Library Interview Questions

Updated 3/4/2013

Commonly Asked Library Interview Questions

101+ Commonly Asked Interview Questions – Questions from an Illinois Library Association conference session [retrieved from Archive.org]
Frequently Asked Interview Questions – School of Library and Information Science, University of South Carolina
Interview Questions – Indiana University Bloomington Libraries [retrieved from Archive.org]
Sample Interview Questions [PDF] – from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Libraries. 10 pages of questions.
Sample Interview Questions – from Penn State University Libraries
LIBREF-L Archives Search – Search the archives of this popular electronic discussion list. To bring up relevant postings, try searching for: interview questions. Focuses on library reference issues.
Potential Questions for Reference Librarian Position – Archived post from the PUBLIB public libraries electronic discussion list
Mock Interview – School Librarian – potential interview questions from Brooke Witham
Librarian Interview Questions [Word doc] – from New York, for school librarians/library media specialists.
Sample Interview Questions for Librarians and Information Professionals [PDF] – Kent State University School of Library and Information Science
Some Suggested Interview Questions (Children’s Librarian position) [PDF] – Humboldt Municipal Library, Tennessee
Interviewing for a Cataloguing Position: The Two-Way Street – The Cataloguing Librarian blog
Complete List of Behavioral Interview Questions [PDF]– from the U. of Minnesota Pharmacy School. Intended for business-related jobs, but many questions applicable to libraries.
Sample Interview Questions – LIS Specific & Generic [Google Doc] – University of Washington iSchool
Interview Questions – from CEO Blog – Time Leadership. Geared towards business-related jobs, but many applicable to libraries.
36 Tough Interview Questions and ways to structure the responses [PDF] – from Randy Block, career consultant. Geared towards the business world, but highly applicable.
30 Interview Questions You Can’t Ask and 30 Sneaky, Legal Alternatives to Get the Same Info – from HR World, geared towards businesses in general, but good info to know on what cannot be asked of you
Illegal or Inappropriate Interview Questions – from Penn State University Libraries
10 Things You Can’t Be Asked on a Job Interview – by Laura Strachan, FindLaw.com blog

Some of these I’ve been asked, and some I have asked to potential librarians.

Tell us about your work experience in libraries.
What made you decide to become a librarian?
Why are you interested in leaving your current position?
What is it about our position that interests you the most?
Why do you want to work here?
Are there things about your current job you find difficult or frustrating to do?
From your other fields of work, what do feel is most applicable to being a librarian?
What are some of your proudest accomplishments as a librarian?
What do you think are the most relevant of your experiences and talents, given our stated needs for the position?
Based on the job description, which of the duties do you feel most comfortable with, and which do you feel may take some time to learn?
In the past, you have been heavily focused in [reference and instruction, or whatever...]. How do you feel about making the transition to [technical services, or whatever...].
Earlier today, you had a short tour of the library. Did anything surprise you? Is there anything you would change?
What do you perceive as the biggest challenges in this position? What are the biggest benefits?
Tell us more about your coursework in….
What’s the most important thing you learned in library school?
In your opinion, how has the role of the [academic, public, school, etc..] library changed?
How do you think the library ties into the [university's, school's, community's, etc...] goals, mission, vision…?
What frustrates you the most as a librarian? And how do you go about fixing it/solving it?
Can you describe how you schedule your time on particularly hectic day? Can you give a specific example?
Can you give me an example of how you have worked with a group outside of the library? (e.g., student organization, local businesses, etc…)
Who are some of your favorite authors? Favorite books?
What are some of the books you’ve read in the past few months?
What is the library’s role in educating its [students, community, etc...]?
How do you stay current with trends and developments in the profession?
What management style do you prefer working with?
What is your philosophy to librarianship?
Tell us about something innovate you’ve done in your current job (or coursework, etc.).
Explain your approach to customer service in [an academic, public, school, etc...] library.
How do you deal with the whole ownership vs. access in regards to print and electronic sources?
What is your opinion about free online sources such as Wikipedia and Google Scholar?
Tell us about your experiences or opinions with e-readers (Kindle, Nook, etc…).
Tell us about your experiences using library databases? (Either helping patrons with, or your own experiences.)
Tell us about your experiences supervising or training staff (or students, etc..).
What is your favorite library database/online resource?
You are given $5000 (or whatever amount) to spend on [insert the subject area]. How would you go about spending it? How do you decide what to order?
Do you have any experience with student learning tools such as Turnitin, NoodleTools, EasyBib, RefWorks, Zotero…?
If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could only take 5 reference books, what would it be?
How much help should you give a person at the reference desk?
How do you respond when someone says, “But we’ve always done it this way.”?
What do you think your references would say are your best skills?
What do you think your references might says are some “areas for improvement” for yourself?
What non-library organizations or businesses inspire you the most?
Name five adjectives that describe yourself.
Describe your philosophy of librarianship.
Describe a situation where you had to meet a very tight deadline. What other things were you juggling? Did you meet the deadline?
Describe how you have planned and implemented a project.
Describe an experience you have had working on a team.
Describe a failure you have experienced. What did you learn from it?
Describe a time when you did everything correctly and still did not succeed.
Describe a time when a reference transaction did not go so well. Thinking back, how would you have rectified the situation.
Describe an experience dealing with a difficult patron and how did you go about resolving it?
Describe your technology experience (computers, web design, e-resources, web 2.0)?
Or more specifically: How does the library incorporate social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter into its services?
Describe your experiences with faculty (or community, etc…) collaboration.
Describe a workplace conflict you encountered and how did you go about resolving it.
Describe a situation where you demonstrated particularly good resourcefulness or flexibility.
Describe a situation where you initiated change. What was it and what steps did you take?
Scenario: A patron complains that another person in the library “smells.” What do you do?
Scenario: You’re working at a busy reference desk. You have one person standing in front of you needing help researching water pollution in local rivers, you have an instant message chat question, the telephone is ringing, and the printer is jammed. What do you do?
Scenario: A local citizen is objecting to a book in the library’s collection, what would you do?
Scenario: A patron complains because there are no free computers available. You notice that some kids are on Facebook, while others are typing papers and doing research. What do you do?
Anything else you think we need to know that we did not ask you?

73 Comments »

73 Responses

on February 16, 2011 at 10:22 am | Reply Joe Hardenbrook

I’m always looking for more questions to add. If you have suggestions, please let me know!
on February 17, 2011 at 6:54 pm | Reply Christopher

How about some sample answers, and/or tips on etiquette? (i.e., if someone asks you [a], you should NEVER say [b]. Or: If someone asks you [c], you should always try to mention everything you know about [d].)

Just a thought.
- on February 18, 2011 at 2:43 pm | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll need to “gnaw” on this for a future post.
on February 21, 2011 at 10:08 am | Reply Brooke

Yes sample answers would be great.. perhaps you could open the project and have each person answer some of the questions.
on February 25, 2011 at 1:42 pm | Reply Variegated Stacks

Hello Mr. Library Dude! I just sent someone a link to this awesome website. Thanks for being a resource! VS
- on February 25, 2011 at 2:00 pm | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Thanks for the kind words!
on March 9, 2011 at 4:54 pm | Reply Got a Bun in the Oven? Illegal Interview Questions « Mr. Library Dude

[...] have updated the Library Interview Questions page on the Nailing the Library Interview site to include a few links to “illegal” [...]
on March 15, 2011 at 3:48 pm | Reply Mary White

I like the suggestion of posting sample answers to
some question.

Multiple choice answers to Scenarios.
on March 23, 2011 at 5:57 am | Reply Rosie

Thank you very much for the questions. I have an interview next week and i am very sure these questions have given me an insight on what they are likely to ask me. However i wish you had given the sample answers too.
- on March 24, 2011 at 10:16 am | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Good luck on your interview!
on March 24, 2011 at 10:15 am | Reply Joe Hardenbrook

I’m struggling with the “sample answers” part…I think many of the answers depend on the type of library and the type of librarian position you are applying for. I don’t think I can (or would even want) to have a sample answer for “Why do you want to work here?” — because that has to come from YOU!

Best advice: use your common sense. Practice the questions with a friend. Or write down some bullet points. Think about what an ideal answer might be for the situation. Think about how to avoid making anything you say sound negative.

Best of luck!
on March 28, 2011 at 5:47 pm | Reply paige

Hi Joe!
What a great site! I am so nervous about my interview in two weeks that I have been reading everything I can find.

This gave me some really great ideas. Thank you very much.
- on March 28, 2011 at 10:06 pm | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Glad to hear! Best of luck on your interview!
  - on July 23, 2012 at 1:07 pm Joe
    
    Hello Brooke,
    
    Could you please send me a copy of Mock Interview Q&A document? Thanks. I appreciate your help. God Bless
    
    My email: joer_1977@yahoo.com
    
    Thanks,
    Joe
on March 29, 2011 at 6:35 pm | Reply Brooke

Hi Joe
Yes the answers have to come from us …
but a checklist of keypoints to cover would be great
B
on April 20, 2011 at 2:05 pm | Reply Cover Letters, Resumes, and Interviews, Oh My! « Mr. Library Dude

[...] Before the preliminary interview, think about some questions that might be asked you. See: Sample interview questions. [...]
on April 24, 2011 at 8:17 pm | Reply Robin

Thank you! I am finishing my library certification and your site was very helpful before my interview….
on April 25, 2011 at 8:40 am | Reply Brooke

HI
I have prepared a word doc of Q & A
for interviews I hopefully will get.
It has helped me to inventory my strengths , weaknesses, goals and philosophy.
Thanks for the framework!
Brooke
on June 8, 2011 at 1:27 am | Reply suaverique

Greetings this was very helpful and special thanks to you and all who responded. I agree that the sample answers must come from us but my search for “tough interview questions for librarians” revealed a sample of 50 touch questions with answer guidelines that were also helpful. Check it out it has also helped me to be able to frame a response in my particular case. Good luck to all of you and thanks Mr. Hardenbrook for your wonderful and thoughtful idea.
on November 8, 2011 at 2:02 pm | Reply Kathy

In the many organizations I have interviewed with each interviewer is seeking a different answer and committee library interviews should be abolished! Consensus can be very superficial and so whatever you believe is the right answer, probably is the correct one. I have heard of women giving the same answer as men and being judged differently. What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another in the job market. Ageism, sexism and any ism you can think of is out there when jobs are tight. If you manage to get a job just try to be empathetic when you are in a position to hire someone.
- on November 8, 2011 at 5:19 pm | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  I guess the flip side is that the committee interview gives you (the candidate) a chance to see how your potential co-workers interact with each other. I’ve been in situations where the committee & I have had great interactions and I could easily see that the workplace was welcoming and inviting. I’ve also had some experiences that raised a red flag. It also gives you a chance to ask your own questions of several different people all at once.
on December 7, 2011 at 3:41 pm | Reply Elizabeth Yates

This post is a fantastic resource and I appreciate your time in putting it together.
Instead of supplying answers to the questions, I think what would be helpful to job-seekers is knowing what is the motivation behind the questions: what is it the interviewers are trying to discover with these queries. The “behind-the-scenes” aspects of these questions might not be obvious on the surface but this insight could be highly useful to interviewees.
Thanks!
Elizabeth
- on December 9, 2011 at 2:05 pm | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Thanks, Elizabeth. I like the idea of a “behind the scenes” look at interview questions. Sounds like that will make a good blog post!
on December 12, 2011 at 10:13 pm | Reply Najma

I must say, this a great site, time and effort you are putting in is highly appreciated. I feel that sample answers can help to frame a response specially for those to whom English is a second language
on December 13, 2011 at 11:13 am | Reply Brooke

I have a Mock Interview Q&A document that I will email anyone that would like it.
It is a work in progress and of course you will need to customize it for your own interview.
- on December 13, 2011 at 9:51 pm | Reply Najma
  
  Thanks,Brooke.I would love to have it
- on January 29, 2012 at 12:30 pm | Reply Marissa
  
  Hi Brooke I have an initial HR interview next week and have no experience of working in a library It would be great if you could email me your mock Q&A to marissajtoner@gmail.com
- on February 8, 2012 at 2:44 pm | Reply Ana
  
  Hi Brooke,
  Could you please email it to me too?
  
  butterflymorning413@yahoo.com
  
  Thanks,
  Ana
- on March 8, 2012 at 4:19 pm | Reply Karen
  
  Brooke, I would love to have a copy of your Q&A. Would it be possible to have it emailed to me?
  
  Karen
  - on March 9, 2012 at 8:19 am Brooke
    
    Hi Karen
    What email address do Isend it to?
- on April 13, 2012 at 1:20 pm | Reply niccizucha@hotmail.com
  
  Brooke,
  
  If you still have your mock interview q&a, would you mind emailing it to me niccizucha@hotmail.com. Thank you, I am very appreciative.
- on April 19, 2012 at 4:09 am | Reply laurie daniels
  
  Dear Brooke,
  
  Hi! Hope you are well. Would you please e-mail me a copy of your Q & A document to lauracaitdaniels@aol.com. Thank you!!!
  
  Laurie
- on May 20, 2012 at 4:38 pm | Reply Eileen Aldrich
  
  I would also be interested in the document.
- on June 10, 2012 at 9:42 pm | Reply Karen
  
  Hi Brooke. Would you mind sending me your mock interview as well? Its the answers that are the problem for me, not the questions. I will definitely give you feedback. Thanks, Karen. Email karen1860@hotmail.com
- on June 18, 2012 at 1:26 pm | Reply Ronika Rani Sathiram
  
  Good evening. May I please have a copy of the mock interview Q&A.
- on June 20, 2012 at 6:26 pm | Reply Cecilia
  
  Hi Brooke,
  
  I would like to get a copy of your Mock Q&A, My email is chui0519@yahoo.com. Thanks,
  
  Cecilia
- on August 20, 2012 at 5:59 pm | Reply shellydcook
  
  Hi Brooke
  
  I’d love to have a copy if possible..: shellyfranklin@gmail.com
  
  Thanks!
- on September 13, 2012 at 11:06 pm | Reply ihuoma
  
  Hi Brook,I will love to have a copy of your mock Q&A document,could you please email it to me?I have an interview in a few days and I guess it could be helpful.Thanks.My email is ihuwobara@yahoo.com
on December 14, 2011 at 10:07 am | Reply Brooke

Najma I need an email address to send it to.
B
- on December 14, 2011 at 3:10 pm | Reply Najma
  
  Thanks much, Brooke, here is my email address :najma_bhatti@hotmail.com
- on December 14, 2011 at 3:12 pm | Reply Najma
  
  Brooke , : is not part of my email address
- on January 9, 2013 at 9:37 pm | Reply thel
  
  hi brooke this is a very good site for librarians very helpful for librarians. This is my first time here. I love to have a copy of this to. Can you please send it to my email pls? Thanks a lot. sheryl_bmiraballes@yahoo.com
on December 31, 2011 at 5:46 pm | Reply Jean

Hi, Brooke,

Could you please send me a copy of Mock Interview Q&A document? Thanks.

My email: flowersun999@hotmail.com
- on March 12, 2012 at 11:15 am | Reply Brooke
  
  Would love to have suggestions on the mock interview document.
  Thanks
  Brooke
on January 13, 2012 at 2:58 am | Reply Ngo

Tks for this post
on February 12, 2012 at 7:46 pm | Reply Brooke

Hi all
I would love to know what you thought of the Mock interview I sent.
Thanks!
Brooke
- on March 4, 2012 at 6:25 pm | Reply Talenda
  
  I have an interview in 2 weeks and would love if you could email me a copy of the mock questions and answers. This site has been very helpful.
  
  Talenda
  
  Tgirlz1975@aol.com
  
  Thank you
- on December 28, 2012 at 12:36 am | Reply faozan
  
  Hi Brooke i also need that mock interview. Please send me!
  
  fizzahamdani@yahoo.com
on March 11, 2012 at 8:14 am | Reply Elieen

I have an interview in a wk time and would love if you could email me a copy of the mock questions and answers. This site has prepare me for interview.

xiaoxin_10@hotmail.com

Thank You!
on March 20, 2012 at 10:19 pm | Reply Amy

I think it is a good call to not provide the answers. The point of providing possible questions is to give an applicant the opportunity to reflect and prepare their own answers. Even though you may not be asked exactly these questions, taking the time to consider them will prepare you for answering a wide variety of potential questions.
on April 22, 2012 at 8:02 pm | Reply Brooke

I would really appreciate feed back on the Mock Q & A document I sent to some. folks
Thanks
Brooke
on April 26, 2012 at 8:39 pm | Reply Sandi

Brooke,
I would love a copy of the Mock Q &A-interview in the morning. I’m a teacher but applying for the librarian position.
My email is:purplelady913@yahoo.com
thanks for any help
on May 3, 2012 at 4:47 am | Reply Grace

How do you answer the following interview question, “Where are you in your reference career?” (I just had this as a first question in a telephone interview, and I didn’t know how to answer it.)
- on May 3, 2012 at 10:53 am | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Hmm…that question would throw me off too because it seems like the interviewer could have gathered this info from the resume. So I guess I would take it and explain how I first got interested in reference, talk about my experiences, and then end with how I would like to progress in my career, or describe what about reference makes this type of work interesting.
  - on May 3, 2012 at 11:02 am Grace
    
    Dear Joe,
    
    Hope you are well. Thank you for your answer. Most appreciated!
    
    Gail
on May 4, 2012 at 3:18 am | Reply patricia rono

You have helped me a great deal,i will be attending an interview next week. How i wish you coul also give us the anwers.
on May 4, 2012 at 3:21 am | Reply patricia rono

I would love a copy of the Mock Q &A-interview,wold you mind sending me through my E-mail adress: patriciarono98@yahoo.com
on May 4, 2012 at 11:04 am | Reply Library job interview resources « diana tebo

[...] Library Interview Questions, by Mr. Library Dude – This blog post has a wealth of information about different interview questions to expect, and many of them are tied to the library industry. [...]
on May 10, 2012 at 4:33 pm | Reply Brooke

Link to the Mock Interview is here.
By all means make suggestions for improvement on it.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oVGvENiXN3uIpkj49-PGTAe2Ow5SPhx8Ey_2mMDIW4U/edit?pli=1
- on May 10, 2012 at 5:13 pm | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Thanks for posting this, Brooke!
on June 11, 2012 at 9:32 am | Reply Brooke

LINK to MOCK Interview :

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oVGvENiXN3uIpkj49-PGTAe2Ow5SPhx8Ey_2mMDIW4U/edit?pli=1
on June 18, 2012 at 7:31 pm | Reply My Interview Experience(s) « Kim Stymest

[...] prep they ask a friend to grill them with practice questions (examples of these can be found here, as this method does work for some people). This type of prep work very much does not work for me. [...]
on July 8, 2012 at 11:12 pm | Reply Maria

I would love those Q & A too please , anyone have them for me ?? Would very much appreciate them !
on July 8, 2012 at 11:13 pm | Reply Maria

sorry my email is dxposure@xtra.co.nz
on October 23, 2012 at 9:57 pm | Reply Madhu

I would appreciate if I could get a copy of the Q and Answers too. My email address is m4gupta@hotmail.com
Thanks
on October 24, 2012 at 10:41 am | Reply Brooke Witham

The link to the Google doc of the questions is under the May 12, 2012 POST!!!!!
on October 24, 2012 at 10:42 am | Reply Brooke Witham

May 10 post I mean
- on November 5, 2012 at 10:00 pm | Reply Joe Hardenbrook
  
  Thanks, Brooke…I’ve posted a link to your Google Doc – wonderful resource!
on January 25, 2013 at 7:02 pm | Reply Brooke Witham

The mock interview questions are posted in a link by Joe Hardenbrook
on January 25, 2013 at 7:12 pm | Reply Brooke Witham

Mock Interview Questions Link is eight (8th) on the list under the “Commonly Asked Library Interview Questions”
on January 25, 2013 at 8:31 pm | Reply Joe Hardenbrook

Hi all–if you’re looking for the school librarian mock interview questions that Brooke put together–it’s at the top of the page–the 8th bullet point. -Joe
on April 15, 2013 at 2:38 pm | Reply Mr. Library Dude’s Library Interview Questions | Bibliographic Sketches

[...] http://mrlibrarydude.wordpress.com/nailing-the-library-interview/library-interview-questions/ [...]
on May 17, 2013 at 11:33 am | Reply Blog Series: Tips Learned From Serving on a Hiring Search Committee: The Interview | Sarah Deringer

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