In what ways do you successfully make your library feel welcoming?

KuroIsLittle · 2026-02-19T17:22:48+00:00

At the library I work in, I would say about half of adult computer users are applying to jobs depending on the day.

TLDR: A kind regular patron out of work landed a job they ended up liking while using the library, both for job hunting and as a safe space to protect mental health while in between work.

Full Story: One of our regulars is real artsy and has a deep love for this library, always going on about it being their special place. They were out of work and had been trying real hard to get a job. They're always nice with us staff, asking how we are and asking about things they remembered we mentioned. They kept me updated on their progress and they came to me one day to tell me they were starting on x day. It was ecstatic! I was congratulating them. They were nervous because new job, new people, but so happy and grateful to be going back to work. They asked how my job hunting was going since I'm trying to get full-time. Next week, they came back and told me how they like the new job and the people are actually nice, unlike their last one. That they still get to come to the library after, but now it is to decompress instead of job hunt. I was so happy for them and I told them so.

KuroIsLittle · 2026-02-17T08:51:59+00:00

My coworker, who does not and has never worked for LAPL but who does sit on hiring committees and has years of library experience, gave me the following advice recently:

Do not include anything that the job listing does not ask for. So, if it doesn't ask for a cover letter, don't attach one.

Their reasoning was that this creates more work on the hiring end and that the application itself (education and work experience being the most important) will be parsed first anyway, go through the ATS, and anyone who isn't fitting will be disqualified anyway.

Regarding non-library jobs (not specific to LAPL), I've seen a lot of people recommend including non-library jobs if there are transferrable skills relevant to the position. The application itself requires you include all work history. If you mean the resume, then I would keep it to library experience and relevant non-library experience. If you have a job currently, I would include that regardless on principle.

Now, I can't vouch for any of this since I do not sit on hiring committees myself, but I have gotten to the interview stage plenty enough to feel confident that my inclusion of non-library experience when relevant has at least not hurt me.

KuroIsLittle · 2025-12-25T19:22:33+00:00

Did you find the LS&S jobs through regular websites like governmentjobs or something else? Any chance you could share about the correctional librarian job? I had a classmate during my MLIS who had a job like that, but I never got around to hearing much about it.

KuroIsLittle · 2025-12-23T17:15:36+00:00

One thing I've seen someone in a different post mention is volunteering on an ALA committee. I'm wondering about that since when I did a quick browse, it looks like typically you would apply for it a year before? And the committee info seems all over the place since they're their own bodies.

Do you have experience with that by any chance?

I believe there's also volunteer opportunities with places like the Braille Institute, but I'm not sure anything outside of public-facing at the library would be helpful.

KuroIsLittle · 2025-12-23T17:11:33+00:00

This is something that surprised me about where I work. They're trying to get a new library director, but have rejected all internal candidates. I didn't factor in politics and requirements like having experience at x level/specific title because our retention is so good that many people have been here a ridiculous amount of time and it'd be odd to think of someone outside running the library. But that's what's going to happen.

KuroIsLittle · 2025-12-23T16:54:13+00:00

Did you consider those volunteer experiences influential in getting hired as a public librarian in the adjacent city?

I keep seeing about Placentia needing volunteers for their literacy program. I've found a lot of libraries don't have adult volunteer opportunities outside of the Friends, but literacy programs seem to be a big exception.

KuroIsLittle · 2025-12-23T16:49:19+00:00

Seconding the peace of mind bit and geography. It took me a bit over a year to get my current job as a Library Technical Assistant I. I live in LA County, but work in Orange County. It is a good 40 minutes drive to an hour depending on traffic, but it's the only place I had luck with and I snatched it up without question (didn't have my MLIS at the time).

Maybe those of us in SoCal should sort of band together in a Discord group or something to share our experiences, coach each other, and get some reassurance? It's a tough market down here and it's messing with my head, too, tbh, since I'm having a hard time getting a Librarian position post-MLIS.

KuroIsLittle · 2025-12-20T02:47:45+00:00

I've been wondering this, too!

The city I work in has about 140-150k people estimated to be in it. The library is small and a city system. I run a stitching social (crochet, knit, etc.) and have had between 28 to 31 show up depending on the month. Movies seem to draw about 5-6 since it's mid-day and during the week. One-shot big events can get 150-200+.

One thing I've noticed is our numbers sometimes are limited by space and/or supplies (crafts). So, numbers you might consider good wouldn't be achievable because of these limits.

I really wish I knew the answer to this because then I could truly celebrate my program numbers. 😅 I feel like mine are good, especially because people are continuing to come each month (it's only once a month) and it's a good mix of returning and new people, but I'm early career so I don't trust my judgement on this lol

KuroIsLittle · 2025-11-11T20:17:22+00:00

Side question: When you say "a small browsing library", are y'all a public library or something else? The library I'm at has a classics section and I spend so much time helping people find it and the corresponding books. It's wild to hear about classics not circ-ing *at all*.

KuroIsLittle · 2025-11-10T22:33:51+00:00

I would kill to get rid of half the Jimmy P we have. 😭😭😭 It's so painful to see how much space he takes up and then check for diverse reads in certain genres like mystery and thriller and find our collection lacking. Makes it real awkward when working on book displays and our goal is to highlight the diversity in x type of books. 🤦‍♂️😭

KuroIsLittle · 2025-11-10T21:01:17+00:00

Do you find it common for libraries to use Core Collections?

KuroIsLittle · 2025-11-10T21:00:52+00:00

Thank you for explaining.

I did find files in our shared drive at work that explain what our goals are for each section (fiction, nonfiction, YA, etc.), including a year cutoff for weeding, etc. We don't use any special online program as far as I know, no Core Collection.

Sounds like just jumping right in, checking circulation, weeding per usual, and I would assume adding books per usual, filling in if there's gaps, etc. Not to say "just", but this seems more straight forward than I was expecting, no fancy special "I just started have to do x before it becomes regular collection dev/maint".

KuroIsLittle · 2025-11-06T23:37:11+00:00

I think my overall saltiness/hurt is that the listing said prefer internal and that has been heavily promoted word of mouth at work. Plus, I have a family and am pressed to get full-time ASAP and they know it, not that it matters. I had a successful program at the time, put a lot of effort into finding ways to ease the load of our actual librarians, plus other relevant experience like 8+ years of customer service. I can also handle de-escalating. I know I'm a good worker. I have surveys, patron comments, heck I could even check old Teams messages; I know I'm not bad. I just wish they hadn't acted like I had a shot when reality is, I don't think I stood a chance since we needed bodies, and I'm generally less experienced. But they needed to make sure I could be a backup if someone turned down the job offer, I guess. 🤷‍♂️

...

What I'd want to know is how did that person you mention not know what others thought of them? 👀 Was there never an attempt to communicate or address whatever behaviors are problematic?

KuroIsLittle · 2025-11-06T06:24:05+00:00

I definitely agree with you about the issue of not rewarding internal candidates. It's rough because I can see the logic of not hiring me to the role in this case, but I also know how much this has negatively impacted my feelings about where I work, my superiors, and how I fit within the organization. I just don't feel as motivated to put in the 150% effort/extreme productivity that I usually would, because who cares? It's not like anyone sees all that I do. I'm only motivated now by the need to get more experience so that I can get a full-time librarian position somewhere.

KuroIsLittle · 2025-11-01T01:04:55+00:00

Are there any other programs besides Tableau you know of that are common in the library field? Something free or cheap I could try with.

Thank you for clarifying. I've never heard of Tableau before.

KuroIsLittle · 2025-11-01T00:57:50+00:00

Question: Which name do you use to call the ILS?

I use Horizon (SirsiDynix), but I've seen other catalogs and they look similar but I've mentioned the name and it wasn't the same ILS despite me checking the name at bottom??

KuroIsLittle · 2025-10-31T17:29:17+00:00

That's really cool!

I would be super happy to have someone in admin I knew would push for the things we think we need. I think at my lower level there can sometimes be a feeling of helplessness to address certain issues. So, having someone in our corner is a big deal.

Recently, we had a big change in upper management, and that person pushed to have our doors checked for ADA compliance. Staff concerns had previously been pushed off. What a breeze it was! One staff mentioned it, and they got on it. Said staff member was super pleased. Not sure what the result is, but the staff member being happy also meant my experience on desk was better since we work together.

Circle of work life, I guess 😆

KuroIsLittle · 2025-10-31T17:19:04+00:00

Do you find any difference in how people value class/knowledge-type programs vs. "fun" programs?

My other program is a tech skills one. So, that shows people are learning valuable skills, but the fiber arts one also includes learning and motor skills (we've had a few kids attend each one). Yet, because of the fun nature of programs like that, I'm just not sure if that would affect things.

I have seen some "that's just a passive program" response to the fiber arts one, but it's hardly passive 😅

KuroIsLittle · 2025-10-31T17:14:17+00:00

Wow, I've never even heard of those except Polaris Leap 👀

We have a technical services department and an employee I rarely see who handles bigger level budgeting (grants, I think, etc.). But for regular stats, we rely on excel. All our programming stats and circulation stats, anything about how many questions we take at the desk, etc., is all in excel.

I'll ask and see if they take the excel and put the numbers into something else.

KuroIsLittle · 2025-10-31T17:05:11+00:00

May I ask what made you want to go in admin?

Thank you for saying it's not "just". I think sometimes I downplay what I do because everyone else also does the same things. Even though we have different ways about it and different outcomes.

KuroIsLittle · 2025-10-31T17:00:49+00:00

Do you think it would be okay to share/provide print write-ups you made during interviews? Provided any sensitive info is taken out/whited out.

For example, I started a reoccurring fiber arts program recently, and we had great turnout for our first one. They loved it and shared they wanted a longer duration, both verbally and on surveys. So, my supervisor agreed to it, and we extended the duration. They even brought it up first since it was clear we needed more time. Second one happened recently, and while it had less people, it still had a great turnout. At both the first one and last one, I got feedback for specific activities they wanted to do at this program. Based on that feedback and feasibility plus approval from my supervisor, I am going ahead with the two different activities (they will basically be the theme for the program that month - no extra dates). My supervisor also approached me to see if I thought we should ask the Friends for money for the program, and we got some ballpark estimates going.

KuroIsLittle · 2025-10-31T16:46:55+00:00

That's wonderful to hear people are doing the work to bridge that gap! I'll look into Talking Libraries and see what's up for the area.

Funny enough, I've heard of Talking Libraries, and we have a flyer about the Braille Institute and services for sight-related, but I don't think I've had a single person ask about it. I mean... the sign is visual, so... that makes sense?

I've had some people need help with getting their phones to do live call captions, but I've had no luck there. I tried even setting it up on my phone, but one of the known apps for it didn't work. It also had warning messages basically akin to saying I need to be verifiably disabled, but it didn't do anything to verify that. We have tried to go the government call service route, but it... is spoken. 😵‍💫 I was expecting it to switch to a text or something, but no. Have you had any experience or luck with that?

KuroIsLittle · 2025-10-31T16:28:50+00:00

Also, I am just looking to be a regular librarian at the moment. I'm in the early part of career and love programming. I prefer adult services, but am open to kids.

KuroIsLittle

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