While I generally think that you'll get a sense of the place just by keeping your eyes open, it's important to have good questions both to get to know the organization and to show your interest in a more precise way. Some of the best questions are very specific. Here are some ideas:

- Ask about how the library is relating to a recent institutional change (increased enrollment, budget cuts from the state, the construction of a new fine arts center, etc.).
- Put them on the spot by asking them to summarize the priorities of the library in 3 words
- Ask what they would change about the library. Then follow up by asking what they are doing to change it.
- Ask if various employees/departments feel that they have ample resources to do their job well.
- Ask about how innovation is encouraged or supported in the organization.
- Ask people to tell you what they like about working there. (In my experience, answers like "I have a short commute!" aren't great. You want to hear that people are excited about the work they're doing)
- Ask about the particular resources/support you'll receive (professional development, IT to support technology you'll work with, collection development budget, training, etc)

Finally, I think the best questions are in response to things you hear during the interview. If someone says "we try to provide the best service possible", ask them to define what "Best" is for them. If their goal is to provide service to more students, ask how virtual services fit into that picture. This shows that you're interested in them, and engaged in the issues of the profession.

Hope these ideas help! Be sure to ask about any issues that are really important to *you* and your quality of work-life, as that differs for all of us.