How do you handle difficult patron interactions?
The needs of library users can range from help finding a book to advice on a research project. With this question, interviewers are testing your ability to deal with challenging customers who might have particular requirements or want assistance with more challenging problems. They want to see if you have the tolerance and interpersonal skills to deal with a variety of people and if you are knowledgeable enough to direct customers to the right resources.
Provide an example of a challenging customer interaction you've had in the past, and explain how you handled it, to help answer this question. Describe the measures you took to make sure the customer was happy with their experience. Pay attention to how well you communicated and how patient you were in finding a solution. Demonstrate your professionalism and ability to remain composed when interacting with challenging clients, as well as your familiarity with the library's resources.
Example:
A customer once asked me for a book that wasn't in our library. I could tell they were about to get angry since they were so irritated. I maintained my composure and inquired about their specific needs in order to try to locate a different source. I then looked through our online catalog and discovered other books on the same topic that might be borrowed from another library. The client thanked me for my assistance and was pleased with the result before leaving.