Library Assistant

laneykin

Just wondering if anyone could give me any advice or help. I have been offered a job as library assistant in a local library. I am happy in my current job but working in a library has always been sort of a dream of mine as I love reading and writing. I feel like there would also be more chances for advancement were I to accept the job in the library than there is in my current job.

Problem is I don't really know what the job in the library would be like. Has anyone ever worked in a library before either as librarian or a library assistant? Or even know anyone that has that could give me some insight?

Many thanks.

sunbeam

I have worked as a library assistant many years ago but in only in academic libraries. Just be aware that to advance beyond senior library assistant level you will need a professional qualification in librarianship, which is usually but not always a postgraduate diploma or masters degree. UCD offer a full-time course and a few of the UK universities offer distance learning options.

laneykin

Thanks for that information, I'll keep that in mind.
Did you like it when you worked as a library assistant? Can you remember what a typical day involved?
I am worried that it might be boring. I like a job where I'm kept busy throughout the day.

sunbeam

A typical day can vary depending on the type and size of the library you work in. Some of the larger academic libraries have staff that might work in one section only without very much variety in their work.

I was lucky that in all of my jobs I would spend about half the day at the circulation or reference desk and half in the back office. My duties at the circulation/reference desk generally involved checking books in and out for students, assisting them in the use of online databases and dealing with general reference queries. In the back office I was involved in processing new books and periodicals and other clerical duties.

At the start of the academic year I helped with library tours for new students. During the summers we spent a lot of time on book orders, stocktaking, creation of new learning resources (which in those days were just leaflets and brochures) and helping the librarians with various other projects. All of this was over fifteen years ago, so I would expert things will have changed a lot since then.

I have a friend who worked in one of the public libraries back in the nineties and one of her favourite duties was the weekly 'story-time' book reading for groups of young children. She also spent about half her time at the circulation desk and half in the back office.

In general I found the work fine. The office politics in one or two places were pretty unpleasant to say the least, but I suppose you will get that anywhere.