Volunteer & Donate

Volunteer Services Icon with Raised Hands

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: Get Kids Ready for Back to School

Volunteer reads a book to two children.

School is almost back in session and the library is a go to place for many young scholars and their families. The San José Public Library is looking for dedicated community members to make a difference for children returning to school this Fall. Do you have 1–3 hours you can devote to volunteering with SJPL once a week? This could make a huge difference in your community.

Get the full details, including what opportunities are available and how to sign up.

Choose Your Volunteer Adventure

Select one of the following opportunities to sign up:

Volunteers wearing masks for Volunteer Away Your Fines take a break and smile for the camera.

Volunteer Away Your Fines

Do you have library fines? Volunteer them away.

A tutor and adult learning study a worksheet together at Partners in Reading.

Adult Literacy Tutor

Work with adults to improve their reading and writing skills.

Teen volunteer straightening up the DVD section at a library branch

Library Services Volunteer

Assist at your local library with a variety of tasks and services.

A Tech Mentor shows a learner how to perform a job search on the computer at one of the library branches.

Tech Mentor

Share your computer skills with others from your community.

Two orderly rows of teensReach volunteers smile for the camera with one precocious teen poses by lying down in front of the first row of teens.

teensReach

Participate in library activities by joining the youth advisory council (ages 13-18).

A friend of the library shares a presentation of all of the good things that the Friends of the Library do for SJPL.

Friends of the Library

Join a wonderful team by assisting with fundraising.

A tutor works with a child on a reading assignment during Homework Club.

Homework Club Volunteer

Foster academic success! Help K-8th grade kids with their homework.

A group of Conversation Club members gather around a table to practice their language skills.

ESL Conversation Club Facilitator

Facilitate a welcoming environment to practice English.

An airplane has written Volunteer in the blue skies while in the foreground, many hands raise to volunteer.

More Opportunites

Discover additional ways you can volunteer.

Contact Us

Headshot of friendly Jason Pell with Consuelo the Goose, a stuffed animal
Jason Pell
Volunteer Services Analyst
1-408-808-2085

Headshot of smiling Robert Miranda
Robert Miranda
Volunteer Coordinator
1-408-808-2181

Volunteer Stories

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 2017 SJPL System Volunteer of the Year — Jaximus Park from the... read more

SJPL Foundation

San Jose Public Library Foundation icon with an ornate tree blossoming from a golden valley.

Your monetary donation helps to support collections, technology and programs throughout San José's public libraries.

Donate Your Materials

Friends of the San José Public Libraries accept gently used books and media at any library location.

Current Volunteers
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