thought about selfhelp books that might provide. Heres information on what librarians do, specializations, educational requirements, skills employers seek, and what you can expect to get paid. Discovering the needs of each individual who comes in to the library calls for people skills. Anyone who knows anything about libraries knows that all patron interactions are private and that librarians never, ever share information about those who ask questions or seek advice. Actually, the employer is trying to know the level of the intellectual qualities of the candidates, which is needed for the post of the librarian. To borrow a medical analogy, reference librarians diagnose and treat information deficiencies. Last week i had a slight buzz and randomly phoned 10 public libraries in 10 random states and asked to talk to a librarian. When analyzed, responses from the classes tended to fall into three themes. Strong listening and questioning skills are necessary for a positive interaction. An ideal overview of the interview process public library quarterly.