Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities listed in order of need.

Customer Service Assistant

Assist customers as needed. This includes helping customers at the self check machines, logging on computers, etc.

Required skills: Excellent customer service skills, computer experience.   Patience and a professional attitude.

Adopt-a-shelf assistant

Are you a stickler for neatness? Then, we need your help! Maintain order and appearance of assigned section of shelving. Identify books belonging to other branches and returns them to Circulation for rerouting. Read spine labels and re-shelves books that are not in proper order. Shift books as necessary to assure easy access. Remove bookmarks, paper, and litter from books and shelves.

Required skills: Organizational skills, familiarity with Dewey and knowledge of alpha/numeric order.

Length of Commitment: Three (3) months

Shelver

Use your organizational skills at the library. The library relies on its volunteers to assist with sorting and shelving books and other library material. Organize shelves, periodicals, tables and displays. Ensure proper placement of books or inspect tapes. Clean and repair books as necessary.

Required skills: Organizational skills, familiarity with Dewey and knowledge of alpha/numeric order.

Volunteer Instructors

ESL Instruction - Share your knowledge of the English language by teaching English to students who know little or no English. Requires a commitment of at least 15 weeks. Two training sessions are held throughout the year. Once volunteer instructors are trained, they are paired up with an instructor who has experience teaching the program. Materials are provided to the volunteer at no cost. Lessons are then put together by the instructors prior to class. Classes meet twice a week for an hour and a half each meeting. A few morning classes are scheduled, but the majority of our classes are in the afternoon and early evening.For more information, click here.

Special Education Instructors – Teach reading to learning disabled adults and provide one-to-one assistance as needed. Training sessions are held throughout the year. Requires a commitment of at least 5 months.
Classes are held January – May and August – December.

Computer Instruction – Share your love of the computer by teaching students how to use computer software, find internet sites, and how to use the JPL online catalog in a classroom setting.

Required skills:Customer Service skills, presentation and teaching skills, patience, and a desire to work with others. Training will be provided. 

Assistant in Children’s Area

Discover your creative side. Come help us prepare items for craft projects and assemble accessories and props for story times. Assist with displays. Register children for programs. Provide specific service to the librarians during programs. Provide assistance in maintaining appearance of shelves.

Required skills:   Ability to work with children, ability to follow instructions, and customer service skills.  

Assistant in Teen Area

Feel like a teen again. The Teen area of the Main Library is looking for volunteers to assist in preparation for programs including craft project preparation, set-up, and break down. Provide specific service to professional staff during programs. Assist with displays. Provide assistance in maintenance and appearance of shelves.

Required skills:   Ability to work with teens, ability to follow instructions, customer service skills.

Program Events Assistant

Get a free backstage pass to a library program. Assist Library personnel with preparing for library programs that are held at the library and other locations. Also, assist during program by passing out brochures/information/handouts, assisting people attending the program with questions, and taking photos of the event.

Required skills: Customer Service skills, patience, and a desire to help and work with others, knowledge of audio visual equipment a plus.

Consumer Advocate Aide

Every great library needs a computer whiz. Answer general questions and assist with basic functions of the computer. Assist customers with locating websites for writing resumes and setting up business plans as well as library materials on job hunting, interviewing, and resume writing. Provide assistance in locating online applications for obtaining food stamps, welfare, and affordable health care. May provide assistance using the JPL catalog.

Required skills: Customer service skills, computer and Internet experience. Patience and professional attitude.

Reserves Notification Assistant

Make a customer's day. Assist with processing items that have been reserved by customers. Notifies customers their reserve items have arrived.

Required skills:   Customer service skills, legible handwriting, attention to detail and knowledge of alpha/numeric order.

Greeter

If you love meeting and talking with people then the Library is looking for you. Greet customers at the door. Provide assistance and direction to customers.

Required skills: Excellent customer service skills.

Materials Processing Assistant

Get a look at the library from behind the scenes. Label and de-label materials. Stamp books. Process new and withdrawn materials. Assist with daily book drops. Assist in packing and unpacking of delivery reserves. Copy materials, organize and file City of Jacksonville documents.

Required skills: Familiarity with Dewey, clerical/secretarial skills, independent worker, functions well under limited supervision, and attention to detail.

Reference Desk Work

Attention Librarians, volunteers are needed to answer reference inquiries, search on-line databases and print resources as required to assist customers with research. Volunteers also index and organize materials for easy use by the public. MLS degree is required.

Required skills:  MLS degree, knowledge of library resource materials and reference resources and excellent customer service skills.

Reading/Homework Coach

Read with and to children. Assist with homework. Provide academic support at the library to elementary aged children.

Required skills: Comfort and ease with children, patience, dependability, general reading, writing and math skills.  

Neighborhood Branch Assistant

Learn all about the library by volunteering as a Neighborhood Branch Assistant. Sort and shelve books and other library materials. Organize shelves, tables and displays. Ensure proper placement of books. Clean and repair books as necessary. Answer general questions and assist with basic functions of the computer. Provide assistance in locating website and using software. Prepare items for craft projects and assemble accessories and props for story times. Register children for programs. Provide assistance during programs. Read with and to children. Assist with homework. Provide academic support at the library to elementary aged children.
Required skills: Organizational skills, familiarity with Dewey, knowledge of alpha/numeric order, customer service skills, computer and Internet experience, patience and professional attitude, ability to work with children, ability to follow instructions. dependability, general reading, writing and math skills.

Gift Processing Assistant

Come find out what happens to those books that are donated to the library. Assist with sorting through books that have been donated to the branch. Process books for collection to be shelved and box up books for the book sale. Available at various locations.

Required skills: Organizational skills

File Checker

Review subject vertical files to ensure files are in proper order and generate a list of files that contain excessive quantities of information materials. Review biographical vertical files to ensure files are in proper order and compile a list of each persons name and number of information materials contained in each file.  

Required skills: Ability to write, clerical/secretarial skills, independent worker, functions well under light supervision and attention to detail.

Office Assistant

Gain valuable on the job training and experience by helping the library with general office duties such as, answering and making calls, filing, making copies, and data input.

Required skills: Clerical/secretarial skills, excellent customer service skills, computer skills, good organizational skills, knowledge of other languages a plus.