Childcare while job hunting, what worked?

I have 3 kids and I need to interview and work without a sitter. I do not usually post, so bear with me. I am willing to trade favours. Is there an emergency option?

Libraries and community centres run free activities that gave me a couple of hours.

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 10 months ago, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.