Volunteer

A quick guide to volunteering

1. Explore current volunteer opportunities:
   1. Volunteer opportunities are posted on boulderlibrary.givepulse.com. Join the page, find resources related to volunteerism, and learn about ways to get involved.
   2. Please check out this Quick Guide for Users and Volunteers – Give Pulse to learn how to manage your volunteer engagements.
   3. If you would like to manage your volunteer engagements on your mobile device, download the Give Pulse mobile app!
2. Sign up or apply for a volunteer opportunity:
   1. Read the volunteer role descriptions and consider if your skills and availability meet the requirements.
   2. Fill out any required application or registration information. Keep an eye out for a follow up call or email from library staff detailing next steps.
   3. Whether you sign up to volunteer at a one-time event or for an ongoing role, please plan to follow through and try your best.
   4. If you must cancel a volunteer commitment, contact [email protected] or update your registration in Give Pulse to let us know as soon as possible.
3. Show up to volunteer:
   1. Check the time and location for your volunteer opportunity.
   2. Arrive on time and follow instructions from library staff. If you must cancel, please update your registration and/or communicate with us as soon as possible.
   3. Follow library rules and fulfill key responsibilities specific to your role.
   4. Make connections, gain experience, share your skills, and have fun!

Volunteer opportunities throughout the year

Providing services and resources to the community would not be possible without the support of new and returning volunteers each year. Learn about one time, seasonal, and ongoing volunteer roles below. Keep an eye out for opportunities to sign up and get involved.

One-time volunteer opportunities:

• Volunteer for several hours at concerts, special story times, film screenings, and activities designed to engage and strengthen the community.
• Assist library staff with set up, greeting the public, running activities, and cleaning up.
• Make connections, visit different library locations, and share your enthusiasm for reading, learning, and exploring new interests.

Seasonal volunteer opportunities:

• Help children foster a love of reading through the Reading Buddies program during fall, spring, or summer sessions.
• Encourage community members of all ages to learn and read during June and July by volunteering for the summer learning program (i.e. Summer of Discovery)
• Host authors from Colorado and around the world at JLF Colorado, an annual international literature festival of books, ideas, stories, and camaraderie in September. JLF Colorado is a sister festival of the world-renowned Jaipur Literature Festival produced by Teamwork Arts hosted at Boulder Public Library.
• Share research skills with students working on projects for National History Day at Research Rendezvous events in December and January.
• Facilitate literacy activities for children and their families at various library locations during Family Play Festival each April.

Ongoing volunteer roles:

• Apply to serve in an ongoing capacity to support programs such as Paper & Spine Used Bookstore, Home Delivery, The Maria Rogers Oral History Program, Drop-in Technology Support, Library Maker Spaces, Youth Services Department, One-on-One tutoring for adult learners. Help adults build literacy skills through One-on-One Tutoring, Conversations in English Groups, and/or High School Test Preparation Classes. 
• Volunteers are recruited as needed. Requirements and key tasks vary depending on the goals of each program and community needs. Background checks may be required.
• Volunteers must complete training, meet core requirements for the program, and commit to volunteering consistently on a regular basis.
• Join our volunteer page to stay informed about when we are recruiting for these roles.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use Give Pulse?

To sign up for a volunteer opportunity, update or cancel a shift, view and add impacts, use this guide. If you need in person technology help, consider attending Drop-in Tech Support offered at the library.

How old do I have to be to volunteer?

To volunteer without a parent or guardian present, volunteers must be 13 years old. We can occasionally work with younger volunteers if they have a parent or guardian who will volunteer alongside them. Some volunteer opportunities require volunteers to be 18 or 21 years old, depending on the tasks they need to complete.

Do library volunteers have a set schedule?

Scheduling is specific to each program and/or one-time event. Some volunteer roles have flexible hours and others require a more consistent schedule.

Is there a minimum time commitment for volunteering?

One-time volunteer opportunities require that volunteers commit to the duration of the shift specified in the sign up. Ongoing volunteer roles usually require a weekly or biweekly volunteer shift for 3-6 months.

What if I have limited availability?

You don’t have to volunteer on a regular basis to make a positive impact! Volunteers are needed to support events and activities in a short-term capacity throughout the year. Examples include helping host film screenings, community discussions, activities, crafts, concerts, and annual literature and literacy festivals.

Additional one-time opportunities are available through The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks and the Parks and Recreation Department. Find more information about these projects here: one-day volunteer opportunities.

Are there any opportunities for groups to volunteer at the library?

Some of our one-time volunteer opportunities can accommodate small groups of 5-15 people. Please consider supporting an annual event such as JLF Colorado in September or Family Play Festival April each year to make a lasting impact over time. We also recommend learning about City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks and Parks and Recreation group projects.

Does the library work with volunteers who need to complete required community service hours?

Yes. Anyone who is interested in being part of the library’s mission is welcome to explore current volunteer opportunities regardless of whether the hours are required by a court, for academic credit, and/or other programs. Please contact [email protected] to inquire where your skills and time are most needed and to discuss what is needed for proof of completion. Please note, we do not create volunteer projects solely for the purpose of providing individuals with opportunities to earn hours. All volunteer opportunities are based upon what the community needs.

Why are background checks required for some volunteer roles? Background checks may be required for roles that regularly interact with children or other vulnerable populations and may also be required for roles that work under minimal supervision. Information from background checks may be considered along with skills, experience, availability, application responses, ability to collaborate effectively with library staff and interact in a helpful manner with members of the public and other factors when selecting and placing volunteers. Our goal is to ensure that library staff and volunteers can positively impact those we hope to serve, especially vulnerable populations. 

Who can I talk to if I have additional questions?

Please contact the Boulder Public Library at 303-441-3100 or [email protected] with additional questions.