Job Description

About Indy Reads  

Our vision is simple: 100% literacy for all.  

Located in historic Fountain Square and serving central Indiana, Indy Reads builds the literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and families to reach their full potential. We advance our mission through our virtual and in-person Community Classrooms and our community bookstore, which serves as a retail space, community space, and extension of educational programming. This highly regarded, well-established nonprofit organization has more than  40 years of experience in adult education. Guided by the CEO’s bold vision and a deep commitment to advancing literacy for all amid rising demand, Indy Reads is poised for growth.

Our adult learners are at the heart of everything we do. Dedicated staff and volunteers work with native and non-native English speakers to strengthen their literacy and English language skills, earn their High School Equivalency diplomas, and acquire workforce certifications. With literacy and language education, our adult learners redefine their potential for success. They get new and better jobs, help their children with homework, and engage with society in new and deeper ways. Indy Reads advances social equity through education.  

Position Overview  

The part-time Bookstore Associate is a welcoming, attentive, and courteous professional who supports the Indy Reads community bookstore and facilitates the bookstore’s day-to-day needs under the direction of the Bookstore Manager.

This part-time, 15-25 hours/week position reports to the Bookstore Manager. The person in this role would work on site at Indy Reads’ community bookstore during open hours, which are: Wednesdays – Saturdays, 11 am – 7 pm and Sundays, 11 am – 5 pm. Day, evening, and weekend hours are required.

The following is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job. Other duties may be assigned. 

Bookstore Support & Customer Service 

• Engage with store visitors to ensure a positive experience in the bookstore 
• Support store inventory and display creation 
• Ability to recommend books to readers of all ages 
• Support other Indy Reads staff members during bookstore programming 
• Facilitate sales through our cash register using Square 
• Ability to open and close the store and Square, as needed 
• Work with Bookstore Manager to direct bookstore volunteers 
• Accept book donations
• Sort, organize, and/or shelve books 
• General tidying of bookstore space 
• Promote the Indy Reads mission to all visitors and connect the bookstore benefits to classroom programs to encourage their increased involvement 
• Establish the bookstore location as a safe community space for everyone 

Qualifications 

• Customer service experience preferred 
• Proven organizational skills with attention to detail 
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite and Square, proficiency with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Office 365, Asana, Slack, and other multimedia tools 
• Strong customer service orientation and ability to engage with diverse groups and the public 
• Proficiency in a language other than English preferred, not required 
• Ability to exercise tact, good judgment, and initiative 
• Ability to work well as part of a team within a culturally diverse environment with people from all backgrounds and with varying degrees of experience and skills
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing 
• Curious, open, and dedicated to participating in Indy Reads’ journey to advance DEIA
• Commitment to the mission of Indy Reads
• A sense of humor 

We strongly encourage people of color, people from marginalized backgrounds, and people with immigrant experience to apply for positions at our organization. Indy Reads is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. 

Studies have shown that people from marginalized communities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you are excited about this opportunity and believe you have skills to contribute to the role, yet your past work experience isn't 100% in alignment with the listed qualifications, please apply anyway. We seek employees from all backgrounds to join our team and encourage them to bring their authentic and best selves to work.

We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. 

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Indy Reads makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use his/her hands to feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required for this position include close vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. 

Compensation

This part-time position pays an hourly rate of $15-17. This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated individual to assume a pivotal role in advancing Indy Reads’ mission. Indy Reads offers a 401(k) and 3% company match to part-time staff and the opportunity to earn a nationally recognized customer service credential. 

Apply 

To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume for the “Bookstore Associate” position on the Indy Reads website.

Applicants need to go to the main menue and choose the "About” tab on the Indy Reads homepage. Then choose the "Our Team” page from the drop-down menu. A link to open positions is at the top of the page, and the role is in the "Immediate job opening" category. Applications received by April 1st, 2026 will be given priority consideration.

Job Tags

Hourly pay, Part time, Apprenticeship, Work experience placement, Work at office, Local area, Immediate start, Weekend work, Afternoon shift

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