Library Acquisitions Assistant Jobs in Portland, OR

Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) is seeking Library Assistants to join our Technical Services team. These four (4) full-time positions will support our mission by ensuring that our technical services and library materials workflows deliver high-quality books and media to our community, as part of a centrally managed collection. As a Library Assistant, on any given day, you may find yourself:

• Processing books, media, and other library materials
• Handling interlibrary loan requests, returns, and processing
• Handling and shipping library mail service materials for patrons who cannot visit a library on their own
• Copy cataloging items
• Preparing and placing orders for materials
• Contacting vendors to maintain efficient materials acquisition
• Shelving, pulling holds, and checking in items on our central sorter
• Assisting patrons on the phone and/or online

Ideal Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Basic data analysis and mathematical principles.
• Maintain complete and accurate records.
• Effectively perform work assignments and adapt when necessary.
• Provide excellent internal and external customer service.
• Manage time effectively and efficiently while balancing multiple priorities while consistently meeting due dates.
• Learn, read, and practice library policies and procedures.
• Adapt to change and try new creative approaches.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with individuals and groups who come from diverse backgrounds and represent members of the public, coworkers, and/or vendors.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• One (1) year of experience performing administrative or library support work; six (6) months of the experience must have been in a library.

Additional Licenses, Certificates, Physical Abilities, and Specialty Requirements:

• Bilingual skills are highly desired, but not a requirement for the role.

About WCCLS:

WCCLS is the primary funding source for public libraries in Washington County and provides the essential infrastructure that links independently operated library buildings together into one system that is accessible to all county residents. This includes library collections, technology access, the integrated library system and discovery layer, materials movement, and administering the cooperative library system, including policies, contracts, data analysis and reporting. The cooperative model ensures that residents in cities big and small, as well as rural and unincorporated areas across the county, have access to the same life-changing library services. Washington County is located just west of Portland, Oregon. We are the second most populous county in our welcoming state and the five most spoken languages after English are Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, and Russian. With a strong regional tech economy, Washington County has a high median education and income level, and there is strong community support for our public library system. In November 2025, voters supported a significant funding increase for WCCLS. WCCLS is a department of Washington County, and our Board of County Commissioners are great supporters of our library system, including our deeply held value of the freedom to read. Learn more about visiting the beautiful rural areas and the thriving cities of Washington County at tualatinvalley.org.

The Library Cooperative and Centralized Collections

These new positions for WCCLS come out of a multi-year funding and governance evaluation process that our cooperative library system has undertaken. The cooperative system is a partnership between the county, 9 cities and 3 nonprofit associations. Our 12 partners operate 16 library locations, and historically have managed their physical collections locally, while WCCLS provided centralized digital collections. The partners have agreed to centralize collection management and technical services across print and digital by July 2027, to support the long-term fiscal sustainability of the system. Learn more about this transition and see local collection statistics.

The Library Assistants will be joining a new Technical Services team that will be part of implementing centralized collections for the cooperative. They will work closely with our Collections and Materials Movement teams at our Griffin Oaks warehouse and office, helping to support existing programs like interlibrary loan and library mail service and working with their new team to develop technical services workflows.

Selection Process:

You can review our standard selection process here.

Our commitment to you: Washington County is an equal opportunity employer committed to using a merit-based system in which recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees is based on knowledge, skills, and abilities. Our organization embraces innovation, collaboration, and work-life harmony. We promote employee development and offer an award-winning benefits and wellness program as well as an opportunity to serve and support our vibrant community.