Volunteering in our libraries

Check out the opportunities to support your local library.

Do you want to volunteer? Support your neighbourhood, meet new people, share your skills?

In return if you volunteer for 100 hours over a 12 month period you can apply for a Value You card which gives you 10% or more discount at a range of shops. For more information, visit the Value You website.

If you are interested in volunteering for any of these posts please contact your local library or email: libraries@lbhf.gov.uk.

Here are our current opportunities.

Children and young people’s activity helper

We are looking for volunteers to help library staff plan and deliver their many events, activities and groups for children and young people.
Activities and groups include:

  • chess club
  • games club (board games)
  • reading support for children aged 5-10 years
  • coding
  • craft groups
  • half term events
  • regular story and baby rhyme time events
  • and the regular homework clubs.

The library is keen for as many families to get involved as possible, and so are looking for volunteers who can proactively encourage library visitors to participate.

Conversation group facilitator

Do you enjoy meeting and chatting with people? We host conversation groups to help adults, who have English as their second language, to improve their English language skills in a welcoming place.
In particular you will:

  • attend each session and facilitate the conversation each week which could be on a theme but doesn’t have to be
  • help keep attendance numbers and promote the group.

It will be great experience to facilitate a group and see how people’s language skills improve.

Knit and natter facilitator

Do you love knitting? Would you like to volunteer and share your skills with others? Why not start a knitting group at the library?

In particular you will:

  • attend sessions on a regular basis and co-ordinate the sessions
  • share your knitting skills with others
  • help record attendance numbers and promote the sessions.

Library ambassador

Are you aged 13-19 years? Do you have an interest that you think other children and young people might like to share? Would you like to run regular sessions in a library space to share your interest with others? Or perhaps you would like to support some of the activities libraries run for children and young people e,g. coding, chess, craft, Lego, Summer Reading Challenge or reading support.

In particular you will:

  • attend sessions on a regular basis either running the session or supporting the session
  • help record attendance numbers and promote the sessions.

This post will give you some great experience for university applications or to enter employment.

Library learning champion

A 10-week programme working up to 14 hours per week in one or two libraries in Hammersmith & Fulham to develop new skills and gain work experience. Time will be allocated to allow you to complete the Learn My Way online computer course.

This post is available to residents of Hammersmith & Fulham.

Online assistant

Can you help the library's computer users to use their computers more effectively? We are running sessions in our libraries to help people resolve particular computer issues they might have. They can book one hour slots to resolve issues such as:

  • working with attachments
  • organising their files
  • working with photographs
  • shopping/selling online
  • using different applications like eBay or Skype.

You will need basic knowledge of computer applications to be able to resolve these queries. If they need further support, you will be able to signpost them to other volunteers or other borough services.

Reading Friends group facilitator

Do you enjoy meeting and chatting with people? Reading Friends is about bringing people together and sparking conversation through reading or shared stories. The volunteer facilitator will:

  • Lead group reading activities and facilitate conversation using reading materials as a basis for discussion.
  • Make practical arrangements to identify and select suitable materials (books, newspapers, handling objects etc.) which focus on the groups’ interests.
  • Prepare other resources as necessary (chairs, tea, coffee etc.) in advance of each session.
  • Be aware of and sensitive to the needs of those in the group.
  • Ensure everyone is able to contribute to the session and feels welcomed and involved.
  • Contribute to the evaluation of the project as required.
  • Feedback any issues or concerns to the Project Coordinator.
  • Help keep attendance numbers and promote the group.

The facilitator will gain great experience to facilitate a group and see how people’s confidence and social connection grows.

Reading group facilitator

Do you enjoy sharing your enjoyment of reading and books? The libraries have reading groups for adults that read the same book each month and come together to discuss.
In particular you will:

  • co-ordinate the books that the group will read each month and liaise with library staff to ensure enough copies are available for members
  • attend each session and facilitate the conversation
  • keep records of attendance and help recruit new members.

You should have a great time bringing the group together and sharing your love of reading.

Shared reading group facilitator

Do you love books? Facilitators are required to support our shared reading groups that meet on a weekly basis to share stories, poems, novels and plays as well as their own thoughts, ideas and feelings - all over a cup of tea and biscuits.

In particular you will:

  • plan and deliver a weekly reading group, reading aloud with others and enabling the group members to connect to the literature and each other
  • present a wide range of reading material, including poetry, in order to generate free-flowing conversations
  • keep records of attendance, help recruit new group members, and provide information for project reports.

You should have a fascinating and rewarding time seeing how your group develops individually and as a whole. This role is available for those aged 18 and over who live, work or study in Hammersmith and Fulham.

Summer Reading Challenge

The Summer Reading Challenge is a national reading initiative which encourages children to read for fun over the summer holidays.

The combination of fun, freedom, and creativity impacts significantly on children’s reading levels and confidence. Taking part in the challenge helps prevent the ‘summer reading dip’ which can occur when children are at home over the long summer break and, without reading opportunities, lose confidence in their reading.

We are looking for volunteers to help deliver the Summer Reading Challenge in our libraries. Young people (14 to 25 year olds) are especially welcome to apply to volunteer.

Visit the Summer Reading Challenge website

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