Volunteer for the Oakland Public Library!
This page lists current adult volunteer opportunities with OPL and some of our Friends groups. Teen volunteers (ages 13-17) can find more information on the Teen Volunteer page.
Second Start Adult Literacy and Learning
Oakland Public Library's adult literacy program has offered free and confidential learning support for adults since 1984. We train volunteers to help adults reach their goals. The program is currently recruiting for the following roles:
Dedicated Tutor: Meet one-on-one with an adult learner to help them reach their reading, writing, spelling, and/or basic math goals. Volunteer applicants must be willing to meet learners at East Oakland library branches. Minimum time commitment: 1.5 hours/week for 6 months.
Drop-In Tutor: Meet with adult learners who need extra help or who are waiting for a tutor. Help is needed with reading, writing, spelling, and/or basic math at various branches. Minimum time commitment: 1.5 hours/week for 6 months.
Digital Literacy Tutor: Help Second Start learners with computer basics, such as keyboarding, mouse skills, navigating files and programs, email, and searching the Internet. Minimum time commitment: 2 hours/week for 6 months.
Requirements:
• complete Second Start’s tutor training program
• be 18 years of age or older
• speak English well enough to communicate with learners and staff
• possess excellent interpersonal skills and boundaries, including patience, good listening, and communication skills
• understand Second Start’s mission and work
• commit to dependable, weekly service for at least six months
• submit monthly tutoring reports
To apply, please complete the Second Start Volunteer Tutor Application.
Adopt a Spot Volunteers at OPL
The African American Museum and Library at Oakland (659 14th Street): Help with community beautification at special events organized by the Friends-Stewards of African American Museum & Library at Oakland. Visit their website, opens a new window to learn more.
Lakeview Branch Library (550 El Embarcadero): Lakeview Friends host a group workday on the third Saturday of each month from 9:00 - 11:00 am. Volunteers are welcome to drop in and help with garden maintenance and litter clean-up.
Melrose Branch Library (4805 Foothill Blvd.): Join us on the second Saturday of the month to beautify the Melrose Library perimeter and to assist with small gardening projects. For more information, contact Branch Manager Joshua Alperin at 510-535-5623.
Clean-Up at the Main Library
Join the dedicated team of individual volunteers who keep Oakland’s Main Library clean and tidy!
We’re currently recruiting to fill shifts on Friday and Sunday mornings, and on any afternoon/evening. After an orientation session, you can claim one of these spots as your own.
Picking up trash up around the Main Library takes 30-60 minutes each time, and interested volunteers should be able to commit to a specific time once/week for six months.
To learn more or to schedule your training, please complete the Volunteer Application.
Support OPL by volunteering with Library Friends!
Volunteer with the Friends of Elmhurst Library
The Friends of Elmhurst Library (FOEL) are a small but powerful group of volunteers who support OPL’s active branch library at 1427 88th Avenue. For more than two decades, the FOEL have advocated, fundraised, and volunteered to make this neighborhood library better.
Current leaders Allene Warren and Mary Forte invite everyone who loves libraries to consider joining them to support the Elmhurst Branch.
New Friends are asked to attend bi-monthly meetings at the branch and to contribute their time to one of the pressing current needs: communications, leadership, litter walk, and/or garden support. To learn more, or to rsvp for the next meeting, contact Elmhurstfriends@gmail.com.
Friends of the Oakland Tool Lending Library Opportunities
Dec 13, 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., FOTLL’s popular Tool Trolls take on a holiday vibe at Piedmont Rec Department’s "Surf's Up, Santa” event in the Community Center. The Tool Quiz might be expanded to include using the tools and "Top This" an activity encouraging visitors to make simple tops. Santa hats for volunteers and candy canes for all comers.
Dec 14, 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., "Donuts & Dreidels". Another Piedmont Rec Dept event. Dreidel making and timed spinning. Menorah making. Gelt for participants.
Dec 14, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Peralta Elementary School's Markers' Market, (460 63rd St., Oakland). Tool Trolls make their third annual appearance at this well-attended fundraiser run by the school's parent group. Santa hats for FOTLL-ites and candy canes for all comers.
Dec 20: Tool Sale, 10 a.m. - 2-ish p.m., Temescal Branch Library. Sorting, pricing, hobnobbing with tool browsers and buyers. Also for unloading (9:15-ish a.m.) and reloading (2:30-ish p.m.) Tool Sale inventory.
Behind-the-scenes Opportunities: Gather materials for the community events and Junior Carpenters' Club workshops. Cut project pieces. Design new projects. Help recruit volunteers and host sites.
Questions? www.FriendsoftheOaklandTLL@gmail.com
Martin Luther King, Jr. Library Litter Walk
The Friends of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library host a Litter Walk on the second Saturday of each month at 11:00 am.
Please join them for the next one on: Saturday, December 13, 11:00 am - 12:00 noon.
Meet the group outside the library (6833 International Blvd.) for one hour of clean-up work.
This is a fun and impactful volunteer project.
The Friends will provide all supplies. Contact mlkfriends@chimescreek.com for more information.
Volunteer with the Friends of Melrose Library
The Friends of Melrose Library is an informal group of patrons and volunteers who share a common love for the Melrose Branch Library (4805 Foothill Blvd.) For more than 20 years, this dedicated group has supported their neighborhood library and the surrounding community. Current initiatives include a monthly trash clean-up, regular gardening projects, and volunteering at annual library programs such as Summer Lunch at the Library and National Night Out.
The Friends of Melrose are interested in growing their group and would welcome new Friends.
For more information or to sign up to volunteer, please reach out to friendsofmelroselibrary@gmail.com.
Pick up a Weekly Shift at the Bookmark Bookstore!
The Friends of the Oakland Public Library, opens a new window are seeking volunteers support bookstore operations at 933 Broadway in downtown Oakland.
Duties include lifting and moving heavy items such as boxes of books, organizing shelves, sorting donations, and handling sales during open store hours (now open 11:00 am - 5:00 p.m. Sunday through Friday, 11:00 am - 6:00 p.m. Saturday).
Potential volunteers should plan for a regular 3-hour weekly commitment for at least six months. Volunteers must be at least 17 years old.
Please complete the Friends' Bookmark Volunteer Form, opens a new window and one of the store managers will be in touch.
If you have any questions about these volunteer opportunities, please contact Sara DuBois, Coordinator of Grants & Volunteers, at sdubois@oaklandlibrary.org.