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I have enjoyed reading this and will hold onto it.  One thing I would suggest 
however:  after reading this list, I'm reminded that most of us do our jobs with 
ease without writing down most of the answers to those questions.  It would be SO 
HELPFUL if we all put together a packet with compiled questions and our answers and 
left it in our desk/file.  What an enormous load we would be lifting off the 
principal/ & interview committee and librarian applicants who come after us to have 
something like this in writing.  It would also ensure that all the work we have 
done to establish good things, would continue forward.  Additionally, if people 
know the history as to when/how something originated, they will have more 
appreciation for it.  
Amy Watkins
Central Middle School
Lawton, OK


"Gray, Patricia" <pgray@FCPS1.ORG> wrote: WOW!  Thank you all so much for the 
wonderful questions - tons I had not even thought of.  I truly appreciate each one 
of you taking the time to respond!  Due to the number of replies I am going to cut 
and paste the responses.  Many repeat - especially about the budget, fixed or flex 
schedule, and several other questions.  I am sorry for the repeats but am afraid 
that I might leave some questions out otherwise.  
 
BTW - I work at a wonderful school and would never consider leaving but personal 
circumstances may dictate a move.
 
HIT:
flexible or fixed schedule; no. of classes per week teachers' attitude toward 
library, toward collaboration
budget amount for books, AV, professional; will it be the same every year addtl. 
money from PTA etc.?
book fairs other responsibilities include grant writing, who takes care of computer 
problems, no. of computer stations in library, printers
 
*****************
You'll need to rephrase these so they don't offend :~)  These are just a few things 
I'd like to know before I started somewhere.
Good luck!
Is the principal supportive of the library?
What classes use the library and what do they use it for?  Do I have input into the 
schedule?
Do I get pulled for subbing/bus duty/lunch duty?
How often is the library used/closed for testing/meetings?
How much autonomy do I have for ordering books, AV materials, new formats, etc.?
Am I the tech guru (fixing overheads, LCD's, computers)?  If so, do I do it on my 
time or theirs (do I have a replacement overhead I can trade out, or do I have to 
drop everything and fix it then and there?)
Who is responsible for policing, upgrading, and repairing library computers?  
What's the timetable if a computer goes down, typically?  How many of your X 
computers are working well right now?
Do I handle ID's?
What's the discipline policy - do you get support from the administration for 
problem students?
Do you get to decide how the library is used (a free-for all, a study place, 
classes only, mix) or do you take whoever walks through the door for whatever 
reason?
Could I implement nontraditional events (gaming, weird book clubs, board games, 
chess tournaments, poetry slams)?
Have you ever had a book challenge and if so how was it handled?  If not, why not?  
(nonchallengable books, appropriate materials selection, good relations with 
community, etc., luck).
Am I responsible for choosing and/or implementing new technologies throughout the 
school?
Am I the coffee maker, the laminating queen, the photographer, the tape duplicator, 
or do I get to use my MLIS degree?
Am I asked to break copyright laws by teachers/parents/principals/PTA head honchos? 
 Am I the copyright police or a source of information about copyright?
Do you like working here?
***********************
Is there a library aid and if so, how many hours are they permitted?  If there is 
an aid, are there hours shared with other teachers/classes at the school?
What is the total school population?  Average class size?
Is the library time fixed or flex?  How long are students allotted for library time?
Does the school use Accelerated REAder (or other reading incentive program)?  If 
so, what is the level of involvement of library staff in running this program?  
Does the school currently host book fairs and if so, are they typically hosted/run 
by the librarian or the PTO/PTA?  
Is there a complaint policy in place, and if so, what is the policy?  If no policy 
is in place, how would complaints about books be handled?
Is there a technology coordinator in-house or available within the school system?
What is the budget for book purchases/supplies?  Must it be spent by a certain time 
or is their flexibility?  
How are purchases handled, i.e., are they all filtered through an in-house 
bookkeeper or is there a central office that handles them?  
How is weeding handled?  
*******************
Be sure to ask about budget, that can be a killer you don't find out about until 
after you take the job.
*******************
I would probably focus on actual expectations of the job itself. Maybe ask about 
the student population/class sizes, test scores (they always want to focus on test 
performance, how you can help tie the library into
the curriculum, etc. Maybe ask about technology, databases, budget and purchasing 
responsibilities. Maybe find out what the typical teaching/instructional 
responsibilities are...
**********************
1.  Do as much research as possible ahead of time on the town/school 
district/administration (google their names), etc.  Frame some questions that show 
you've done your research, so they'll be impressed, e.g., "I see that X plant has 
shut down in the past year, causing the loss of X number of jobs.  What effect is 
this having on the school district, and what plans are in place to encourage growth 
in the area?"
2.  Research the local public library and, if possible, stop in ahead of time and 
have a visit with the director and/or head staff, to find out the lay of the land.  
Ask in a positive fashion, but try and get details about the town, past 
collaboration between the public and school libraries, what the former school 
librarian was like, etc.  Promise them that if hired
you'll work WITH them!
3.  Ask to see what WRITTEN library policies are already in place.  Ideally there 
will be complete and updated job descriptions for the librarian and any staff, 
collection development, technology plan, etc. Oftentimes I have found there to be 
NOTHING, which can be a horror the first day of work when you get there and don't 
even know how to log on the system.  What I try to glean is how organized the 
former librarian was, so I will know how much catchup I have to do.
4.  Ask what technology support is available in the building/district.  Will you be 
expected to be a technician? Trouble shoot until the technician can be onsite? 
Teach staff/students how to use the technology? What kind of funds are available 
for the furtherment of your education in these areas if it is expected of you, and 
what kind of time/support will be
given to you?
5.  Try to arrive early and ask for a tour of the library or to just be allowed to 
wander around it yourself.  Get a feel for the atmosphere of it, and what was 
important/neglected by the former librarian. In the interview, play up the 
strengths of what is already there, and frame in a positive fashion improvements 
you would like to make.
6.  Remember that most likely everyone interviewing you has absolutely very little 
idea of what it is that a library media specialist actually does.  They will know 
(maybe) what the last one did, and may have a vague notion of what they'd like to 
see in the future.  They're mostly going to want to hear how you're going to be a 
strong member of the staff, and how you're going to make the library a more active 
element of the school.
********************
Depending upon whether it is an elementary school or secondary school...Is the 
library expected to have a "fixed" or "flexible" schedule during the day? And, ask 
for their definition of either. (that will surely give you an idea of "other 
expectations" to some degree). Also, what types of curriculum committees or 
curriculum support has the library been involved in in the past?  What "vision" 
does the principal have for the library for the next 2-4 years?  Has the library 
been involved in reading initiatives? Which ones? What community partners, i.e. 
PTA, local bookstores, local businesses, has the library had in the past to help 
assist with community-wide activities and the promotion of the library and reading?
****************
Is there support for collaborative planning and teaching?  Is the library program 
integral to the classroom curriculum, or is it an add-on used for teacher planning 
time?
****************
I would ask if you have a budget and if you get to determine how it is spent.  All 
purchases must be approved, but is the principle or secretary determining what 
purchases are "worthy"?
*****************
If you ask, "How receptive is your faculty to collaborating with the librarian on 
lessons?" you are letting him or her know that you are ready and willing to work 
with the teachers as a partner in educating the students at the school.  Another 
good question would be, "What types of reading incentive programs did your previous 
librarian put in place that you would want to keep?" followed by "Are there other 
programs that you are interested in trying?"  You would need to have a couple of 
ideas (Family Reading Night, lunchtime book clubs, etc.) to offer in case he or she 
asks you what programs you would want to try. 
****************
I would want to know if they have fixed or flex scheduling and what the 
expectations are for teaching.
****************
Ask size of collection, budget, etc. Ask to see a selection policy or ask if there 
is one in place. Ask student population. Ask if it's primarily research (hs level) 
or other aspects.  You need to know how much control you have over your program. I 
never ask their expectations of me because the admin. isn't the one in control of 
the program. You are. Make sure there is a challenge policy in place, etc.
****************
Why the vacancy?  Flex or fixed schedule?  What changes do you want me to make?  
What do you want me to keep the same?
****************
Is there a Library Media Curriculum in place?
Does the technology component of the curriculum take place within the library media 
curriculum?  [Hopefully it is all integrated]
Are there other Masters prepared librarians on staff?
Who makes decisions for library purchases? Is there a person who must authorize 
expenditures to support curriculum?
Is there a library web page? If so, does the librarian have the authority to update 
and alter web page information?
Does the library participate in an interlibrary system or a statewide loan program 
(for example MeL Cat in Michigan)?  Who handles that and what budget does it come 
from?
***************
How much is the library budget?  Is it flexible or fix schedule?
***************
What is the budget?  Line item or just a general amount?  Available  throughout the 
year as needed?  Are there grant monies as well?  Do I write the grant apps or is 
the money made available for me?  Will I be expected to coach or sponsor a club or 
activity, like yearbook or drama?  Will there be a sub for me if I am absent?  What 
databases does the library subscribe to?
***************
How are the essential elements of a library media program supported by you the 
principal and your staff?  
How is the reading program supported?
Technology?
Is there collaboration?
Is Information literacy a part of your culture? 
Is the staff willing to embrace new technologies such as web 2.0 or are they 
running away from that and shutting it down?
**************
Look at a detailed copy of the library budget!!
Selection policy in place? Weeding policy?  Book challenge procedures?
**************
What is your library's mission? philosophy?  What is your philosophy service?  Is 
the librarian regarded as a teacher?  What is your favorite reading?  What exciting 
programs did the current librarian do?  What changes, if any, would you like to see 
in the library?
**************
What is the schedule, flexible or fixed? Do teachers collaborate with the 
librarian? (THese two are MOST
important. Do you want to babysit or do you want to be an integral part of the 
school and the curriculum?)
***************
Fixed or flex schedule, annual budget
If they don't offer ask for a tour of the library. I took my current job without 
seeing the library and when I finally saw it realized I'd have years of weeding 
ahead of me.
************
I would ask what the level of collaboration is like between teachers and the 
librarian now and what they would want to be different, if anything. Also, how 
important is research in the building/what is their view of the library? 
*****************
In what ways does the administration support the library and its staff?  Is there a 
selection policy in place that has been approved by the school board?
****************
I would be interested in AR - does the school have it and who manages it and also 
how big is it at the school.  AR was not managed in the library at miller when we 
started it - it is now though. 
Type of schedule - fixed or flexed - if you're in Fauquier - you wouldn't need this 
question but other counties have flex and also how they feel about moving to flex 
if they have a fixed.
Resource rotation - planning periods?  Some schools have a built in for resource - 
some do not.
Teacher collaboration - how was this done previously - how did it work out.
************
How open is the teaching staff to collaboration with the teacher-librarian?  What 
kind of units have been co-taught in the past?
***************
How will you promote reading?  What sort of programs will you do to bring in 
families and the community?
How will you collaborate with the staff? How would you handle an irate student? 
parent? faculty member?
How do you plan to raise additional funds to purchase books?
**************
Be sure you ask about the schedule.  Is it fixed or flexible?  Ask about class 
size, if it is a fixed schedule.  If the class size is over 25 (especially k-2) 
find out if you will have an aide.  If you will have an aide, is the aide full time 
in the media center.  (Full time never means full time, it means most of the time.) 
 Most aides have lunch duty, or office duty or other things that keep them away 
from the library.  
Ask about technology.  What do they have?  What will you be responsible for?  Are 
you going to be the go to tech person?  
Will there be time allotted for administrative duties (collection maintenance, 
etc.)  
Ask about other duties that you may have.
***************
It's important to sound interested in the students and the school.  Ask about the 
reading program - ask about curriculum integration - ask about team work - district 
goals - differentiated learning styles used.  What outreach programs have been 
successful.  Go in with ideas about making the library a dynamic center of the 
school.  You can find out about automation and an aide ahead of time - you should 
go in to the interview knowing those two answers, and know how you would deal with 
them.  Bone up on their automation system ahead of time.  Your questions sound like 
you are interviewing for a job at Walmart - not a professional dynamic one where 
you will need to be a leader to make the library a vital part of the school.   
**********
How many years experience does the school district credit new teachers with on the 
salary schedule? 
***********
How about the responsibility for extended library hours, i.e., before school, after 
school, summer.... Is there a paid week for the media specialist  before or after 
school ends? 
If you write the questions out, add an e to spell it "aide." Our district has 
dropped the word, aide, and now uses instructional assistants, although our 
libraries do not have same!
How about a question about committees that one might serve on. 
************
I'd definitely want to know:
- what the library budget is
- how the budget process works (do you submit a proposal or do they tell you
what you can spend?)
- how supportive is the administration/district
- depending on the grade: are teachers expected to stay with their classes
during library class?
- is there a sense of collaboration among the staff?
-what sort of person was the previous librarian? ( proactive? A
collaborator? a policeman?)
-depending on the grade: is there a book fair and who runs it and how much
has the profit been over the past few years
-are there special programs such as book clubs that you would need to
monitor
-library hours?
-currency of the collection
-is there a virtual library web page? Subscription databases?
************
I'd definitely ask whether the library is used as a holding tank (either as a place 
when there is not a sub available, or for detention). Ask also whether there is a 
budget for the library.
**************
If it is an elementary school I would ask about scheduling, fixed or flex and I 
would also ask about opportunities for collaboration with classroom teachers.
*************
Flexible schedule or fixed?
If it's a fixed schedule, how many classes per week? How long are the periods? Am I 
covering teacher prep time?
How much was last year's budget? How many kids am I servicing? Are there alternate 
routes for funding, ie: can I run a book fair or other such fund raiser?
What AV equipment am I responsible for? Do I take care of the classroom equipment? 
Who is my direct supervisor?
Is there opportunity to meet with the teacher in level meetings to discuss 
curriculum needs?
AR?
Are there computers in the library? Who uses them?
How many books are in the collection? What is the average age of the collection?
And perhaps the biggest question of all, Why is there an opening??
*************
I would ask what type of scheduling they use--fixed or flex?  I would also ask if 
they use a reading program such as AR or Reading Counts.


 
 
Patricia H. Gray
pgray@fcps1.org
Librarian, Ritchie Elementary
New Baltimore, VA

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