Volunteering with Cheshire East Libraries

Interested in volunteering with Cheshire East Libraries?

If you are interested in any of the opportunities below, speak to a member of staff at your library, or fill in a volunteering application form (MS Word, 56KB) and return it to your nearest Cheshire East Library.

To find out if your local library is looking for volunteers, or for further details about any of the roles, please contact them directly. Volunteer roles are open to people aged over 16 years (over 13 for summer reading challenge volunteers).

Volunteers will be selected through a short, informal interview. Induction sessions will be held with successful applicants and training will be provided as necessary.

There are a number of volunteering opportunities within the Library Service:

1. Activity and Event volunteer

If you are interested in libraries and enjoy books and reading, and meeting people, this role provides an opportunity to gain experience of working with a variety of people in a customer service capacity.

The role involves:

• helping with author talks, preparing the room, meeting and greeting customers, collecting tickets, and selling merchandise if required
• assisting with craft events, preparing the room, setting out materials, assisting customers with the craft
• serving refreshments at coffee mornings and other social activities, clearing up and washing up
• liaising with library staff regarding health and safety and housekeeping requirements
• undertaking any necessary training

Activities and events vary by library, and take place on various dates and times. You would be required to commit to approximately three hours per session.

You must be interested in promoting reading and learning, and have good communication skills and a friendly non-judgemental manner. If you can communicate with people of all abilities, and work alongside library staff and other volunteers, this could be the role for you.

2. Coding Club volunteer

Would you like to inspire 9-12 year olds to get excited about computer science and digital making? This role offers the opportunity to gain experience by running Code Clubs in a library setting.

Online training will be provided and a DBS check is required, which will be funded by the Service.

The role involves:

• preparing for Code Club sessions each week, which may include organising resources and completing class projects in advance
• delivering the session each week as part of a team of volunteers
• liaising with library staff regarding health and safety and housekeeping

Code Club sessions run for two hours each week. Ideally, you will be able to commit for at least one school term (approximately 12 weeks).

If you are aged 16 or over and computer literate, with a willingness to learn and be challenged, this could be the role for you. You must be able to remain calm under pressure, have an open non-judgemental manner. We're looking for a good team worker, who is well organised and can communicate with children of all abilities. You will be responsible for conducting a session as part of a team of 2-3 volunteers. Coding experience and knowledge of Scratch/Python and HTML desirable.

3. Home Library Service volunteer

Are you interested in libraries, books and reading? Do you enjoy meeting people? Would you like to support those who are ill or elderly and cannot get to a library, by delivering books and other library materials direct to their door? This role is an opportunity to gain experience of working with the general public in a customer service capacity.

You will maintain a regular schedule of visits as agreed with the client. Expenses from the library to the client's home will be reimbursed.

The role involves:

• selecting appropriate books and audiobooks from library shelves, liaising with library staff
• issuing the items to a library card
• delivering the items to the person in their own home
• liaising with customers to develop an understanding of their reading tastes and share an enthusiasm for books and reading

If you are interested in promoting reading and learning, flexible, and have good communication skills and a friendly outgoing manner, this could be the role for you. You will need to be able to carry light items, such as a bag of books. A full driving licence and appropriate MOT, road tax and motor insurance are required. 

4. Digital Champion/IT Buddy volunteer

Are you interested in libraries, new technology, books and reading? Do you enjoy meeting and helping people? Would you like to show people the benefits of getting online and help them with new technology? The role provides an opportunity to gain experience of working with the general public in a customer service capacity.

The role involves:

• providing help and support for library customers in using computers and the internet, usually on a one-to-one basis
• promoting the library's online services, such as e-books
• assisting with the ICT learning events, such as Get Online Week
• providing help and support for people to manage their own learning, using online modules from Learn My Way

Face-to-face sessions last for one hour. Days and times vary by library.

If you are enthusiastic about technology and interested in promoting reading and learning this could be the role for you. You will need good IT skills, and good communication and listening skills. We are looking for someone who is patient and flexible, with a good sense of humour, who can commit time on a regular basis.

5. Local or Family History volunteer

Do you have an interest in family or local history? This role provides the opportunity to gain experience of working with the general public in a customer service capacity.

The role involves:

• providing help and support for library customers by signposting them to print and online resources that will help with their research
• promoting the library's online services, such as Find my Past and Ancestry

Sessions last for one hour and may be one-to-one or group sessions. There will also be some preparation time involved.

If you have a passion and enthusiasm for local or family history, and some knowledge of relevant resources, this could be the role for you. We're looking for someone with good IT skills, and good communication and listening skills, who is patient and flexible, with a good sense of humour. You will need to be able to commit time on a regular basis.

6. Reading Group volunteer

Are you interested in libraries, books and reading? Do you also enjoy sharing and talking about books? This role provides an opportunity to gain experience of working with the general public, by leading a small reading group in the library on a regular basis.

The role involves:

• assisting in the selection of reading material for each session, liaising with library staff
• leading the discussion, making sure everyone has a chance to speak
• preparing any necessary refreshments
• clearing away at the end of the session
• promoting joining the library and use of library resources, such as e-books

Sessions run for one hour on a regular weekly or monthly basis as agreed with the library. A minimum of two hours per session will be required to allow for setting up and clearing away.

If you are interested in reading and talking about books this could be the role for you. We're looking for someone with good communication and listening skills, who is patient, flexible and has a good sense of humour. You will need to be able to commit time on a regular basis. 

7. Rhymetime volunteer

Do you appreciate the importance of sharing books with babies and very young children in order to promote early language and literacy, and develop a love of reading? Could you help with rhymetime sessions for groups of babies, toddlers and parents and carers? This role provides the opportunity to gain experience of working with parents, carers, and young children in a library setting.

The role involves:

• singing rhymes and songs in a structured session and welcoming families into the library
• working alongside a member of library staff to select and lead the singing of songs and rhymes
• using resources such as puppets and other props to 'bring the story to life'
• preparing the space for the event, and clearing away afterwards
• encouraging those who attend to join the library and borrow books
• promoting the Bookstart Bear Club and Bear's Reading Adventure loyalty schemes

Weekly face-to-face sessions last for 30 minutes. A minimum of one hour per session is required to allow for setting up and clearing away.

If you have the confidence to sing and recite rhymes as part of a group and have an interest in promoting reading, learning and libraries, this could be the role for you. We're looking for someone who has good communication and listening skills, patience and a friendly non-judgemental manner, and a good sense of humour, who is willing to work alongside library staff and other volunteers. You will need to be able to commit time on a regular basis.

8. Stories and Songs volunteer

Are you interested in libraries, books and reading? Would you like to read stories to groups of children, mainly under 5s? This role provides the opportunity to gain experience of working with parents, carers and young children.

The role involves:

• reading stories in a structured session and welcoming families into the library
• selecting picture books to use during the session
• planning the use of resources, where appropriate, such as puppets
• helping to get the space ready for the session and clearing away afterwards
• encouraging those who attend to join the library and borrow books

Weekly face-to-face sessions last for 30 minutes. A minimum of one hour per session is required to allow for setting up and clearing away.

If you have, or would like to develop, skills working with children under 5 this could be the role for you. We're looking for someone who is interested in reading, and has good communication and listening skills, patience, flexibility and a good sense of humour. You will need to be able to commit time on a regular basis. 

9. Summer Reading Challenge volunteer

This voluntary post is an opportunity to gain experience of working with the general public, develop social skills, literacy skills, confidence and self-esteem. It would suit someone who is interested in libraries, books and reading. The role will involve assisting library staff to deliver the Summer Reading Challenge during the summer holidays and to promote reading and using the library to young people at other times of the year.

This role is suitable for anyone aged 13 and over. The role involves:

• encouraging and motivating children to complete the challenge
• assisting library staff with registering school children and helping fill out registration forms
• explaining how the Summer Reading Challenge works
• giving out stickers and update forms
• helping with events and craft activities
• tidying the children’s library
• assisting the library staff in creating displays
• contributing to promoting the Summer Reading Challenge, possibly including on the library service social media channels under supervision

You will be required to:

• be enthusiastic about books and reading
• have a friendly and approachable manner
• have good communication and listening skills
• have patience, flexibility, a good sense of humour and a ‘can-do’ attitude
• be able to commit time on a regular basis during July and August. The minimum is 20 hours over the summer

Page last reviewed: 18 March 2024