Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

People Strategy, Equity, and Culture

Library Technician

  • Title: Library Technician
  • Class: Classified
  • Exempt Status: Non-Exempt
  • Grade: 16

Job Summary

Under the direction of a Library Supervisor provides library users and responds to a wide variety of user needs, ranging from essential customer service to billing and mediating charges. This position handles resource sharing processes as well as the creation and maintenance of course reserve records. Additional responsibilities include training, guiding, coaching, and reviewing the work of student and casual employees.

Incumbent may work under minimal supervision. Interpersonal contacts include faculty, staff, students, other libraries, and the general public.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Assists library users by providing exceptional customer service, facilitating access to library materials and providing directional information.
  2. Maintains user records by updating account and financial information, processing adjustments and waivers as needed.
  3. Resolves material or service problems by clarifying the user’s complaint, determining the cause of the problem, selecting and explaining the best solution to solve the problem, expediting correction or adjustment, and following up to ensure resolution. May assist in difficult service interactions.
  4. Instructs users in the basics of library website navigation. Provides assistance in the use of self-service kiosks, the library’s vended printing system, photocopiers and other equipment, including but not limited to: laptops, digital cameras, voice recorders, tablet devices, and staff office equipment such as facsimile technology. Contacts internal or external sources for maintenance as needed.
  5. Assumes responsibility for the operation, safety and security of the libraries during early morning, evening and weekends.
  6. May perform a specialized function at a campus library and/or college-wide, which may involve coordination of consortial resource sharing, materials booking, billings, course reserves management, copyright, equipment, and stacks maintenance. Provides specialized assistance in an area of assignment.
  7. May collaborate with and serve as contact for local and regional library consortia such as the Orbis Cascade Alliance. May also collaborate and work in partnership with individual libraries locally, regionally, and nationally.
  8. Creates and manages reports, using the library’s automation system and other software as needed.
  9. Conducts inventories of materials, supplies, and equipment. Orders, receives, and verifies new supplies.
  10. Trains, coaches, and directs the work of student and casual employees in the procedures and practices related to Access Services.
  11. Creates instructional and promotional brochures and signage for public use. May create training and coaching resources for staff use.
  12. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Work is primarily performed in a library and is fast-paced with constant interruptions. Duties of this position are usually performed in an indoor environment, involving heavy public contact with a usually moderate noise level. Some assignments involve transporting materials from the loading dock, between classrooms and within libraries. This position may require travel to the various PCC campuses.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and push/pull up to 16-20 pounds initially, 10-15 pounds sustained, 25-35 pounds up thresholds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent. Two years of experience working with the public, preferably in a library.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:
  • Library automation systems;
  • Database applications.
Skills in:
  • Critical thinking;
  • Good time management;
  • Providing exceptional customer service.
Ability to:
  • Interact positively with staff to enhance effectiveness and promote quality service;
  • Maintain effective working relationships with coworkers;
  • Organize and maintain records;
  • Be collaborative and an active listener;
  • Analyze and resolve problems with minimal supervision;
  • Remain calm in high pressure/difficult situations;
  • Effectively communicate orally and in writing;
  • Follow Protocols and escalation procedures;
  • Work with multiple priorities in a fast-paced and changing environment.

Reviewed: 12/2018; 04/2009

  • Revised: 08/2013
  • Revised: 09/2012
  • New: 5/21/2004