Program Assistant

Program Assistant
Reports to: Program Coordinator

Direct Reports: n/a

Wage: $14.94

Hours: 25 hours per week

May include evenings, Saturdays.

The Portage la Prairie Regional Library provides accessible, innovative library and information services to Portage la Prairie. We’re seeking a part-time, permanent team member to work with and enhance a team of library staff and volunteers who celebrate reading achievements with children and their families.

Nature of Position
The Portage la Prairie Regional Library Program Assistant will report to the Program

Coordinator to design and implement programs for all ages. The primary focus will be engaging with community members to foster love of learning; broaden their knowledge, skills, and interests; and to introduce the library as an inviting, fun and friendly place for all.

The Program Assistant uses organizational skills, excellent customer service abilities, and proficiency with social media and design to market library programs, promote library services and programs to the public and assist library staff in delivering programs that support the library’s vision, mission, and guiding principles.

**Responsibilities**:

- Assist in the preparation, execution and clean-up of weekly programs for children, youth, and adults.
- Maintain lists of participants and attendance records.
- Post and distribute publicity materials.
- Post prepared marketing documents to the library website and social media.
- Help patrons to register for library programs and responding to questions about programs offered at the library or forwarding questions to appropriate staff.
- Advertise and promote library programs and services throughout the community
- Help to schedule and organize volunteers for program support.
- Support the duties of the Library Programming Coordinator
- Front desk shifts
- Evening and weekend shifts required
- Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position is occasionally responsible for delegating and monitoring assigned tasks in a collaborative setting.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Proven organizational, customer service and planning skills. o Sets and follows priorities, goals, and timetables to achieve maximum productivity. o Establishes a systematic course of action for self or others to ensure accomplishment of a specific objective. o Plans ahead for upcoming problems or opportunities and takes appropriate action.
- Knowledge of customer service techniques and protocols, including methods and techniques of responding to inquiries and resolving patron complaints. o Keeps library customers and partners in mind at all times. o Strives to proactively address customer concerns and needs. o Aspires to provide consistent customer satisfaction.
- Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills. o Comfortable using a broad range of communication styles, and able to choose appropriate, effective ways to communicate to audiences in diverse situations.
- Demonstrates a high level of dependability in all aspects of the job. o Builds a logical approach to address problems (or opportunities) or manage the situation at hand by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base, and calling on other references and resources as necessary. o Does more than is expected in the job; identifies and does things that no one has requested that will improve or enhance products and services or avoid problems.
- Familiar with literature in a variety of formats, readers’ advisory services, trends and techniques in reading, technology and library programming for teens and adults

**Qualifications**:

- Over 18 years of age
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
- Proficient in the use of computers and Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred Qualifications
- At least one year experience working with teens, youth, and/or vulnerable persons
- Fluency in an additional language

Education
- High School Diploma or equivalent

Experience
- Prior work experience(s) in a customer service or educational setting is an asset
- Presentation skills and ability to comfortably engage with and communicate to large groups
- Grant writing, tracking grant requirements, and preparing reports consistent with requirements, for progress and payment

Working Conditions
Usual office environment. Frequent contact with the public. Moderate physical effort required including bending, lifting, handling of materials of moderate weight, pushing and pulling of carts, etc.

**Job Types**: Part-time, Permanent
Part-time hours: 25 per week

**Salary**: From $14.94 per hour

**Benefits**:

- Dental care
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care

Schedule:

- Evening shift
- Weekend availability

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Portage la Prairie, MB: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

- Are you able to work evenings and Saturdays?

Application deadli