Volunteer Program

The Public Library of Brookline's Volunteer Program has a long history of service. Volunteers have come to us for many reasons, including:

  • Love of the Library
  • To help a good cause
  • To gain work experience
  • Required community service
  • Quiet atmosphere
  • To get out of the house

They have helped us print weekly book lists, keep our shelves in good order, cover books, process interlibrary loan requests, compile statistics, and in general maintain a high level of service. While volunteers cannot be expected to replace full time staff, there are many tasks that simply would not get done without them.

Some people volunteer in the hope of easing into a paid position. This is probably not a good reason to become a volunteer in the Public Library of Brookline. While volunteers have been given part-time jobs in the past, it happens extremely rarely, perhaps twice in the past 10 years. If you need a paid position, you should apply for one. If the library has any available, they will be posted on the Brookline Human Resources page. If your ultimate goal is paid work, you should only take a volunteer position in the Library if you feel that it will give you some job experience that will make you more attractive to a prospective employer. The Volunteer Coordinator is always happy to write letters of recommendation for a long-term volunteer based on a realistic assessment of his or her work.

To become a volunteer:

Fill out the Application Form

Please look over the list of volunteer positions currently available. If any of them looks interesting and you are willing to make a commitment to the library of at least six months ("special projects" may require a shorter commitment period), please drop by during the posted hours to talk to the Volunteer Coordinator and fill out an application. You will be asked to indicate the total number of hours per week and the times you would like to work. Most volunteers work only two hours one day per week, but some work two or three hours every day. We do ask that you keep your hours as regular as possible, call in sick when you cannot make it, and provide advance notice of vacations.

Interview

If you appear to meet the job requirements, your application will be given to a Staff Supervisor who will contact you soon to set up an interview. The interview may include a simple library skills test, depending on the nature of the position.

Training

When you become a volunteer, you will be assigned a Staff Supervisor, who will provide proper training and regular reviews. Because of staffing considerations, it will probably be necessary to arrange training on a weekday, although we try to accommodate your schedule as much as possible.

Thank you for your interest in the Volunteer Program. We hope you will find your volunteer experience at the Library a pleasant and rewarding one.