Volunteering
From helping someone find the perfect read to bringing stories to life, supporting someone to use a computer to delivering activities for families, helping someone find trusted information to hosting groups to bring people together. Libraries are at the heart of their communities. They play a vital role connecting people, combatting loneliness, supporting people's health and wellbeing and creating a safe and inspiring space for all.
Regular activity volunteering
We have volunteering opportunities at the following libraries: Alvaston, Mickleover, Normanton, Riverside, Derby Local Studies and Family History Library, and the Home Library Service.
If you would like to volunteer with us please fill in the application form below. We have a range of roles available and we would love to hear from you.
Our volunteering opportunities are:
- Adult Reader Events volunteer
- Adult Reading Support volunteer
- Book Club volunteer
- Code Club volunteer
- Coffee Morning volunteer
- Derby Local Studies Library volunteer (project-based)
- General Library volunteer
- Home Library Service volunteer
- Homework Help volunteer
- Job Club volunteer
- Lego Club volunteer
- Normanton Library Theatre volunteer
- Reading Project volunteer
- Rhymetime volunteer
- Storytime volunteer
- Summer Reading Challenge volunteer
Community Library volunteering
We are looking for volunteers across Derby Community Libraries. Every day is different, and you can make a vital difference. Can you give a warm welcome, support someone in a new space, guide someone through using a computer, help people find the right book, share the magic of stories with families and children, host groups, share your ideas, bring your enthusiasm? If you are a library supporter we want to hear from you.
What skills do I need?
- Basic computer skills - you may be helping someone with email, showing someone how to use a computer and the internet, and placing holds on books using the library catalogue
- Interpersonal skills - you will be communicating and supporting a diverse range of library members, including families, and volunteering as part of a team supported by library staff
- Enthusiasm - you will share a love of books, and enthusiasm for everything a library has to offer, you will encourage people to join the library, help them make the most of their membership, signpost people to activities, and promote national initiatives such as the annual Summer Reading Challenge
- Basic literacy and maths skills - you will put library book stock in order, help people explore the library book shelves, handle cash and use the library till
- Organisation skills - you may be unlocking and locking up of the library building and setting/un-setting the intruder alarm
Where can I volunteer?
We are looking for volunteers across Derby Community Libraries
- Allenton Library
- Allestree Library
- Blagreaves Library
- Chellaston Library
- Derwent Library
- Mackworth Library
- The Phillip Whitehead Memorial Library, Chaddesden Park
- Sinfin Library
- Spondon Library
- Springwood Library
How much time do I need to commit?
We realise that people have various commitments but what we do ask is that you commit to either a morning or an afternoon per week (approx. 3 and a half hours)
Why might I want to volunteer?
Develop your CV, show off your skills, meet people, support your community, make a difference. Full training will be given, you will be well supported and will be joining a friendly and welcoming volunteer team supported by library staff. Contact libraries@derby.gov.uk so we can send you more information. We look forward to meeting you.
What training will I get?
Library training includes how to organise the book stock with library classification systems, how to create eye catching displays, how to use related software and customer care