Resources
Post a Job
 Special offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a $100 CAD credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed are 40% more likely to report a hire than non-sponsored jobs**
  • Visibility for hard-to-fill roles through branding and urgently hiring
  • Instantly source candidates through matching to expedite your hiring
  • Access skilled candidates to cut down on mismatched hires
*The $100 CAD Sponsored Job credit offer is only available for new accounts in Canada that post a job and expires one year after account creation. Upon expiration of the credit, users are charged based on Sponsored Job budget. Terms, conditions, and quality standards apply **Indeed data, Canada, Q2 2024

Librarian Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Librarian interview questions and answers.

  1. As a librarian, how do you determine which books to recommend for the collection? See answer
  2. Do you have any experience providing reference services? Briefly describe how you go about this task. See answer
  3. What kind of knowledge organization systems or taxonomies are you most familiar with? See answer
  4. What strategies would you put in place to help children and elderly visitors use the library better? See answer
  5. Tell us about a library database you have experience working with. See answer
  6. Provide an example of how you would help a researcher find information. See answer
  7. How have you adapted to the changes in technology in your role as a librarian? See answer
  8. What would you do to promote regular library visits amongst your readers? See answer
  9. How would you grow the library resources when you have a limited budget? See answer
  10. What would you change about the current utilization of our library space? See answer
  11. Share your experience with a library information or orientation training program you conducted. See answer
  12. What professional certifications do you have? See answer
  13. How do you choose the reading materials you recommend to patrons? See answer
  14. Describe your perspective on customer service. How important is it to your role as a librarian? See answer
  15. How would you describe the relevance of leadership skills to your role as a librarian?
Show more questions Show fewer questions

Hire your next Librarian today.

Post a job

Hire your next Librarian today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Librarian Interview Questions and Answers

As a librarian, how do you determine which books to recommend for the collection?

Having the right collection of resources is important for a library to stay relevant. A stellar candidate knows what materials and resources should be in a library and the most sought-after resources by patrons.

What to look for in an answer: 

  • Mention of the essential resources a library should have
  • Ability to conduct user research
  • Understanding of library collection development policy

Example:

"I select the resources to be included in a library based on criteria such as patrons demand, historical significance, and relevance to research. I also consider the quality of information, literary merit, and current trends based on the library's collection development policy."

Do you have any experience providing reference services? Briefly describe how you go about this task.

A library's primary mission is to provide visitors with access to the information they need. This is a vital duty and responsibility of all librarians. An ideal candidate has ample experience with this task.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to identify library materials required by patrons
  • Organizational skills
  • Willingness to provide assistance

Example:

"Providing reference assistance is one of my primary duties as a librarian and I do it on a daily basis in my current role. How I provide reference services depends on the needs of the visitor. I frequently help them use basic reference sources like the computer and the catalogue to locate materials."

What kind of knowledge organization systems or taxonomies are you most familiar with?

Taxonomy, the categorization and organization of a library's contents, is complex. Librarians need strong organizational skills to keep the library's system in order. This question aims to examine the candidate's understanding of taxonomy and assesses whether they have any core competencies:

What to look for in an answer:

  • Personal perspective and preferences about taxonomy
  • Knowledge of different taxonomies
  • Experience developing and maintaining extensive taxonomies

Example:

"I'm most familiar with hierarchical taxonomy. It establishes a tree structure which makes it easy for users to navigate down through various branches in search of information."

What strategies would you put in place to help children and elderly visitors use the library better?

Children and elderly visitors may face challenges in accessing the information they need from the library. A skilled librarian needs strategies for making the library more accessible to everyone.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of common challenges for library visitors
  • Commitment to customer service
  • Ability to make the library accessible and welcoming to all demographics

Example:

"I'm always prepared to offer additional help to visitors who need it when navigating the library. I'm committed to customer service, and want to improve everyone's experience however I can. This begins with ensuring all library personnel maintain a warm reception. Then, I..."

Tell us about a library database you have experience working with.

Library databases are the foundation of all library resources. A proper understanding of library databases ensures a candidate is aware of the range of information the library can provide.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience working with library databases
  • Mention of one or more types of library database
  • Understanding of core library services

Example:

"I have experience working with reference databases, article databases, and online library catalogues. In my previous role, I was solely responsible for monitoring and updating the online library catalogue. I'm highly organized, and I ensure all the library's databases are current and easy for our visitors to use."

Provide an example of how you would help a researcher find information.

Librarians need to help individuals navigate through multiple resources both online and offline. Technology is changing the way librarians work, as databases and the demand for access to digital information is always increasing. An ideal candidate needs to have a strong grasp of how to help visitors access information on several platforms and manually.

What to look for in answer:

  • Ability to identify user needs
  • Expertise with sourcing for information
  • Proficiency with library technology

Example:

"To help a researcher find the right information, the first thing I do is listen actively to ensure I understand their needs fully. I identify the best way for them to access their information, and guide them through the process of searching through digital or hard copies of our resources. I'm always patient when explaining our organization and taxonomy structure so I can be sure the visitor understands."

How have you adapted to the changes in technology in your role as a librarian?

Being able to identify the impact of technology on the role of a librarian shows the candidate is very informed and well aware of the current trends in that field. As an interviewer, the candidate's response shows you how they are preparing to better position themselves for the future.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Interest in professional development
  • Realization of technological impact
  • Preparedness for the future of work

Example:

"Currently, the major impact of technology on my role as a librarian is the improved access to information and resources. As a result, librarians have had to learn new technology continuously as it's released. This is to ensure we can provide reference services to users regardless with the most modern and effective technology."

How would you describe the relevance of managerial skills to your role as a librarian?

The role of a librarian requires them to interpret and disseminate information to the library users according to their needs. To do this effectively, they need to be strong problem-solvers and have excellent managerial skills.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of role requirements as a librarian
  • Genuine commitment to supporting staffs and visitors
  • Empathy

Example:

"As a librarian, I need strong managerial skills to lead the rest of the library team. They're also important for managing the library's operations and keeping it organized. Customer service for library visitors requires a collaborative approach which needs strong managerial skills. I'm a skilled manager and can confidently manage a team of library employees and volunteers."

What would you do to promote regular library visits amongst your readers?

Online reading via the internet and the use of electronic devices gives people access to more information from the comfort of their homes. Libraries are still valuable resources, but the need for hard copy books and other publications is in decline. Librarians need to understand the role technology plays in encouraging more visits and creating a welcoming library environment.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Mention of ideas to keep the library environment attractive
  • Creativity in encouraging visitors to continue reading books and physical publications
  • Interest in adapting the library to include technology and digital reading options

Example:

"To promote reading amongst visitors, I would make efforts to ensure the physical library environment is very warm and inviting. I'd also ensure the library has a vast amount of resources for leisure reading, and host book clubs to promote community engagement. I would ensure our electronic systems remain current and up to date so that readers who prefer digital copies can access them easily."

How would you grow the library resources when you have a limited budget?

Growing the library resources within an allocated budget is challenging. How the candidate answers this question helps you test their ability to use their experience and skills about budgeting to grow library resources.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Strong budgeting skills
  • Problem-solving
  • Experience managing library financials and sticking to budgets

Example:

"I try to limit the allocated budget to developing only the immediate specific demands of our library visitors and resources that have historical value."

What would you change about the current utilization of our library space?

The library is evolving from a space for solely accessing information and individual studying to a place for collaborative learning and productivity. This needs to reflect in the general set up of library spaces. This question tests the candidate's foresight and preparedness to effect positive change at the library.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Innovation and creativity
  • Evidence of research about the library
  • Clear perspective about the changing role of libraries in the future

Example:

"After taking a tour of the library, I realized that the library is making provisions for collaborative learning amongst patrons via the custom-made study group sitting spaces. To build on this, I'd reduce the conventional individual learning spaces to make rooms for virtual learning spaces and other kinds of virtual collaboration."

Share your experience with a library information or orientation training program you conducted.

Librarians need to host various informational sessions for other library staff, volunteers, and guests. The candidate's response to this question tells you about their experience performing library information and training programs.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience with training
  • Presentation and public speaking skills
  • Understanding of the purpose of a library orientation program

Example:

"When I worked as a school librarian, I had to conduct a library information and orientation training program for both new students and library staff every year. One year, I conducted a virtual orientation training that required me to outline all the different library services each student will need depending on their field."

What professional certifications do you have?

Post-secondary school and professional certifications in library and information science help to transform individuals into better professionals. The right candidate has relevant certifications and an interest in professional development.

What to look for in answer:

  • A relevant degree, certificate, or qualification
  • Possession of a master's degree from an CLA-accredited institution
  • Understanding of certification's relevance to daily duties

Example:

"I'm a member of the Canadian Library Association (CLA). The community empowers me to champion library values and stay current with the latest trends and technology. I also hold a master's degree in archival, library, and Information studies from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada."

How do you choose the reading materials you recommend to patrons?

Librarians have a duty of pointing patrons toward helpful reading materials and resources. This question helps you test the candidate's ability to recommending the right materials.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Interpersonal skills
  • Ability to analyze visitors' needs
  • Familiarity with popular and niche genres

Example:

"I determine what to recommend to patrons by their attributes and examples of other reading materials they liked. I get acquainted with their preferences by ensuring they fill out survey forms that question these characteristics."

Describe your perspective on customer service. How important is it to your role as a librarian?

Librarians are ambassadors of the library. How they approach the guests reflects on the library's reputation. As an interviewer, this question will help you see if the candidate can portray a good brand image.

What to look for in answer:

  • Commitment to excellent customer service
  • Description of the relevance of customers service in the library
  • Empathy

Example:

"As a librarian, I see customers service as all that needs to be done to provide the guests with an excellent library experience. I'm committed to..."

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

Hire your next Librarian today

Post a Job

Explore Interview Questions by Title

No search results found

    Related Articles

    How To Conduct a Job Interview and Find the Right Candidate
    Read article
    Best Practices for Virtual Interviews
    Read article
    4 Ways to Ask Cultural Interview Questions
    Read article