Librarian applicants have rated the interview process at New York Public Library with 2.8 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) and assessed their interview experience as 30% positive. To compare, the company-average is 61.1% positive. This is according to Glassdoor user ratings.
Candidates applying for Librarian roles take an average of 45 days to get hired, when considering 10 user submitted interviews for this role. To compare, the hiring process at New York Public Library overall takes an average of 33 days.
Common stages of the interview process at New York Public Library as a Librarian according to 10 Glassdoor interviews include:
Group panel interview: 28%
Phone interview: 24%
Skills test: 16%
One on one interview: 12%
Drug test: 8%
Background check: 4%
Other: 4%
Personality test: 4%
Here are the most commonly searched roles for interview reports -
I applied online. The process took 3 months. I interviewed at New York Public Library (New York, NY) in Sep 2016
Interview
Applied online through careers.nypl.org. Your application is run through an algorithm that checks for your ZIP code. I lived in Manhattan, and got an interview. When I had a Brooklyn address, I did not.
Online form is not user-friendly. No place to add different cover letters if you're applying for different jobs.
HR interview was 1:1 in a windowless room in an office building in Manhattan. No real explanation of benefits or the process. (August 2016)
Interview 2: panel of 1 librarian and two people who would be my immediate supervisor, and the division manager. Roundtable of questions. (September 2016)
Offer extended: then, NYPL tells you that 1) all employees are probational for 1 year, 2) you will have to complete a background check (employment verify *and* criminal) as well as submit to a urine test (and NYPL will assign you to a location in your neighborhood to take the test at a clinic). Background check took two weeks. Start date was in October.
*NOTE: Library pages do NOT have to do this. There is no background check, no drug test, nothing.
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Other Librarian Interview Reviews for New York Public Library
I applied online. I interviewed at New York Public Library (Bronx, NY) in Feb 2026
Interview
Panel interview (usually the branch manager and associate director)
Asked behavioral questions - have instances where things went wrong, were successful, book recommendations, outreach experiences. The interview invitation you receive will also give you suggestions for how to prepare.
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at New York Public Library (New York, NY) in May 2022
Interview
One month on average. First interview with manager about my experience, second interview with a panel of future coworkers to get to know me. Applying through pinpoint was daunting, but I reached out through linkedin as well.
I applied online. I interviewed at New York Public Library
Interview
I met with an HR person, a Branch Manager, and two librarians at the branch where the opening was. They asked a series of questions and gave me time to ask them questions. They did not give me a tour of the branch.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What are some books you would choose to read with kids to promote kindness.