Most Important Skills For An Outreach Librarian At State Library

You definitely have to have a lot of patience. Because I do programming with a lot of outside partners, people are busy. Sometimes they can't meet, or they can't do it within your timetable. You just have to have the patience and be able to pivot and be flexible about whatever it is that you're trying to do.

It's also important to have compassion. In the public library, people would come in looking for job assistance or housing assistance. That's a really difficult place to be in as someone working there. You need to have the empathy to help those folks and still treat them like a person.

A lot of times people are dehumanized because they're seen as less. Having that empathy is really important. I'm an introvert, and none of my coworkers believe it. They say I'm very talkative and outgoing and can do programs. But I can turn it on; it's my job.

When I go home, I chill with my dog. Being able to put yourself in that mindset where you're there to help folks is important. That's my main reason for working in libraries. I always wanted to help people, and this is a great way to do it.

Passing on information and disseminating information is really important. Project management is a skill I learned in school and have put into practice at work. It involves handling logistics for a program, budgeting, and managing staff.

You just need to be very organized. As a librarian, you'd think you're organized, and I am. But having the actual skill to do it is different. Some people are organized in their home life but not necessarily in other ways. Being able to share information and communicate well is also really important.

Honestly, empathy is one of the most important skills you need, or just soft skills in general.