POSITION DESCRIPTION
Business Title: SUBSTITUTE LIBRARY WORKER
Department: VARIES BY ASSIGNMENT
Location: ALL PPL LOCATIONS
Grade: DEPENDENT ON ASSIGNMENT
Bargaining Unit: N/A
Full Time or Part Time: PER DIEM
Hours per Week: AS SCHEDULED; HOURS VARY
End Date (if Term Appointment): N/A
Reports to: VARIES BY ASSIGNMENT
ABOUT PPL
Portland Public Library is an equal-opportunity employer dedicated to providing everyone with safe and free
access to educational and cultural resources. PPL is Maine's most visited cultural institution and is a valued
community asset, serving residents and visitors for over 150 years.
PPL offers free shared resources - books, film, history, big ideas - in a welcoming environment to foster
meaningful connection and positive change in our dynamic City. PPL believes we are stronger the more fully
we align our work and our resources toward equity, accessibility, inclusion, and representation of diverse
experiences and perspectives. To succeed as a library team member requires commitment to curiosity,
inclusiveness, collaboration, and creativity. We enthusiastically invite you to apply.
PPL is committed to hiring and maintaining a diverse workforce of highly qualified staff to ensure broad
perspectives, promote equity and inclusion, and connect to our wide community. Applicants with racially,
ethnically, or culturally diverse identities or backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
POSITION SUMMARY
Substitute Library Workers provide essential per-diem coverage across all Portland Public Library branches.
Reporting to the supervisor on duty, substitutes support a wide range of public service functions, including
staffing service desks, assisting patrons, performing circulation tasks, and helping maintain a welcoming
environment for all.
Substitute Library Workers may be assigned to any PPL branch and may work at multiple service points at the
Downtown Branch, including Lending, Children’s, Teen, Reader’s Advisory, Reference, the Portland Room,
and Interlibrary Loan.
This position is ideal for individuals who enjoy flexible, as-needed work and who are committed to excellent
service in a community-focused setting.
NATURE & SCOPE
- Provide friendly and consistent customer service to patrons of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
- Staff public service desks as assigned, including circulation and basic information service points.
- Assist patrons with locating materials, navigating the catalog, and using library equipment.
