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:
systems, web, digital library services
This librarian works at a library with 200+ staff members in an urban area in the Midwestern US.
Approximately how many people applied for the last librarian (or other professional level) job at your workplace?
√ 25-75
Approximately what percentage of those would you say were hirable?
√ 25% or less
And how would you define “hirable”?
appropriate skills, experience, and credentials, coupled with the right kinds of personalities/professionalism.
How are applications evaluated, and by whom?
All S&S members see all applicants. We use a scoring matrix – required and desired elements…the process ensures some degree of objectivity while allowing for subjectivity as well on the part of each committee member.
What is the most common reason for disqualifying an applicant without an interview?
lack of credentials, *required* years of experience, lack of experience in university setting
Do you (or does your library) give candidates feedback about applications or interview performance?
√ Other: rarely and only on request
What is the most important thing for a job hunter to do in order to improve his/her/their hirability?
read requirements, communicate well, match job to skills
I want to hire someone who is
talented and professional
How many staff members are at your library/organization?
√ 200+
How many permanent, full time librarian (or other professional level) jobs has your workplace posted in the last year?
√ 7 or more
How many permanent, full time para-professional (or other non-professional level) jobs has your workplace posted in the last year?
√ 5-6
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?
√ Yes
Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with para-professional workers over the past decade?
√ Yes
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?
√ Other: it’s an evolving profession – i think there will be fewer librarians in the future – but i don’t think the needs are dying
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For some context, look at the most recent summary of responses.
Hiring Librarians 