How to hire library assistants, clerical

Job description template

Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.

[Job title] at [Company name]
[City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range]

About the role
[Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.]

What you will do
• Answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians.
• Enter and update patrons' records on computers.
• Instruct patrons on how to use reference sources, card catalogs, and automated information systems.
• Lend, reserve, and collect books, periodicals, videotapes, and other materials at circulation desks and process materials for inter-library loans.
• Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, Braille volumes, and pictures.
• Manage reserve materials by placing items on reserve for library patrons, checking items in and out of library, and removing out-of-date items.
• Open and close library during specified hours and secure library equipment, such as computers and audio-visual equipment.
• Sort books, publications, and other items according to established procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.

What you bring
• [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any]
• [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent]
• Strong active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking and writing skills
• Working knowledge of customer and personal service, administrative and English Language
• [Anything else you would really turn someone away for]

Pay and benefits
[Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $17.74 an hour ($36,910 a year).
[Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.]

How to apply
[Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]

Copy the template Check your finished job post

Interview questions for library assistants, clerical

Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.

1. Tell me about a time you had to answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
2. Tell me about a time you had to enter and update patrons' records on computers. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
3. Tell me about a time you had to instruct patrons on how to use reference sources, card catalogs, and automated information systems. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
4. Tell me about a time you had to lend, reserve, and collect books, periodicals, videotapes, and other materials at circulation desks and process materials for inter-library loans. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
5. Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
6. Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
7. Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
8. Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?

Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.

What library assistants, clerical do

• Answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians.
• Enter and update patrons' records on computers.
• Instruct patrons on how to use reference sources, card catalogs, and automated information systems.
• Lend, reserve, and collect books, periodicals, videotapes, and other materials at circulation desks and process materials for inter-library loans.
• Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, Braille volumes, and pictures.
• Manage reserve materials by placing items on reserve for library patrons, checking items in and out of library, and removing out-of-date items.
• Open and close library during specified hours and secure library equipment, such as computers and audio-visual equipment.
• Sort books, publications, and other items according to established procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.

Skills that matter most

Active ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingWritingCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministrativeEnglish Language

Education, experience and outlook for library assistants, clerical

• Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
• Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
• Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
• Job outlook: -6.4% over ten years, declining · about 12,300 openings a year (BLS)

What to pay library assistants, clerical

Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:

See library assistants, clerical pay in every state

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Job duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.