HiringLibrarians

"What happened to the the last three people that had this job?" This survey was filled out on March 25, 2022 and originally ran on May 12, 2022. This person was not one of the more verbose respondents, but the sparse statements succeed in describing a tough story.

Winter Reruns: “Currently, we’re over 300% turnover since 2016 and cannot attract candidates.” “What happened to the the last three people that had this job?” This survey was filled out on March 25, 2022 and originally ran on May 12, 2022. This person was not one of the more verb…

It's fairly high up in my "most viewed of all time" list, especially for a more recent post. I think perhaps it's the quote I pulled for the title; many of the most-viewed posts express some form of library doomsaying - librarianship is dead, we're tired, things aren't what they used to be, etc.

Winter Reruns: “After 14 years as a librarian, I honestly don’t recommend librarianship to anyone anymore.” It’s fairly high up in my “most viewed of all time” list, especially for a more recent post. I think perhaps it’s the quote I pulled for the title; many of the most-viewed p…

In late 2024 I remodeled the site (and am still not finished). The main thing I changed was to try to organize content to be more targeted to the different reasons why people might visit. Thus, I created the For Job Seekers page, and that continues to be very highly viewed.

Winter Reruns: For Job Seekers In late 2024 I remodeled the site (and am still not finished). The main thing I changed was to try to organize content to be more targeted to the different reasons why people might visit. Thus, I c…

It is from a series of posts I called Recruiter Spotlight, which, as the name may tell you, were interviews with people who worked as recruiters in the LIS field (I'd be happy to restart this, so if you're a recruiter and you want to be interviewed, shoot me an email)

Winter Reruns: “If an Agency Sends You a Role You Aren’t Interested in It is Better to Reply and Explain the Reasons Why Not, So the Agency Can Get a Closer Match Next Time” It is from a series of posts I called Recruiter Spotlight, which, as the name may tell you, were interviews with people who worked as recruiters in the LIS field (I’d be happy to restart this…

This person does think that librarianship is a dying profession. They are particularly offended by a perceived dumbing down of the profession and ALA's Threshold Concepts, which is an Information Literacy thing. I don't know enough about Information Literacy to know if it stuck - is it still around

Winter Reruns: “regardless of what all the tattooed spunky hipster librarians think.” This person does think that librarianship is a dying profession. They are particularly offended by a perceived dumbing down of the profession and ALA’s Threshold Concepts, which is an Informa…

This is a very early survey response! Most survey respondents choose to reply anonymously, but a generous double handful are ok with attaching their name (and face) to their words.

Winter Reruns: “An Eagerness to Learn is Important on the Job” This is a very early survey response! Most survey respondents choose to reply anonymously, but a generous double handful are ok with attaching their name (and face) to their words.

I'm not sure why this one has so many views, but I suspect it's because they name library schools in the questions about preferring or being reluctant to hire candidates from certain schools

Winter Reruns: “New Hires Should Come with a Broad Understanding of Libraryland” I’m not sure why this one has so many views, but I suspect it’s because they name library schools in the questions about preferring or being reluctant to hire candidates from certain sc…

This post is really a conglomeration of reruns, and I put it together in October, so it is not even a totally accurate "most viewed in 2025" list.

Winter Reruns: Most Viewed from 2025 This post is really a conglomeration of reruns, and I put it together in October, so it is not even a totally accurate “most viewed in 2025” list.

This post first ran on June 21st, 2013 and was part of a series that attempted to address the competing desires of librarians who wanted bitchin tattoos AND gainful employment. Were the two even compatible in 2013? Are they now? (yes and yes, you big silly).

Winter Reruns: The Tattooed Librarian This post first ran on June 21st, 2013 and was part of a series that attempted to address the competing desires of librarians who wanted bitchin tattoos AND gainful employment. Were the two even co…

I think this post is probably so popular because people want to know if they can in fact wear Doc Martens to an interview, and it pops up when they search. If that question lead you here I'll give you my answer now: yes, you can wear Doc Martens to your interview. If that's a deal breaker...

Winter Reruns: “As a female I wish I could wear Doc Martens to interviews” One of the purposes of Hiring Librarians is to illuminate the things that people who hire believe to be true, even when those opinions are pretty horrible. Hiring is an area where received wisdom, …

"We've hired many times since I've been at my institution and the one thing every person who landed the job had in common is that they had personality. Don't be afraid to laugh, make a joke, ask a stupid question."

Winter Reruns: “We’re Hiring a Person, Not a Robot” “We’ve hired many times since I’ve been at my institution and the one thing every person who landed the job had in common is that they had personality. Don’t be afraid to l…

This post, which originally ran March 2013, introduces what is probably the most popular and most shared resource from Hiring Librarians, The Interview Questions Repository. This Google spreadsheet gathers questions people have been asked in all sorts of LIS interviews. As of October 2025, 653 inter

Winter Reruns: New Survey: Interview Questions “Database” (aka Interview Questions Repository) This post, which originally ran March 2013, introduces what is probably the most popular and most shared resource from Hiring Librarians, The Interview Questions Repository. This Google spreadsheet…