An academic librarian is a person who provides support to members of an academic community consisting of students, researchers and lecturing staff. Typically, an academic librarian will manage, organize, evaluate and disseminate information, and they will often be responsible for a specific academic subject area or a particular function, such as resource ordering, loans and special collections. They are also involved in facilitating and supporting learning by teaching information retrieval skills to students and staff.
Commonly asked interview questions
1. Describe yourself? Tell me something about yourself?
The answer should start with your name ideally then reveal your candidature followed by introducing yourself. The information will entail your academics, personal details, experience and hobbies.
2. Do you have any qualification pertaining to this field?
Tell your prospective employer about your academic and professional qualification which is desirable for the job for example any degree, diploma or certification completed on library sciences.
3. List out the activities undertaken by an academic librarian?
The typical work activities involve dealing with users’ enquiries, managing books, journals and websites, managing buildings, furniture and equipment, maintaining relationships with external bodies, such as suppliers and delivering information and learning skills courses for students and staff. A librarian assists researchers with literature searches using databases, printed resources and the internet.
4. Can you work under pressure?
Specify the attitude of working under pressure and meeting out the stringent deadlocks while maintaining the organizational standards. Try to show your thrust for knowledge and ready to mingle attribute which is an inseparable demand of the job.
5. Tell me your career objective?
I have an aim to grab the position in a prestigious organization and expanding the new horizons while working as an academic librarian. I would like to utilize my progressive work experience and sharpened skills to handle the assigned responsibilities efficiently.
6. Mention any three qualities or strengths which are needed of an academic librarian?
An ideal candidate should be well versed with the extra activities such as- day-to-day management of staff and managing budgets.
The person should have a fast learning attitude required in contributing to academic course development and liaising with academic departments.
An academic librarian should be technically skilled in creating, updating and managing information resources - both electronic and printed.
Apart from the above details a librarian may involve in to recruitment and selection, appraisals, disciplinary action and training. The incumbent can hold the responsibilities for selecting, acquiring and cataloguing information using library and information software. Their role of the organization is really commendable as they help towards contributing to the development of strategic plans for library and information resources as well.
