Bilingual Vietnamese Library Assistant

Multnomah County•Portland, OR

5d•$30 - $37•Onsite

About The Position

Multnomah County Library is actively seeking a customer service professional to join us as a Bilingual Vietnamese Library Assistant. As a Bilingual Vietnamese Library Assistant, you will connect 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 or program. You will have a specialized focus on assisting patrons who are members of the Vietnamese-speaking community and providing library services (both in the library and through outreach) that are culturally appropriate and responsive in both Vietnamese and English. 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 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. 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.

Requirements

Associate's degree or the equivalent years of experience.
Two years of customer service experience.
Ability to speak, read, and write fluently in Vietnamese as well as English.
Thorough knowledge of and/or extensive experience with the Vietnamese speaking community, demonstrated by knowledge of the traditions, values, and customs of the community being served.
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.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience working in a library setting.
Experience serving in a leadership role.
Experience with programming, such as teaching classes or performing outreach.

Responsibilities

Providing excellent patron, informational, and account management service to a diverse spectrum of customers of all ages and backgrounds in English and Vietnamese.
Responding to information requests and circulation questions through various channels in order to answer questions, locate information, or refer questions elsewhere as appropriate.
Interpreting information for patrons and staff from Vietnamese to English or English to Vietnamese.
Providing readers’ advisory services that include using the catalog and other resources.
Conducting customer service conversations and reference interviews with patrons to determine 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, 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 Vietnamese-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.
Representing the library at off-site events (i.e., Library booth at a community event).
Building and maintaining professional relationships with patrons, neighborhood organizations, and the greater population served by the Library, in library and community settings.
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.