Come join in the fun! If you are interested in any of the volunteer opportunities listed below or are looking for a group volunteer project, please contact us or call the Library’s Support Programs & Volunteer Resources Office at 317-275-4046.
Volunteers assist in a variety of ways including pulling materials from the shelves, maintaining special collections and/or periodical sections, and assisting with special projects or displays, to name a few. The volunteer time commitment can be as little as two (2) hours a week.
Current opportunities:
Haughville
Shifts on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday mornings
Locations with weekday shifts:
Central Library
College Avenue
East 38th Street
Southport
West Indianapolis
Certain branches need volunteer assistance with programs, projects, and special events. The volunteer time commitment depends upon the activity.
Current opportunities:
Central Library Family Game Night
Shift on Mondays 4:45 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Central Library Multimedia Workshop (robots, virtual reality, coding, and more) in the Learning Curve
Shifts on Mondays- Saturdays 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Central Library Programming Department Support
Clerical work, light data entry, filing, and program support
Shift available Monday-Friday for 4 hours between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Central Library Summer Reading Program Support
Help the programming department at Central Library with the behind the scenes logistics of prize distribution or assist a branch with reader registration and patron prize selection. This is a perfect summer activity for teens! More volunteer locations coming soon.
Shifts available June 1- August 1
East 38th Street Knit One, Crochet Too Program Support
Form a mentoring relationship with teens while teaching them to knit or crochet over 15 weeks.
Shifts on Saturdays from 3:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. on 4/18, 5/2, 5/16, 6/13, 7/11, 8/1, 8/15, 9/5, 9/19, 10/3, 10/17, 11/7, 11/21, 12/5, 12/19
Haughville Free Meal Service Support
Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Haughville Seed Library Curator
Master Gardeners and gardening enthusiasts are needed to support the expanding Seed Library.
Shift available 1-2 times a week for 2-4 hours beginning in March.
Indianapolis Public Library Foundation Administrative Support
Experience needed. Flexible Shifts Monday- Friday during business hours
Indianapolis Special Collections Room (ISCR) for history lovers and researchers
Tuesday and Thursday
Outreach, Library Services Center
Shifts one time a week for 2-4 hours
East 38th Street, Michigan Road, Nora, and Pike Branches Teen Advisory (Teen volunteers Only)
As scheduled
The Library is always on the lookout for outgoing volunteers to help greet and assist the public who attend special Library programs. Volunteers who assist with special programs are utilized on an “on call” basis depending on the need for volunteer assistance. Most special programs are held in the evening or on weekends.
Current opportunities:
Reach Out and Read IN, Central Library, April 25
Shifts from 8:30 a.m. to Noon and 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Reading for enjoyment is fun! Assist staff, provide author support and help with activity stations at Reach Out and Read IN, a day of family fun promoting literacy. Volunteer groups are welcome!
Indy Ultimate Marathon, Central Library is a stop! Saturday, July 25, 8:00 a.m. to Noon. Help runners with the planned activity.
Indy Library Store is looking for book sale volunteers! Volunteers donate their time, usually once a week, on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday morning, or Thursday afternoon to process and shelve books in preparation for public and online sales. The tasks involve lifting, standing, and walking throughout the store. Volunteers can choose to only work the actual sales, which occur five times a year.
Indy Library Store is located at 2450 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46208 in the Library Services Center.
Current opportunities:
Shifts on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday from 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Thursday from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sale Support during the 5 sales each year
Book Sale Schedule
Library branches engage volunteers to help our public computer patrons with basic computer tasks such as printing, saving information to a flash drive, creating an email account, and other general computer functions. (Adult volunteers only, please.)
Current opportunities:
Eagle
Shifts Monday-Friday later afternoon/evening and Saturday from Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Garfield Park
Shifts on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday afternoons and evenings
Haughville
Shifts on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday afternoons
Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Locations with flexible shifts:
East 38th Street
West Indianapolis
We welcome volunteer groups to engage with the Library in a variety of ways, including sprucing up a branch, conducting a book/supply drive, preparing the Indy Library Store for the next sale, and during days of service. Contact us and let us know how we can help you design a project for your team.
Current opportunities:
Indy Library Store
Seed Library Preparation, Glendale Branch, Flexible dates but must be completed by March 20 for planting season. Up to 40 volunteers to package seeds to be distributed at 10 library branches.
Tree Planting, Martindale-Brightwood Branch, April 14 from 4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.
Work with IndyPL partner, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, to plant 39 trees at the new Martindale-Brightwood Branch at 2434 N. Sherman Drive. Make a lasting mark in our community! Sign up here.
Community Clean-up Day, East 38th Street Branch and surrounding neighborhood, Spring: April 18, 8:45 a.m. to Noon and Fall: September 12, 8:45 a.m. to Noon. Up to 30 volunteers.
Circulate: Night at the Library; a Indianapolis Public Library Foundation fundraiser, Central Library, April 18. Shifts available in the afternoon (4 volunteers) and from 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. (8 volunteers). Afternoon volunteers needed to assist with set-up, especially of a mini-golf course (lifting, bending, carrying pieces) for 3 hours. Evening volunteers needed to help with registration, silent auction, and the mini-golf area.
Reach Out and Read IN, Central Library, April 25 Shifts from 8:30 a.m. to Noon and 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Reading for enjoyment is fun! Assist staff, provide author support and help with activity stations at Reach Out and Read IN, a day of family fun promoting literacy. Volunteer groups are welcome! Up to 20 volunteers.
Spring Planting, East 38th Street Branch, Flexible date and time. Team of up to 15 volunteers.
Collection Preservation, Central Library, Indianapolis Special Collections Room (ISCR), June, flexible date & time. Team of up to 15 volunteers.
Indy Ultimate Marathon, Central Library is a stop! Saturday, July 25, 8:00a to Noon. Help runners with the planned activity. 6-10 volunteers.
The Library Express Program utilizes volunteers to select and deliver Library materials for patrons who are homebound. The volunteer time commitment averages two to four (2 to 4) hours a month. Library Express volunteers are matched to one patron for whom the volunteer selects and delivers materials to the patron’s home. Volunteers provide this service with their personal vehicle and must successfully complete the volunteer screening process.
Many companies in our community have a matching gift program. Sometimes that includes volunteer time. Check with your employer to find out if you qualify for an employer matching program. For additional information about matching gifts, please contact The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation.
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