Volunteering at the Library

If you want to benefit your community in a meaningful way, volunteering at your local library is an excellent way to support the library and make a difference in your neighbors’ and friends’ lives. When you think about all that a library does for a community, it can be overwhelming. From providing job-seeking assistance to computer and technology help to story times for children, libraries have a lot going on. Every little bit can make a difference.

Each library branch has a specific need and a way you can help. During Summer Reading, we have many programs for both kids and adults. Throughout the year, there are projects, display creation, shelving, computer assistance, creating resumes, and the list goes on. St. Helena Library has volunteers who help with the weekly Chess Club and have had experienced folks work with the Makerspace and 3D printing classes, as well as creating displays for the library. Your experience and expertise can always benefit the community, and a couple of hours a week can provide more help to your local branch than you can imagine.

Some branches have Teen Advisory Boards. These teens are a valuable source of ideas and liveliness to help develop library programs, assist with programs, create displays, and decorate. It’s a great way for these teens to meet new people and contribute to the community. They gain confidence and a sense of responsibility for their library.

We also encourage people to volunteer with the Friends of the Library. They are a support system for the library, providing funds for programs and materials. They manage book sales and the Books Sandwiched In series. Friends volunteers also sort book donations at the branches and maintain bookstores across the system.

To become a volunteer, all you need to do is go to your local library and get a volunteer application. Adults do have to complete a background check through Beaufort County, but once that comes back, you can get started.

If you are interested in learning more about getting involved as a volunteer, there are some books available in SCLENDS that you can place on hold, such as:

• Chicken Soup for the Soul: Volunteering and Giving Back

Hoopla has many eBook titles that you can access through your Hoopla account, such as:

• Volunteer

• The Volunteer Management Handbook

• The 100 Best Volunteer Vacations to Enrich Your Life

• I Can Volunteer

Each branch of the Beaufort County Library system has different needs, such as storytime, shelving, or special projects and programs, so contact one of our libraries to see where you can give your valuable time and energy to support us. Or contact the Friends of the Library to see how you can help. We love our volunteers and appreciate everything they do to keep us going and make our libraries the wonderful places they are.