Volunteering at the Library
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at your library! We appreciate you and value your time in supporting literacy, educational programs, and in providing cultural experiences. As a volunteer, you can gain professional and personal skills, earn service hours, and help us fulfill our mission to grow smarter communities one person at a time.
Volunteers can:
- Read to children.
- Assist with programs and events.
- Provide support in library departments and special collections.
- Volunteer for the Friends of the Library
How to Volunteer:
- Choose how you’d like to help by finding a volunteer opportunity at your library or a convenient library outreach site.
- Click the Sign Up button and complete the volunteer application.
- You will be asked for two character references with email addresses as part of the application.
- Ages 12 – 17 must have a signed Parental Permission Waiver.
- Ages 18 and over require permission for a background check.
- Once your opportunity is chosen and the application is completed, you will receive a confirmation email. Library Staff will then contact you to set up an in-person interview. Please bring your completed Parental Waiver with you to the interview.
- Library Staff will provide a schedule and on-site training as volunteering begins.
- Be sure to read through the Volunteer Handbook, and then check out our Frequently Asked Questions below for more information about volunteering.
What is the impact of volunteers?
Between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024:
- 734 volunteers gave 10,256 hours providing additional support for libraries, their programs and events
- Volunteers provided 311 hours of Homework Help at four library locations
- Rocket Readers volunteers read over 285 hours either one-on-one or in small groups with children to strengthen literacy skills
- 42 therapy dogs offered judgment-free listening for children to build confidence in reading aloud for a total of 413 hours
- During the summers, 270 teens volunteered 4,462 hours helping guests participate in the Summer Reading program
- Adult volunteers helped 430 hours shelving books, presenting programs, sorting carts, and shareing expertise in our MakerSpaces
Frequently Asked Questions
Once you select your volunteer opportunity, you can expect to hear back from a library staff member within 72 hours to visit over the phone and schedule an in-person interview.
Yes, but we do not accept volunteers with offenses related to drugs, alcohol, weapons, violence, sexual assault, theft, fraud, or indecent exposure. Applicants 18 and older must also successfully pass a criminal background check. Your court-appointed liaison or probation officer will also be contacted in advance to determine if the library is a good fit for you.
Yes! Click here to see the schedule for the next Booksale and sign up.
Yes! You will sign in and out each time you volunteer, and you can log in at any time to see your total number of hours.
You can request a letter or email from your supervising librarian or from the Volunteer Services Office.
Usually 2 – 4 hours a week is our limit, except for special circumstances that are agreed upon in advance.
Please call your supervising library staff member at your location, and if that person is not available, leave a message with another staff member.
Business casual for adults. Clothing should be clean and without holes or tears. Good grooming and personal hygiene are required.
Teen volunteers may wear shorts in addition to the guidelines above, but they must be mid-thigh or longer and not athletic shorts.
All volunteers must wear either the volunteer lanyard or their name badge button when volunteering.
When you create your volunteer profile, you will choose a User ID and set a password. Each time you arrive to volunteer, you will log in to a library computer with your ID and password. When you are finished volunteering, you will log out.
Teen volunteers can gain job training and work experience, skills including self-motivation and initiative, and enjoy camaraderie with like-minded teens.
All volunteers will support and increase the Metropolitan Library System’s ability to provide services to our communities.
Please contact us. We can be reached by filling out this form or by phone at 405-606-3762.
Volunteer Spotlight
“Meeting new people and assisting them was probably my favorite part of it all! It was an amazing experience and I look forward to doing it again next year!" - Akshaya Muthusamy
"A year ago Chumlee and I made one of the best decisions - to help kids come out of their shells through the Children Reading to Dogs Program. It is a wonderful experience everyone should try!" - Jenniffer Vazquez