Volunteer At NYPL

Volunteers repairing audio machinesKinds of Opportunities

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.

SPANISH TRANSLATOR

The New York Public Library is seeking volunteers who fluently speak Spanish to help and to translate for instructor 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.
The Inwood Library 4790 Broadway (Every Friday of each month), 10:00am to 12:00pm.

If interested in volunteering for the remainder of the FALL 2012 term or upcoming SPRING 2013 term, 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 their 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 their Homework Lounge on Mondays or Wednesdays from 3pm to 4pm. Please email volunteer@nypl.org with Woodstock in the subject line.

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 location in subject line.

Manhattan: Cathedral, Epiphany, 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.

The following locations will need help with an inventrory project beginning in January. A once a week commitment for a minimum of 6 months is required. Library students are encouraged to apply. Morningside Heights and Mulberry locations.

LANGUAGE and LITERACY
Our St. Agnes Library needs volunteers who speak either Russian, 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 contact us at the address below. Please email volunteer@nypl.org with the language you speak in the subject line. 

COMPUTER HELP
At the Bloomingdale and Tompkins Square  locations in Manhattan volunteers are needed to act as computer tutors, assisting patrons.Please email volunteer@ nypl.org with computer tutor in subject line.

CHESS CLUB INSTRUCTOR
A volunteer is sought to teach chess at our Chatham Square location. Please email volunteer@nypl.org with chess in your subject line.

Volunteer Online: Participatory Web Projects

Collaborate with NYPL to build the library of the future! We're exploring new and fun ways of improving access to rare and unique collections online. And we're doing this with the help of volunteers. 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 currently listed here. 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.