Interview with a Public Librarian

Here is an interview that we conducted with Maren Conrique, a Children's Librarian at the Public Library:

1. Can you explain the job of the librarian?

I am in charge of the children's collection: all materials, books, audios, CDs, and reference work.

2. Do you like your job?  What do you like best?  What do you like least?

Yes, I like my job a lot.  What I like best about my job is finding references (answering questions) and collection of books.  What I like least is programming computers.

3. What other jobs have you had?  Did they  help you do this job?

I processed bills and reports at a Court House, and I also worked at a private library as a library technician.  The library technician job is what helped me to get this job.

4. How long have you been a librarian?

I have been a librarian for 10 years. 

5. What special training or education do you need for your job? 

You need a Master's Degree in Library Science.

6. How do you choose what books to put in the library?

I choose the books we need based on the demands of the community, curriculums, and reviews done by other people on books. 

7. How do you get money to pay for the books?

We have an annual budget and we also get a portion of our money from taxes paid by the State of California. 

8. Do you only have one copy of each book?  How do you decide how many copies of each book you need?

I have more than one copy of most books.  It is based on demand for a particular book.  For example, I have more than one copy of the Harry Potter books because they are really popular.

9. Do you lose many books each year?

No, not many are lost.  I withdraw books from circulation that are damaged or really old.

10. What are the most popular books - for example, fiction, non-fiction, biography ... ?