Book Bank Warehouse Support

Temporary, part-time position

Position Summary
This position will engage in key aspects of Book Bank programs in the Portland Warehouse. This position can be trained in specific tasks depending on the needs at the warehouse, including organizing boxes of books, sorting and organizing specific types of books, and packaging books to prepare for distribution.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE

Book Intake

  • Greet book donors and assess donations to ensure donated books are appropriate for cleaning and redistribution
  • Complete donation intake tracking with precision and legibility 

Organization & Maintenance

  • Support book cleaning sessions by replenishing or moving boxes
  • Pre-sort school-age books into categories by content, type, and reading levels.
  • Store and organize books systematically for easy access and retrieval
  • Set up and arrange storage boxes
  • Package books for distribution

Transactions and Documentation

  • Ensure all organizational transactions are entered into the accounting system each month
  • Maintain meticulous records for all accounting transactions in accordance to the document retention policy

Recycling & Disposal

  • Contribute to the recycling process for damaged or outdated books
  • Determine which materials should be recycled versus retained

Additional Duties

  • Additional duties assigned by supervisor

QUALITIES AND SKILLS

REQUIRED:

  • Support SMART Reading’s mission, vision, and program standards.
  • A lived commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Personable communication and good customer service skills.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • A passion for children’s literature.
  • Commitment to your scheduled time.
  • Ability to work mostly independently.

PREFERRED:

  • Knowledge of, or experience with, children’s books.
  • Knowledge of appropriate reading content for different age groups.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This position requires a lot of standing. Some positions require the capability to lift boxes weighing up to 40 pounds and mobility for bending, lifting, and pulling or pushing carts. 

TRAINING AND SUPPORT

Training for this position happens on-the-job with the assistance of various staff and volunteers. You will be paired with trained staff or volunteers for the first several weeks. After training is complete, most of the work is self-guided, with staff available to answer questions M-F between 9:00-5:00.

IMPACT

By offering our literacy partners a variety and balance of books, we are better able to serve them and our community.  Sorting books thoughtfully allows children to receive a variety of reading materials and topics to engage their interest. Through our restoration process, volunteers assess if a book is repairable and, if so, use a checklist of steps to make minor repairs and restoration techniques to bring the book back to life so another child can enjoy it.

HOURS

5 to 10 hours per week. Hours can be completed between 9:00-5:00 M-F, with flexibility of these hours being across multiple days that work with your schedule. The duration of the role is currently two months, but there may be the option to extend it. 

COMPENSATION

$20 per hour

LOCATION

480 NE 9th Ave. Portland, OR 97232

REPORTS TO

SMART Reading staff

APPLICATION PROCESS
If you are interested in this position, please email Kim Crawshaw, Office and HR Assistant at kcrawshaw@smartreading.org. You will then be contacted to discuss your interest and do an initial screening.

Our Vision: An Oregon where all kids can realize their full potential through reading.
Our Mission: To spark joy and opportunity through the magic of a shared book.
Our Core Values: Kids come first / Community / Access / Inclusivity / Sustainability / Joy

Link to mission, vision, and program standards: www.SMARTReading.org