Bilingual Russian Library Assistants

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

Pay Range:

$28.47 - $34.80 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):

October 19, 2025

The Opportunity:

Creating welcoming spaces that reflect our diverse and multicultural community.

At Multnomah County Library, one of our goals is to create welcoming spaces that reflect our diverse and multicultural community. To do so, we actively seek out diverse candidates who have a desire to bring their lived and learned experiences to work everyday in order to serve the greater community. It is our hope that these efforts create an organization that reflects the diverse communities we serve. 

Would you like to join us?

Multnomah County Library is actively seeking customer service professionals to join us as Bilingual Russian Library Assistants. We have both full and part- time positions available.

As a Bilingual Russian Library Assistant, your primary responsibility will be connecting internal and external patrons with the information they seek, while building professional relationships with those patrons and delivering exceptional service in support of a library location. You will have a specialized focus on assisting patrons who are members of the Russian-speaking community and providing library services that are culturally appropriate and responsive in both Russian and English.

Your other duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Providing excellent patron, informational, and account management service to a diverse spectrum of customers of all ages and backgrounds in English and Russian.
• Responding to information requests and circulation questions through various channels in order to answer questions, locate information, or referring questions elsewhere as appropriate.
• Help patrons become aware of, learn about, access and use electronic/digital/virtual library resources including databases, online services, and the public computers available in our locations.
• Interpreting information for patrons and staff from Russian to English or English to Russian.
• Providing readers’ advisory services that include using the catalog and other resources.  
• Conducting customer service conversations and reference interviews with all patrons to determine their needs
• Maintaining, troubleshooting and reporting issues with equipment and software such as computers, copiers, print management, internet sign up, fax/scan stations, checkout stations, credit card payment machines, cash registers, Automated Materials Handling machine, and other devices.
• Supporting a safe and welcoming library experience by maintaining an awareness of the environment, collaborating with coworkers, supporting incident response, and actively building relationships with patrons.
• Assisting with the selection, weeding and replacement of materials in the collection.
• Collaborating with systemwide teams, regional and location teams to assist with planning, delivering & evaluating services, programming and outreach for a variety of cultural groups of all ages with focus on Russian-speaking communities and based on community feedback.
• Providing location support for systemwide programming such as Summer Reading, large cultural events or Everybody Reads.
• Preparing and presenting storytimes and/or facilitating programs and services to all ages.
• Building and maintaining professional relationships with patrons in library locations.
• Training, mentoring and orienting  staff and volunteers in current library skills, practices and resources.
• Supporting a location by providing help with scheduling, purchasing, supplies, inventory, booking meeting rooms, tracking facilities requests
• Keeping library facilities organized, safe, and neat and returning materials to the appropriate location in a timely fashion.
• Opening and/or closing a library location for service/hours of operations, turning equipment on or off, and ensuring the setting is organized and safe for operations.
• Opting to serve as person-in-charge of the location in the absence of a manager.
• Other duties as assigned.

The library is open and welcoming to all members of our community, including individuals who may be encountering hardships or challenges that affect their behavior and interactions. 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