Library volunteering opportunities

National charity The Reading Agency has announced that it is working with local authority library services across the UK to create a Youth Innovation Network of librarians who will help generate thousands of new volunteering opportunities in public libraries for young people aged 11-25 years. 

The initiative, which will be delivered by The Reading Agency in partnership with the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) and the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians (ASCEL), is funded by a £127,000 grant from the Cabinet Office’s Social Action Fund. Seventy-four local authorities have already committed to join the Network to share their experience of working with young people with other libraries and to benefit from extra support.

The Reading Agency, which has many years' experience of working with libraries to develop national volunteering programmes, will co-ordinate the Network and provide new training and resources for librarians on how to engage young volunteers and run successful volunteering programmes. Volunteering opportunities may include designing new library services, organising author events, reading with children, handing out books at events like World Book Night, and using library space and computers to tell stories about their community via social media.