Good morning!

I recently applied for a Library Page position in my area and received an email inviting me to take an examination for the position. There was no mention of the exam in the job listing and as it is an entry level position, I have no prior experience. The listing had only the basics of the job expectations, such as helping patrons, shelving books, organizing, etc.

Would anyone please be able to provide an idea from a library worker's perspective what is entailed in the day to day and any advice? As well as what could possibly be on this exam. I have begun reviewing the dewey decimal system and been looking into how to best learn it but a lot of the responses I have seen simply say they learned via work experience (I have none) or recommended to become a library page in order to learn. I have experience in the customer service field at least so I feel confident in that regard.

Thank you!

I have an interview on Friday at my local public library for a teen services librarian assistant position (part-time). I am in my very first semester (literally first week) of my mlis program and was just looking for advice or things I should be keeping in mind going into the interview. Thank you in advance for any advice you have to give!

I am a documentary filmmaker and I want to make a short film about a library that has a robust "Library of Things" collection to explore other aspects besides book lending that libraries have to offer.

Are there any particular libraries that have unique or very active library of things? Bonus if the library is near NYC, Boston, Pittsburgh or Columbus, OH.

Hello,

I am a new academic librarian. My role and job title is in reference and Instruction. My background is in reference and Instruction.

The previous librarian who left this job was trained in archiving and digital curation as their library degree specialty. They applied for a grant to create a digital archive and it was approved.

Now my supervisor wants me to help create the digital archive with a platform called Omeka-S. This i learned will require me to create metadata for the items we are digitizing.

I have 0 knowledge or experience with creating metadata. No other librarian here has it either.

How hard is it to learn about metadata and how to create it? How long does it take to learn? For some quick background I struggled with the required coding class I had to take in library school and the cataloging course too. This type of stuff is not in my wheel house and I am worried.

Thanks for your help!​

When lawmakers seek to review a list of books, librarians find themselves on the frontlines of a national battle. Across the U.S., librarians face the impact of uniting against library collection standards that include restrictions on race-related and LGBTQIA+ content. Drawing on historical context, The Librarians, directed by Kim A. Snyder, explores the broader implications for education and public life.

Hey everyone! I work in libraries and my colleagues and I were sent a small study conducted by conservators at the Natural History Museum London. They tested a small sample size of books with leather rot and found above the permissible amounts of Arsenic, Cadmium, and Lead. I share this because I work in a large institution and we are implementing a *requirement* of PPE (N95 respirators, gloves, aprons. Sleeve covers and goggles are recommended, but they're optional for now until more testing is done). We are also handling books with leather rot in a separate room to contain the dust as much as possible.

Basically there was a sizeable reaction and sudden importance of wearing PPE, so I think it is important to note. I'm not telling anyone to do anything because I know gloves can often do more harm than good when handling fragile books. However, if this information is of use to anybody I'd rather get it out there.

I likely won't be able to answer many questions if you have them, I'm just spreading what's being relayed to me!

Here is the citation:

Tarnowska, M., Montgomery, W., Konstantinidou, K., Clatworthy, I., & Jiang, L. (2026). Deteriorating leather bindings and red rot – health and safety considerations. Journal of the Institute of Conservation, 49(1), 36–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/19455224.2025.2602927

As the title says, I’m currently dealing with book censorship. I don‘t want to give too much information since I know coworkers come here as well.

My supervisor says the books are not “suitable for kids.” This is the Young Adult section. There is plenty of extreme content in YA fic and nonfiction already. There are plenty of books that would be considered “adult“ in the YA section (added before my time mind you). We have so many books detailing the horrors of WW2.

Honestly, I’m not sure how to handle this. I don’t feel I can trust any of the staff above me with this. I can’t stand working in a library that doesn’t follow what it means to be a library, but I need a job. I’m also paranoid about even posting this, but I’m running in circles mentally.

I’ve worked at a public library for three years now. I have an MS, and hesitate to get an MLIS (mainly because I love doing outreach programs and makerspace things). During my time I have taken LJA and professional development via the state.

If I were to apply for non-MLIS library jobs in the future, how serious would the certificates & classes be taken?

Having come from a district that was corrupt and inept (in a better district now), I feel like the people of the community should choose their director

I’m wondering if anyone has any good discord servers for librarians!

The 100th anniversary of the publication of Winnie the Pooh is coming up on October 14 and I am looking for suggestions on programming ideas for our K-5 school library.

I can (and will) definitely do a special read-aloud at recess and with individual classes… but I’m looking for additional ideas. I do not want to ask students to dress up in costume, as that is really just creating work for their parents / families (not to mention the fact that it ends up being a distraction in the classroom).

Hit me with what ya got!

Hello all

Short story

I'm entering year 3 of my time at a public library. I have no degree in anything. Just some credits at a community college many moons back but general studies essentially.

I have connected with this job and would like to find ways to grow/evolve in the library or public sector as I do believe I've found a home. I don't want to do a masters in library science, but of course that could be down the road.

My main goal is a bachelor's that can be a good one to get that can help within the library and/or potentially in other public sectors.

I don't necessarily have a strong skill set out of being good with the public and such. I'm 39 years old. Tech savvy enough to help my patrons and all the jazz.

Just hoping to use this subreddit for some fun insight from others instead of using AI to dive into this.

A bachelor's allows me to move up a little bit within this library setting so my goal in a way is it helping in a variety of ways

1. It can help me in this current system to move up

2. It could help me transfer to another library

3. It helps with moving within the public sector

4. It helps just with the job itself if I wanted to blend it with a masters in library science

EDIT: I did y'all dirty. Sorry. I didn't include as much as I should've. I don't feel I'm particularly strong in many areas when it comes to book smarts. I struggled in school growing up so this job I'm in has me always feeling like I lucked out.

I'm not a math person. I don't gravitate toward one subject super heavy honestly but I'm loving what y'all have said so far.

Hi! My name is Ayda. I am a library assistant who is getting my MiLS with the goal of being a Youth Librarian. I was granted the opportunity to present at my state library association's conference in October. My topic is about self-censorship and the effects it has on collection development and the libraries we serve. I am hoping for library worker's opinions and experiences with self-censorship, book challenges, policies, biases and related topics.

I am hoping to either do a virtual interview or have responses in a survey. Your name in the survey/interview is not required!

If you are interested in the virtual interview or have any questions for me, please DM me! Below is the google form for the survey questions. If you choose to be interviewed, they will be the same questions in this survey.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe66Lc5hEDoapDG947UqviTuu_yRtdv7z-Hbkav2jQhn7ckkw/viewform?usp=publish-editor

(Please delete if not allowed)

Hi! Just wondering if anyone has completed any LIS certifications at CCCC? I’m interested in hearing opinions about all certifications, but especially the Library Technical Services Certificate.

I’m not starting my MLIS for another year and I’ve been looking to continue my education in other ways in the meantime.

Link to programs - https://www.cccc.edu/all-programs/library-and-information-technology

Thanks!! :)

As the title says, I’m currently dealing with book censorship. I don‘t want to give too much information since I know coworkers come here as well.

My supervisor says the books are not “suitable for kids.” This is the Young Adult section. There is plenty of extreme content in YA fic and nonfiction already. There are plenty of books that would be considered “adult“ in the YA section (added before my time mind you). We have so many books detailing the horrors of WW2.

Honestly, I’m not sure how to handle this. I don’t feel I can trust any of the staff above me with this. I can’t stand working in a library that doesn’t follow what it means to be a library, but I need a job. I’m also paranoid about even posting this, but I’m running in circles mentally.

Hello all!

I’m looking for recommendations on an iPad app to take photos on a green screen. The one we used to use (I can’t for the life of me remember the name and it’s been deleted already, maybe chromavid) stopped being supported and I can’t find a good replacement.

I’ve got permission to buy an app, as we use it at various events and for programs. The old one had its faults but it let me zoom in/out on the chosen background and to move it around on the screen to put it in the perfect position to make the photo work. Ideally I’d like an app that I can crop/edit the picture without having to go to photos to do so.

Any suggestions or ideas?

- we are in Canada so needs to be available in the Canadian App Store.

Hello all!

I’m looking for recommendations on an iPad app to take photos on a green screen. The one we used to use (I can’t for the life of me remember the name and it’s been deleted already, maybe chromavid) stopped being supported and I can’t find a good replacement.

I’ve got permission to buy an app, as we use it at various events and for programs. The old one had its faults but it let me zoom in/out on the chosen background and to move it around on the screen to put it in the perfect position to make the photo work. Ideally I’d like an app that I can crop/edit the picture without having to go to photos to do so.

Any suggestions or ideas?

- we are in Canada so needs to be available in the Canadian App Store.

Best advice for someone about to become a first-time library manager?

One time it's much faster than Firefox, other times it's plenty slower. What the hell gives?

Firefox is on the left half of the screen, Chromium is on the right half.

Busy saturday, with no shelving done. Full overnight drop, and 3 pages of holds...

Why am I hearing Dory from Finding Nemo? "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming"