Library Assistant Job

Hi, no worries at all. 

I did find mine quiet, however I was 9:00-14:30 so it may have gotten a bit noisy after the schools let out. If I recall, Christmas is such a fun time to be there as they do quite a bit.

All the best, Digby

Thank you . Some sensory is ok. At the moment it's overload sensory. So I'm hoping the library will be better if I get offered a position. 

Thanks. I've been in the large shop for two years and this library job is the first I have seen that's the right hours and close enough I'm just scared of having my "dream" job ideas not meet reality. But I think if I do get it I need the change as retail, as I'm sure you know, is just way too much some days!

Hi thanks for your information. I do a lot of lifting in my current role and heavy deliveries etc so books won't be too bad. Also I think it will be quieter than where I am . I'm pretty sure most places will be less stimulating especially with Christmas coming up.

Hi, i hope you get the job. I would love to work in a library, but like you i’m also stuck in retail…all the best

That is interesting to hear! Mine was in the North Devon area in late 2019. The only reason I left was it was only supposed to be a temp thing to gain some experience. 

I used to volunteer at a small library in my town and stopped due to covid outbreak. They've got 2 volunteers who not regular users.

BTW I live in Devon

Hi there, I work in a university library so my environment is a little different. However, I would say that library work is primarily customer service and comes with the usual sensory issues that may follow with that. It sounds like your background in retail is likely even more of a stressor though, so although library work isn't as peaceful as people think, it hopefully will still be more suited to you. Good luck!

Hi, this may not be the same at your library but the one I volunteered in for about three months tended to fairly quiet and largely very young children with their mothers or elderly people seeking to leave the house e.g. book clubs. 

However mine was a relatively small town library, then again the bigger one in our area also seems to be quiet too.

One word of warning, lifting books all day can take it out of you! However seeing you work in a store, you should be fine with lifting things.

Good luck!

Thanks and I will do!

Thanks for the information.

Thanks 

I don't have experience beyond helping in the school library as a teenager but I wish you every success with your interview. I saw you'd been in the library to scope it out and would encourage you to mention this as it shows you are keen.

It's a long time since I worked in a library, but some things may still be relevant.

There were two categories of library assistant in my day, one qualified and the other not. The unqualified ones assisted in general duties - replacing books on shelves (a lot of the time), registering books out and in (at the desk), repairing books (a nice, quiet job) and other odds and ends. The library I worked in had a separate children's library, which was always noisier than the adult, but manageable. The qualified librarian took storytime for children etc.

Replacing books is easy as libraries catalogue books on the Dewey system, which goves every category of knowledge a main number and sub-numbers for sub-categories. You won't be expected to know this immediately (qualified librarians learn it in order to assign a category to books) but you will find you pick it up over time. As every book has a number on the spine, you don't have to guess - just put the numbers in order and file the books away.

Desk duties included checking books for damage, answering queries about where to find a particular book or category of non-fiction and library facilities such as local information. Of course, these days there are other things such as computers, DVDs etc. You should receive training in all this and be paired with an experienced librarian who can handle the queries yoiu don't have an answer to. 

You can ask what areas you'll be expected to work in and what training you'll be given. 

I used to work regularly in an office near our library. The noisiest time was half an hour once a week when they had baby rhyme time complete with instruments. That was noisy, but only lasted half an hour. The other noisy thing in the building was the weekly alarm test, but it was always at the same time. 

Hi thanks for the information. 

Looks as though they work in twos maybe threes. Something I will ask about in interview. I went into the library to scope it out and there were two women behind the desk. 

I will ask about group work etc as they have children coming in.

I've always wanted to work in a library and although my current job is stressful and sensory overload in many ways, I'm used to the routine and people so want to make sure I make the right decision.

Thanks again 

Good morning

I used to volunteer at the local library 2013-2020. Unfortunately they got 2 library volunteers who are not regular users. After covid outbreak everyone wanted to return to the library. Shame didn't ask me.

The supervisor is hardly there.

Enjoyed putting books away, looking for book requests and writing out the requests slips (when someone orders a book from a different library); every month you exchange books at another library (stock rotation); plus photocopying.

Also I was helping out with the library aassistant. They would go through emails and see anything needs doing.

You'll need a CRB check which the employers pay for. I needed one as was in environment with vulnerable people and children.

Hope this is helpful.

Sorry haven't explained clearly. 

Fingers crossed for you and hopefully your get this. Are you working in a team or alone?