San José Public LibraryVolunteer
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering at your local library is a great way to:
- Use your talents
- Provide valuable service to the community
- Learn new skills
- Meet great people
- Reduce your fines through service
Featured Opportunity: New Year, New Library!
The brand new Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library, opening in March, needs heroes to improve access to Library resources. There are three volunteer opportunities available with more to come!
Choose Your Volunteer Adventure
Select one of the following opportunities to sign up:
Volunteer Away Your Fines
Do you have library fines? Volunteer them away.
SJ Engage
Explore digital volunteerism and make a big difference (ages 13-24).
Library Services Volunteer
Assist at your local library with a variety of tasks and services.
Partners in Reading
Work with adults to improve their reading and writing skills.
Reading to Children
Read aloud to children one-on-one or in small groups.
Friends of the Library
Join a wonderful team of community organizers that support library programs.
Homework Club Volunteer
Help students achieve academic success at the Library.
ESL Conversation Club Facilitator
Facilitate a welcoming environment to practice English.
Coding5K Program Leader
Help enhance STEAM programming for students in San José.
More Volunteer Opportunities
Contact Us
Sign Up for our Volunteer Services eNewsletter
Jason Pell
Volunteer Services Analyst
1-408-808-2085
Robert Miranda
Volunteer Coordinator
1-408-808-2181
Volunteer News
Introducing Inessa Ismagilova
Inessa Ismagilova volunteers at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library both as a Tech Mentor and as a Russian instructor, with the Conversation Café language learning series.
Joining us in September of 2017, Inessa recently celebrated her one year anniversary as a volunteer for the San José Public Library. In the 112 hours of volunteer service she has accumulated, Inessa has helped a myriad of our customers... read more
Introducing Hiromi Kojima
Hiromi Kojima began volunteering in 2013. For almost five years, she has been a Reader to Children in Japanese as well as performing and telling stories. Japanese speaking families from San José and its satellite towns gather to listen to her tender voice and see her warm smile every Wednesday at West Valley Branch Library. She is very committed and punctual and has friendly and sincere personality.... read more
Introducing Amy Fowler
Amy has been volunteering at the Willow Glen Branch Library for 6 years as the library’s ESL Conversation Club facilitator. In addition to her reliable service every week since 2012, Amy’s friendly demeanor and passion for teaching has helped her earn and retain a faithful group of club members. Ali, who has been a part of the club for 7 months, came to the library to learn English and says the ESL Conversation Club has... read more
Introducing Elizabeth Hughes
Elizabeth (Liz) Hughes is one of Educational Park Library's dedicated Friends of the Library volunteers. Without her weekly volunteer service, which keeps our lobby book sales organized and the sales shelves stocked, our community would miss out on many fantastic adult and children's programs we provide thanks to the financial support of our Friends of the Library organization. We are so lucky to have Elizabeth with... read more
Introducing Leena Vadehra
Leena Vadehra is a very valuable volunteer for Vineland Library. She started reading to children in 2016, and through her years of reading and listening to children she has a steady number of followers, plus new children who get to know her every Thursday afternoon. She is a very gentle and kind lady, and our staff like her a lot.
Submitted by Librarian, Yassaman Jalali from the Vineland Branch Library
A Chat with... read more
Introducing Kiran Srinath
Kiran has volunteered at the Santa Teresa Branch Library since 2014 and has been a part of the Library Services program since October 2015. Kiran's current responsibilities include shelving, shelf-reading, tidying, and assisting librarians with special projects. Kiran has proven to be both extremely dependable in carrying out his duties and very enthusiastic about the library and its mission to provide educational and... read more
Introducing Eros Garcia
Eros is an exemplary teen volunteer who continuously demonstrates why he is an asset during programs at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. He is incredibly dependable, personable, and always eager to help. His ability to communicate with our Spanish speaking library users really made him an asset to the Friday Fun program, where he helps with arts & crafts and serves popcorn and lemonade to... read more
Volunteers of the Year
Every year, each of our 24 branches and units selects a volunteer they want to acknowledge as their Volunteer of the Year. From these nominees, one volunteer is selected for system-wide recognition as San José Public Library’s Volunteer of the Year. As always we recognize the great contributions and efforts of all our winners. Join us in congratulating the 2018 SJPL System Volunteer of the Year — Kathy Boyd ... read more