Sample interview questions: Can you describe a situation where you had to advocate for increased access to research materials or resources?
Sample answer:
As a Research Librarian, I have encountered numerous situations where I advocated for increased access to research materials and resources. One such instance stands out vividly:
Scenario: Our institution was in the process of merging two large academic libraries. The transition presented an opportunity to re-evaluate the accessibility of our combined resources. However, preliminary discussions revealed a disparity in access policies between the two libraries.
Challenge: The legacy library had a more restrictive borrowing policy, limiting students to a small number of physical items at a time. This policy hindered independent research and collaboration, especially for students pursuing interdisciplinary projects.
Advocacy: I gathered data on the borrowing patterns and resource usage from both libraries. The analysis demonstrated a significant need for increased access to physical materials, particularly among graduate students and faculty.
Collaboration: I presented my findings to the library administration and worked closely with the relevant stakehol… Read full answer
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