Careers at 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 encouraged to apply.
Current Job Openings
REFERENCE LIBRARIAN (BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT)
Portland Public Library is currently seeking a Reference Librarian with a specialty in Business & Government. Reporting to the Adult Services Director, this position provides professional reference and information services to the public at the reference desk and various other locations. This position is in the Adult Services department, a major public service component of the library.
The primary focus of this position is the planning and delivery of services related to business and government. To meet this goal, the librarian will work with many community partners and community members. In support of the goal, this person is also responsible for leading a collaborative approach to developing the collections related to business and government, creating programming, and establishing general planning.
The librarian works with a broad cross-section of the public and facilitates a variety of patron requests. They must be able to interact effectively and manage sometimes difficult situations. This work is performed in a fast-paced environment and requires an exceptional level of customer service.
This is a union-represented, full-time, 37.5 hours per week onsite position, normally scheduled to work a Monday through Friday/Tuesday through Saturday rotation. Pay begins at $25.25/hr. Excellent benefits package includes health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement options (in lieu of Social Security), and paid leave.
How to Apply
To apply, please send your resume, letter of interest, and three professional references via email at careers@portlib.org.
Mailed applications may be sent to:
Human Resources
Portland Public Library
5 Monument Square
Portland,ME 04101
IT SPECIALIST
Portland Public Library (PPL) is currently seeking an IT Specialist. Reporting to the Associate Director, the IT Specialist maintains a reliable, secure, and efficient network. This position is required to deploy, configure, maintain and monitor all active network equipment for five locations within the Portland Public Library in order to ensure smooth network operation. This position provides primary management, maintenance, and support of all technology for the staff and the public. This includes development and implementation of new technology ventures and supporting all existing technology hardware and software.
This is a union-represented, full-time, 37.5 hours per week onsite position, normally scheduled to work Monday through Friday, after training. Pay begins at $24.06-$28.18/hour depending on experience.
How to Apply
To apply, please send your resume, letter of interest, and three professional references via email at careers@portlib.org.
Mailed applications may be sent to:
Human Resources
Portland Public Library
5 Monument Square
Portland,ME 04101
IT TECHNICIAN II
Portland Public Library (PPL) is currently seeking an IT Technician II. Reporting to the Associate Director, the IT Technician II provides day to day technical support for hardware and software and troubleshoots technology issues encountered by library staff.
This is a union-represented, full-time, 37.5 hours per week onsite position, normally scheduled to work Monday through Friday, after training. Pay begins at $20.77-$24.34/hour depending on experience.
How to Apply
To apply, please send your resume, letter of interest, and three professional references via email at careers@portlib.org.
Mailed applications may be sent to:
Human Resources
Portland Public Library
5 Monument Square
Portland,ME 04101
COMMUNITY RESOURCE COORDINATOR
Portland Public Library (PPL) is currently seeking a Community Resource Coordinator. Reporting to the Executive Director, the primary focus of this full-time position is to work with library patrons experiencing mental health challenges, substance use disorders, homelessness, and other exclusion issues, assessing their needs and referring them to appropriate services in the community.
The position works with PPL staff, area social service agencies, City of Portland police and social services staff, and members of the community to address the health and wellness needs of at-risk library patrons and to ensure a pleasant and safe environment for all. The coordinator also shares their expertise on working successfully with challenging behavior, boundary setting, de-escalation techniques, and self-care with PPL staff.
In 2025, this position will develop a community resource space and program to bring social services, nonprofits serving the populations listed above, and others into the library on a regular schedule to meet our patrons where they are.
This is a union-represented, full-time, 37.5 hours per week onsite position, normally scheduled to work Monday through Friday, after training. Pay begins at $25.25 per hour. Excellent benefits package includes health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement options (in lieu of Social Security), and paid leave.
How to Apply
To apply, please send your resume, letter of interest, and three professional references via email at careers@portlib.org.
Mailed applications may be sent to:
Human Resources
Portland Public Library
5 Monument Square
Portland,ME 04101
LIBRARY SAFETY SPECIALIST (SECURITY)
Portland Public Library is seeking a Library Safety Specialist.
Reporting to the Library Safety Manager, this position works with patrons and library staff in various departments to ensure a welcoming and safe environment for all. The Library Safety Specialist serves the library’s patrons and staff by watching over their safety and addressing emergent security situations. The Specialist consults and coordinates with other library staff as needed and exercises independent judgement to determine the appropriate course of action. The Specialist also works closely with the Community Resource Coordinator and Facilities staff and lends support when needed. As a member of the Library Safety team, this position reports to the Library Safety Manager.
This is a union-represented, full-time, 37.5 hours per week onsite position, normally scheduled to work Tuesday-Saturday. Pay begins at $22.91-$26.83/hour at the entry level depending on experience. Excellent benefits package includes health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement options (in lieu of Social Security), and paid leave.
How to Apply
To apply, please send your resume, letter of interest, and three professional references via email at careers@portlib.org.
Mailed applications may be sent to:
Human Resources
Portland Public Library
5 Monument Square
Portland,ME 04101
SUMMER TEEN ASSOCIATE
Portland Public Library (PPL) is currently seeking a Summer Teen Associate for the Teen Library. This part-time paid position is made possible through the Maine Career Exploration Program and Manpower Maine.
The Summer Teen Associate will work with the Teen Library staff to develop and execute projects and/or programs for PPL’s downtown Teen Library space. They will work a maximum of 75 hours total across July and August 2025 with a weekly schedule co-created with the Teen Librarian upon hire. The pay rate for this position is $15.50 per hour.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit your resume and a separate document with answers to the following 3 questions:
- Why do you want to work at the PPL Teen Library?
- What are some ideas you have for the Teen Library?
- What skills and strengths will you bring to this position?
Please send all applications to teens@portlandpubliclibrary.org or drop them off at the Teen Library desk by 05/09/2025. Select candidates will be contacted for interviews by mid-May.
To learn more about Portland
City of Portland, Maine
Portland Downtown
LiveWork Portland (Creative Portland)
Up Next at the Library:
From the PPL blog:
PPL joins the Dirigo Library Consortium and prepares for systemwide upgrades. More »
Welcome, readers! We're here to share our end-of-the-year staff picks. More »