This anonymous interview is with an academic librarian who has been a hiring manager and a member of a hiring or search committee. This person hires the following types of LIS professionals:
All types
This librarian works at a library with 10-50 staff members in a rural area in the Midwestern US.
Approximately how many people applied for the last librarian (or other professional level) job at your workplace?
√ Other: 0
Approximately what percentage of those would you say were hirable?
√ Other: n/a
And how would you define “hirable”?
A person who holds an MLS or is near completion of the degree and meets the other qualifications of the position.
How are applications evaluated, and by whom?
All applicants are evaluated by the search committee established to recommend the applicant to be hired.
What is the most common reason for disqualifying an applicant without an interview?
They lack credible background or experience for the positions duties or responsibilities.
Do you (or does your library) give candidates feedback about applications or interview performance?
√ No
What is the most important thing for a job hunter to do in order to improve his/her/their hirability?
Write a cover letter that identifies the skills and experience she/he has that relates to the position for which they have applied.
I want to hire someone who is
Competent
How many staff members are at your library/organization?
√ 10-50
How many permanent, full time librarian (or other professional level) jobs has your workplace posted in the last year?
√ 5-6
How many permanent, full time para-professional (or other non-professional level) jobs has your workplace posted in the last year?
√ 3-4
Can you tell us how the number of permanent, full-time librarian positions at your workplace has changed over the past decade?
√ There are fewer positions
Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with part-time or hourly workers over the past decade?
√ No
Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with para-professional workers over the past decade?
√ No
Does your workplace require experience for entry-level professional positions? If so, is it an official requirement or just what happens in practice?
No
Is librarianship a dying profession?
√ No
Why or why not?
Information systems are changing, but the need for information professional is increasing. Students and faculty alike usually turn to the librarian when finding relevant information is required.
Do you hire librarians? Take this survey: http://tinyurl.com/hiringlibjobmarketsurvey or take other Hiring Librarians surveys.
For some context, look at the most recent summary of responses.
Hiring Librarians 