Volunteer At NYPL

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES

SHELF HELP 
Do you love to organize, alphabetize and put things in order?
Many locations need assistance with shelving books.

Please email volunteer@nypl.org with shelf help in the subject line.

Manhattan: Cathedral, Jefferson Market, Morningside Heights, New Amsterdam, Ottendorfer, Roosevelt Island, Seward Park, St. Agnes.

Bronx: Morris Park

Love Romance Novels or Movies? Mid-Manhattan Library needs help organizing these two collections.

SPANISH TRANSLATOR
The New York Public Library is seeking volunteers who speak Spanish fluently to help translate for the instructor who is offering digital literacy classes in the Upper Manhattan area. The libraries in need of your help include:
The  Aguilar Library 174 East 110th Street, (every 1st, 3rd Monday and 4th Tuesday of each month), 11:30am to 1:30pm (Monday); 4:45pm-5:45pm (Tuesday).
The Fort Washington Library 535 West 179th Street (Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month), 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
The Hamilton Grange Library 503 West 145th Street (Every Friday of each month), 2:00pm to 4:00pm or 2:30pm to 4:30pm
The Inwood Library 4790 Broadway (Every Friday of each month), 10:00am to 12:00pm.

If interested in volunteering, please contact: Theodora Telfort, Community Outreach and Technology Training Associate, or Maura Muller, Volunteer Manager. Email: theodoratelfort@nypl.org or mauramuller@nypl.org.

WORK WITH TEENS
Our Inwood Library needs an adult monitor for its Teen Lounge, afternoons from 3:30pm to 5pm. This is a great opportunity for college students interested in working with youth. Volunteer just one afternoon a week. Please email volunteer@nypl.org with Inwood in your subject line.

Our Woodstock Library needs an adult to assist in its Homework Lounge on Mondays or Wednesdays from 3pm to 4pm. Please email volunteer@nypl.org with Woodstock in the subject line.

ARE YOU MECHANICALLY INCLINED?
Our Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library needs handy volunteers to assist in repairing, cleaning and caring for our digital and cassette audio machines. If you love to tinker or repair small electronics or if you know someone who might be good at this, have them contact the Volunteer Office. They can email volunteer@nypl.org with audio machine in the subject line.

DOCENTS NEEDED
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is seeking volunteers during mid week mornings to lead tours of its library and exhibitions.  Training provided.  If you enjoy working with teachers and school groups, please send your resume to volunteer@nypl.org with Schomburg in the subject line. 
 

LANGUAGE and LITERACY
Our St. Agnes Library needs volunteers who speak either Spanish or Chinese to help teach basic computer classes on Saturday afternoons. If you enjoy explaining the basics of computering and speak any of the above languages, please email volunteer@nypl.org with the language you speak in the subject line. 

COMPUTER HELP
The Tompkins Square location in Manhattan needs volunteers to act as computer tutors assisting adult patrons. Please email volunteer@ nypl.org with computer tutor in subject line.

INFORMATION DESK VOLUNTEERS - STEPHEN A. SCHWARZMAN BUILDING, FIFTH AVENUE AND 42 STREET
Bilingual volunteers needed to assist visitors in this very busy library, directing people to classes, exhibitions, research rooms, and tours.   Any language in addition to English would be helpful, especially  Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese or Spanish.  Each volunteer would work one shift each week, for three and a half hours, Monday through Sunday during opening hours.  Please email volunteer@nypl.org with info desk in the subject line and include a completed application.  

VOLUNTEER ONLINE: PARTICIPATORY WEB PROJECTS
 Collaborate with NYPL to build the library of the future!  We're doing this with the help of volunteers.  We're exploring new and fun ways of improving access to rare and unique collections online. These are projects you can work on anytime, anywhere with an internet connection. We have two active initiatives now. More are on the way!

What's on the Menu?- Help transcribe our famous restaurant menu collection to make it more searchable.

Map Warper - Help transform historical street maps into an interactive digital atlas.

Getting Involved

If you are interested in any of the above please fill out an application and mail to: New York Public Library, Volunteer Office, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, 476 Fifth Avenue, room 67 - VOL, New York, NY 10018.

Please do not apply for a library that is not mentioned in any of the current opportunities.  Please do not apply if you are unable to make a once a week commitment for at least six months.

Teens wanting to volunteer or their parents may enjoy reading the following article, "Kids and Community Service".

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to all. If your qualifications match with our current needs, we will contact you.