Volunteer
Ways to Help as a Volunteer
Our volunteers are special! They are parents, college students, teens, retired professionals, church groups and scouts. They are our neighbors and our friends. Library volunteers give their community the priceless gift of time. Below are just some of the ways you can help out as a library volunteer. The minimum age to apply is 13. Opportunities may vary by branch.
Career Online High School Mentor
Mentors are paired up with adults who are enrolled in our Career Online High School program to complete their high school diploma. Activities involve attending orientation, making at least one contact a month with the student, sharing information about library resources that might help the student, and attending graduation.
Early Literacy/Children’s Programming
Volunteers with this assignment help library staff who work primarily with children and families. Activities may include: helping prepare craft supplies; assisting in taking attendance during events or programs; returning items to shelves in the children’s area; and listening to children as they practice reading out loud as a “Reading Buddy”.
ESOL/Bilingual
Volunteers with this assignment will use their fluency in a language other than English to help the library reach out to customers in a variety of ways. Activities may include: greeting customers; helping with outreach events; assisting with library card signups; helping with library programs for ESL speakers of a variety of ages.
General Library Skills
Activities in this assignment may include: accurately shelving materials, placing requested items on hold shelves, and assisting customers with general directions.
Homework Help/Tutoring
Volunteers with this assignment help students to complete assignments in a neat and accurate manner. They may be asked to work individually with students to help with homework assignments or with small groups visiting the library after school. Grade levels vary between K-12 and homework helpers are matched appropriately.
Learning Labs
If you love sewing, robotics, coding, 3D printing, videography, audio recording, and/or graphic design, then come volunteer with the GCPL Learning Labs! Our makerspaces are equipped with a wide variety of creative technologies that help library patrons turn ideas into a reality. If you want to make something, we can make it happen! GCPL’s Learning Labs are located at Centerville, Duluth, Five Forks, Hamilton Mill, Lawrenceville Hooper-Renwick, Lilburn, Norcross, Peachtree Corners, and Suwanee.
Technology
Volunteers in this position create a better experience for customers. Activities may include: copy and printing help; troubleshooting customer projects; basic computer tasks such as adding attachments to emails and navigating websites.
Teen Advisory Council (TAC)
Teen Advisory Council volunteers help library staff who work primarily with teens. Activities may include: planning teen activities, preparing craft supplies or other program materials; attending teen events and assisting in taking attendance during events or programs; assisting in keeping the teen area attractive and helping out with general shelving. Teen Advisory Council members meet monthly. Read more about the Teen Advisory Council.
Volunteer Requirements
- Commit to 40 hours over 6 to 12 months (excludes Community Engagement Ambassadors/Mentors).
- Volunteers 18 and older must complete a background check (provided by the library).
- Follow a set schedule of 2-4 hours per shift.
- Minimum age: 13 (parental permission required).
- GCPS students: Please do not use your school email. Instead, use a personal email (Gmail, Hotmail, etc.) or a parent’s email.
Application Process
- Specify which branch(es) you’re interested in.
- Availability and positions vary by branch.
- Applications remain on file for six months for consideration.
Apply to Be a Volunteer
Fill out the form in the button below to apply to be a volunteer.
If you would like to share your talents with the library in some other way please choose “Other” and tell us about it in the “sharing my talents” section. For questions, please contact https://ask.gwinnettpl.org/.