Q: I have an interview with a public library as a clerk. I want this job very much but I have no prior experience working in libraries. Please advise me on how I can convince them to hire me! I really would love to work in a library. What intelligent thing can I say during my interview, to convince them to hire me? Please help.

SM: First of all, congratulations on getting an interview! This is the first step to a career in libraries. A clerk position (sometimes called library assistant) is usually considered entry-level, which means no library experience required. Your interviewers will, however, expect you to be computer literate, detailed-oriented, and organized, and to be able to communicate effectively and pleasantly. So, play up the skills and experience that you do have, especially ones that relate to these traits.

Since you made it to the interview stage, assuming that you either filled out an application or submitted a resume, your interviewers already know your work history and your skills. Take comfort in knowing that you meet most, if not all, of their requirements. The interview is their chance to get to know you, and your chance to impress them. During the interview, keep in mind that you are also interviewing them. You should have some questions prepared to ask your interviewers (typically at the end of the interview). For general interviewing tips, look at the interviewing section of Lisjobs.com, which has a list of helpful web sites. In response to your more specific plea for help, I have the following advice:

Read the description of library assistant in the Occupational Outlook Handbook or of library clerk in the Essential Skills site from Human Resources and Skills Development of Canada. This will help you get a better understanding of the position and what it entails.

Brush up on your library searching skills by familiarizing yourself with several online catalogs, such as the New York Public Library’s catalog, the Boston Public Library’s catalog, the Los Angeles Public Library’s catalog, the Houston Public Library’s catalog, and (most importantly), the catalog of the library where you are interviewing.

During your interview, you may be given a shelf-reading quiz to determine if you know how to organize library materials, either by Library of Congress Classification (LC) or Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), which is used more in public libraries. If you do not know much about these classification systems, I suggest that you look at the following shelf-reading tutorials:

An online tour of DDC (from OCLC)

Let’s Do Dewey (from Middle Tennessee State University)

SatchLCall – Library of Congress Call Number System Tutorial (from the University of Pittsburgh)

Call Number Tutorial (from Hunter College, CUNY)

Public libraries are very community oriented. Depending on what city you are in, you will most likely be working with a diverse user population. Let your interviewers know that you are interested in working with different age groups and different cultures, and, by all means, let them know how interested you are to begin a career in libraries. Explain that it won’t be “just a job” for you, but a passion. For more information about public libraries and working in public libraries, look at the Public Library Association’s web site.

As for something “intelligent” to mention during your interview, try reading, or scanning, some articles in current library-related journals to give you some ideas. A few examples of journals are: Library Journal, D-Lib Magazine, LIBRES, and First Monday. To get a longer list of open-access library-related journals, go to the Directory of Open Access Journals.

Never be afraid to show your enthusiasm for working in libraries. Best of luck!

Q: I recently became interested in the library profession, but can’t seem to find any schools that offer the library sciences degree. What schools would you suggest?

TA: This opens the door, not only to answer your initial question (how do I find a school?), but also to address the broader question: out of all of the programs, how do I decide which one is right for me? Answering your initial question is pretty simple: Go to the ALA web site for a lengthy list of accredited schools. But, with so many options, how do you evaluate which school is “best?” Let’s back up and look at the broader picture.

What To Look For

A quick Google search on “selecting a graduate program” yields many results. Glancing at some of these articles (many of which are listed below), you will see many common themes. Most advise students to look at the location of the school, the cost of the program, and the types of courses and degrees offered. In addition, when comparing institutions, most recommend looking at both academic qualities (differences in curriculum, academic requirements, faculty interests and research) as well as “quality of life” benefits (the campus, community, housing, distance from family and friends). Other factors to consider when researching and comparing graduate institutions include:

• Accreditation
• The cost of the program
  Tuition, housing, books, student fees, travel, cost of living
• Financial incentives Fellowships, research assistantships, teaching assistantships
• Selectivity of the program
  Compare the number of applicants to the number accepted
• University and department reputation
• Diversity
  Of the faculty, students, university, community
• Faculty interests, research and ranking
  What is the student to faculty ratio?
  Do full-time faculty teach classes? What percentage of the time?
  Are faculty members conducting research?
  Are they published?
  Are they respected by others in the field?
• Does the program emphasize theory or practice?
  Are there specific courses of interest to you?
  Availability of internships and field experiences
• Flexibility of the program
• Quality of facilities and resources
  Library materials in your subject area, classrooms, technology, endowments that support student research
• Are there opportunities to teach? To publish? To attend conferences?
• Where do graduates typically find work upon graduation from the program?
  Do most graduates go into academia or into professional positions in the workplace?
  How much assistance is offered to job-seeking students (and/or alumni)?

ALA-accredited Schools

At the top of this list is accreditation. On its accreditation web site, ALA states that “ALA accreditation indicates that the program has undergone a self-evaluation process, been reviewed by peers, and meets the Standards for Accreditation of Master’s Programs in Library and Information Studies that were established by the Committee on Accreditation and adopted by the ALA Council in 1992.” During the accreditation process, a program is evaluated in the areas of mission, goals, objectives, curriculum, faculty, students, administration, financial support, physical resources, and facilities. While accreditation is by no means a guarantee of quality or an indicator of “best fit,” graduating from an ALA-accredited program will allow greater career mobility and flexibility in your professional pursuits. Most major institutions call for an ALA-accredited degree when seeking candidates for professional positions. For a complete list of ALA- accredited schools, please visit: http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=lisdirb&Template=/cfapps/lisdir/index.cfm

Resources

Never underestimate the power of research when deciding on the graduate program that best meets your needs. The definition of “best” is completely subjective. For some, it may mean attending the top- ranked program according to US News & World Report; for others, it means attending the ALA-accredited program in their area because of limited geographic mobility. Regardless, when making your assessments, do your research. Talk to current students and alumni. Speak with administrators and faculty. Look at department web sites and class offerings. Visit schools and look at the fit of the campus and the surrounding community. Last, but not least, use the following resources to help formulate and answer some of your questions. Good luck!

About.com Graduate School: Questions & Answers:

ALA’s 2004-2005 Directory of Institutions Offering ALA-Accredited Master’s Programs in Library and Information Studies

ALA’s Office for Human Resources Development and Recruitment (general information about scholarships, placement, salaries and general career information)

The Directory of Graduate Programs (published by the Graduate Record Examinations Board) contains information on U.S. graduate programs in over 80 major fields

Financial Assistance for Library and Information Studies (an annual compilation available from the ALA Committee on Education)

The Guide to American Graduate Schools (describes post-BA study opportunities at more than 685 accredited institutions)

Hansen, Randall S., Ph.D. Criteria for Choosing a Graduate Program

Hiatt Career Center Things to Consider When Selecting a Graduate School

JOBTRAK Selecting a Graduate School: Look Before You Leap!

Kuther, Tara, Ph.D. Choosing Among Graduate Programs

Peterson’s Annual Guides to Graduate Studies (profiles over 1400 accredited institutions offering masters and/or doctoral programs)