Library Assistant - Black Cultural Competency

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

Pay Range:

$29.47 - $35.84 Hourly

Department:

Library Department

Job Type:

Regular Represented

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

March 29, 2026

The Opportunity:

Creating a better library for all.

At Multnomah County Library, we invest in specialized, culturally relevant expertise and support to build active, trusting relationships with learners of all ages, from birth through adulthood. That's one of the values that lies at the heart of all we do.

Would you like to join us?

We're looking for experienced customer service professionals who have a passion for serving and connecting with the Black community. Many of these positions are 20 or 30 hours per week.

As a Black Cultural Competency Library Assistant, you will support your library location by assisting all patrons, but especially our Black patrons, find information and resources they seek. You will respond to information requests and circulation questions that are in person, over the phone, via chat, social media, or other virtual media in order to answer questions, locate information, and train the public in using the library's resources. This may include connecting patrons to services such as social services, tutoring assistance, citizenship classes, or other resources. This may also include helping patrons access electronic/digital resources and supporting patrons in using databases and online services.

Drawing upon your lived experience and knowledge of the Black community, you will conduct customer service conversations and actively build relationships with patrons. You’ll use your subject matter expertise to address more complex and deeper questions. You will provide readers’ advisory services and sign up patrons for events and library accounts.

You will also help support a safe and welcoming branch environment. You will assist patrons in successfully using the library by helping them understand library rules and sharing community resources. You will answer information questions about library rules, have initial conversations about low level issues, and refer patrons to the Person-in-Charge (PIC) as needed. You may choose to be the person-in-charge of a location during the absence of a manager. In this capacity, you are responsible for making the library a welcoming place for the community, and sometimes that means handling patron behavior issues.

This position requires someone with the ability to work respectfully and capably with people from all backgrounds and age groups. You must demonstrate a positive attitude, excellent interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity and a sense of humor while working with customers, co-workers and community. In providing customer service, you may encounter situations that require de-escalation or assistance from a supervisor or person-in-charge. Your ability to exercise quick and mature judgment in dealing with potentially disruptive, physically dangerous or abusive customers and emergencies is crucial.

As a Black Cultural Competency Library Assistant, you will collaborate with systemwide teams, regional and location teams to plan, deliver & evaluate programming for a variety of communities and cultural groups of all ages. You will provide location support for systemwide programming such as Summer Reading or Everybody Reads and you may prepare and present storytimes and/or facilitate programs and services such as Read to the Dogs, teen and Tween Councils. You will build and maintain professional relationships with patrons, neighborhood organizations, and the greater population served by the Library, in library and community settings and represent the library at off-site events.

Multnomah County Library is committed to supporting our communities of color and other communities subjected to marginalization by centering race and intersectionality in the services we provide. As a member of our team, all staff are expected to act as allies to library staff and patrons from communities of color and other groups subjected to marginalization by:

• Speaking up to support staff and patrons subjected to marginalization
• Speaking out against racism and oppression
• Demonstrating behavior that is culturally aware and sensitive

A few more things to consider:

• We will use this hiring list to fill current and future full-time and part-time library assistant vacancies throughout our library system.
• Most of our library assistant vacancies are part-time (20 or 30 hours per week).
• Schedules will include nights and weekends.
• Library assistants provide direct customer service to our patrons, so you can expect to work onsite at a location for the majority of your time. This is not a remote position.

Learn more about the library's services by visiting ourwebsite.

To Qualify
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant.

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills:

• Two years of experience providing customer service, performing outreach, and/or directly connecting with the community. Experience may come from paid or volunteer roles.
• An associate's degree, or the equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of and experience working with the Black community.
• Knowledge of the traditions, values, and customs of the Black community being served as well as the ability to identify specific examples of experience working directly with individuals and families who identify with the Black community.
• Strong cultural sensitivity and competency abilities.
• Ability to pass a criminal records check, should a job offer be extended. Results of the records check will be reviewed on an individualized basis. A conviction is not an automatic bar to employment.

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.

• One year of experience working in a library setting.
• One year of experience as a supervisor, lead worker, or person-in-charge.
• Experience training others and teaching classes.
• Experience planning, preparing and implementing community programs that are of interest to children, young adults, caregivers and adults working with children.
• Outstanding outreach ability, with a desire to learn more about the community and grow with it.
• Understanding of the impact of systemic oppression and its potential impact on patrons seeking library services.
• Ability to engage well with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to be a team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with coworkers to solve problems.
• Experience with proactive reference and reader's advisory service for all segments of the community.
• Open to new ideas, new technologies, and new work practices.
• Ability to keep up with the library profession and public library trends.
• Willingness to embrace technology, including social networking.

Screening and Evaluation
The Application Packet:

• A completed online application.
• A cover letter briefly summarizing your experience working with and serving the Black community.
• A completed preferences form

If any of these components arenotincluded with your application, it will be considered as an incomplete application and you will not continue in the recruitment process.

Please only apply once for this opportunity.The eligible for hire list created from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future part-­time, full­-time and on-­call positions throughout the library system in the Library Assistant classification.

The Selection Process:For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of theselection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• An evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Criminal records and reference checks

Additional Details

Work Location:This position works onsite at one of ourlibrary locations.

Equal Pay Law: Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.

Serving the Public, Even During Disasters

Everyday, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit theDisaster Service Worker Informationpage.

In accordance with Oregon Law, Multnomah County is not collecting school attendance dates in the initial application process; please do not include these dates in your resume, cover letter and other application materials.

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

Questions?

Recruiter:

Claudia Sarinana

Email:

claudias@multco.us

Phone:

+1 (971) 9908931

Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

Job Profile:

7211 - Library Assistant