“With a collection of available resources, librarians serve as a driving force in educating the public and providing assistance to those in need. For instance, librarians can help institute programs to provide employment and housing assistance or guide patrons to appropriate resources to learn new skills.”

“Customer service means providing value and helping someone in need, despite facing obstacles that may inhibit the ability to bring resolve. I enjoy being able help others by locating a resource or demonstrating the best approach to perform research, and I do so cheerfully and patiently.”

“One evening, a woman using the internet became agitated and quite vocal, disrupting other guests. I approached her, remained calm and listened intently to her dilemma – which helped her regain composure – as she explained her concern over an upcoming medical procedure. She was having difficulty navigating the computer, so I sat down with her to offer several techniques to aid her search and encouraged her to find me if she had additional questions.”

“After identifying and assessing a student’s topic, I compile a list of helpful sources specific to their research needs. The library research database is especially useful, as it has access to journals, books, magazine and newspaper articles, historical documents, and additional resources. Referencing course reserves is useful when a student seeks information related to a specific college course.”

“Creating a warm, inviting environment means maintaining cleanliness, eliminating clutter and adding special touches like healthy plants, warm lighting and comfortable chairs in quiet nooks. In my previous role, I incorporated attractive signage and displays that drew attention to certain stations and helped navigate the library, increasing the average visit by 30 minutes.”

“As library instruction is a beneficial and important program to institute, I take pride in working with library staff to develop comprehensive sessions suitable for audiences of all demographics. I enjoying leading the sessions, incorporating fun facts and creative exercises, to present the information clearly and memorably.”

“Social media – when used strategically – is key to promoting the library as a community treasure. In the past, I helped manage a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account, using all three to reach a wide range of audiences. I followed a newly-implemented marketing strategy to promote upcoming library events, increasing overall attendance 40% and decreasing cancellations.”

"I do several things to ensure library patrons have what they need to learn and enjoy reading. First, I ask patrons to fill out a quick survey on our website that tells me about what they like to read and which genres or series they want to see more of in the library. When I see recurring patterns in patron surveys, I order more of that specific genre or series. I am also subscribed to several different magazines and newsletters for librarians that go over trending genres, up-and-coming authors or popular topics based on age. This allows me to determine what I should add to the facility over time."