ashke’s blog

So my first interview with NLB’s public library services came and went. I quite enjoyed talking to the people who stayed with us while we waited for our turn for the interview. I’m not really sure how well the interview went but I did kinda feel like I was quite a standard (?!) interviewee. Like, don’t really stand out bah.

Oh, and Ivan Chew (of Rambling Librarian) was one of my interviewers. Hahah, I didn’t expect that! I had asked the librarians who took us to the waiting room who and how many of our interviewers there will be and they mentioned him. He looked quite serious in the conference room. (Ben asked me why I didn’t get his autograph, hahahahah.) One of the interviewees who came back also said that he was shooting tons of questions at her ^^;;;

My fellow interviewees came from varied backgrounds. And I think I was the only fresh graduate there! The librarian who stayed with us (Roy, I believe) said that a lot of people didn’t start out as librarians in their first job. In fact, he was a CNB officer before becoming a librarian. That’s quite wow! Ros (who came earlier than me; I was the 2nd person to arrive) had also worked as a teacher amongst other things, this girl who was in purchasing after doing her information studies diploma in Australia, and another who said he was from NTU libraries.

Sigh, I hope to get the job, but it seems that there’s a lot of competition (at least 14 interviewees were around today). The assistant director who was the head of the interview said that they’ll only get back to me in 3 to 4 weeks’ time. >_< Long wait! And as huey says, should probably line up more stuff in the meantime.

Some interesting facts: There used to be a NLB 2nd hand bookstore (and apparently it was in Tampines?!) but NLB closed it down after they'd gotten a lot of complaints from commercial secondhand bookstores: San bookshop, et al. Pfft, so now we know why we don't have any cheaper books other than the Library book sales. NLB has also translated a book to Chinese/Malay/Tamil and put it on audio and book form. Apparently, kids also like to use their "Ask!” services to do their homework >_<. Marine Parade Community Library hasn't changed much since last frequented the place in TKGS. But it's interesting to know that NLB's Institute Office is at the basement level. Also, their conference room is full of gadgetry and they have a huge coffee machine.

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Other than that, I now feel terrible terrible terrible as my flu takes hold. Arrgh, I hate falling ill. At least my headache occurred/is happening after the interview. I want to crawl into my bed and die. Should I tough it out or go see a doctor? Haiz, I guess this can wait ’til tomorrow.