Volunteer for the Oakland Public Library!
This page lists current adult volunteer opportunities with OPL and some of our Friends groups. Teen volunteers (ages 13-17) can find more information on the Teen Volunteer page.
Adopt a Spot Volunteers at OPL
The African American Museum and Library at Oakland (659 14th Street): Help with community beautification at special events organized by the Friends-Stewards of African American Museum & Library at Oakland. Visit their website, opens a new window to learn more.
Lakeview Branch Library (550 El Embarcadero): Lakeview Friends host a group workday on the third Saturday of each month from 9:00 - 11:00 am. Volunteers are welcome to drop in and help with garden maintenance and litter clean-up.
Melrose Branch Library (4805 Foothill Blvd.): Join us on the second Saturday of the month to beautify the Melrose Library perimeter and to assist with small gardening projects. For more information, contact Branch Manager Joshua Alperin at 510-535-5623.
Computer Tutors
Make a difference in our community by volunteering as a library Computer Tutor!
Duties include helping patrons one-on-one with basic computer skills, such as setting up Zoom and email accounts, assisting with Internet searches, helping with resume writing, completing online forms, using Microsoft Word and Google Suite, printing, etc. Please plan for a regular 2-hour weekly commitment for at least six months.
The following library locations are looking for volunteers:
If you are patient, punctual, and reliable, have good communication skills, and enjoy working with others, please complete the OPL volunteer application. Bilingual volunteers with skills in Arabic, Cantonese, Mam, and/or Spanish are especially helpful! Please include the days and times you are available to volunteer starting in January 2025.
A training session for all new Computer Tutors will take place from 6:00-7:30 pm on Tuesday, December 9. Applications will be accepted through December 1 or until all spaces are filled.
Clean-Up at the Main Library
Thanks to the Public Work Agency's Adopt-a-Spot, opens a new window program, the Main Library has equipment and supplies for trash clean-up and a dedicated team of volunteers who pick up litter 4-5 mornings each week.
After orientation, you can join one of our teams or set your own regular, weekly clean-up time. Currently, there are multiple open shifts in need of clean-up volunteers. Come make a positive impact in our neighborhood!
Please note that other OPL library sites (below) also have volunteer clean-up initiatives. Don't see your library? Does the regular time not work for you? Contact Sara DuBois at sdubois@oaklandlibrary.org or 510-238-6572 about getting involved.
Support OPL by volunteering with Library Friends!
The Tooligans seek Help
The Friends of the Oakland Tool Lending Library (also known as 'The Tooligans') are recruiting. Familiarity with tools helpful, but not necessary. A variety of person-to-person and person-to-wood opportunities are available, including:
* Wednesday, October 15: FOTLL's Monthly Meeting. 6 - 7:30 p.m., Temescal Branch Library Meeting Room. Gain insights into the intricate process that guides the mighty FOTLL machine. Help pull the levers of power and consume the snacks that may be provided. All welcome. No experience necessary.
* Friday, October 17 & November 7: Junior Carpenters' Club at the East Bay German International School in Emeryville, 3:45 until 5:15-ish. Participants will be making Wooden Toys of their own design (October 17) and Toolboxes (November 7). Behind-the-scenes opportunities include sourcing materials and cutting parts for the projects.
* Saturday October 18: Tool Sale, 10 a.m. until 2-ish p.m., on the Temescal Branch Library lawn, 5205 Telegraph Ave. Need more fun? Help unload the Tool Sale inventory beginning at 9:15-ish on the 6th floor of StorQuest on Shattuck. Not an early riser? Beginning at 2-ish, help haul and repack Tool Sale leftovers into FOTLL's StorQuest locker.
* Wednesday, October 22 & 29: Junior Carpenters' Club at the Elmhurst Branch Library, 1:30 until 3-ish. Participants will be making Birdhouses (October 22), and Treasure Boxes (October 29). Volunteer for either or both sessions. Behind-the-scenes opportunities include sourcing materials and cutting parts for the projects.
Looking for something further down the road? Let us know.
Questions, comments and offers of time to FriendsoftheOaklandTLL@gmail.com
Pick up a Weekly Shift at the Bookmark Bookstore!
The Friends of the Oakland Public Library, opens a new window are seeking volunteers support bookstore operations at 933 Broadway in downtown Oakland.
Duties include lifting and moving heavy items such as boxes of books, organizing shelves, sorting donations, and handling sales during open store hours (now open 11:00 am - 5:00 p.m. Sunday through Friday, 11:00 am - 6:00 p.m. Saturday).
Potential volunteers should plan for a regular 3-hour weekly commitment for at least six months. Volunteers must be at least 17 years old.
Please complete the Friends' Bookmark Volunteer Form, opens a new window and one of the store managers will be in touch.
Volunteer with the Friends of Elmhurst Library
The Friends of Elmhurst Library (FOEL) are a small but powerful group of volunteers who support OPL’s active branch library at 1427 88th Avenue. For more than two decades, the FOEL have advocated, fundraised, and volunteered to make this neighborhood library better.
Current leaders Allene Warren and Mary Forte invite everyone who loves libraries to consider joining them to support the Elmhurst Branch.
New Friends are asked to attend bi-monthly meetings at the branch and to contribute their time to one of the pressing current needs: communications, leadership, litter walk, and/or garden support. To learn more, or to rsvp for the next meeting, contact Elmhurstfriends@gmail.com.
Volunteer with the Friends of Melrose Library
The Friends of Melrose Library is an informal group of patrons and volunteers who share a common love for the Melrose Branch Library (4805 Foothill Blvd.) For more than 20 years, this dedicated group has supported their neighborhood library and the surrounding community. Current initiatives include a monthly trash clean-up, regular gardening projects, and volunteering at annual library programs such as Summer Lunch at the Library and National Night Out.
The Friends of Melrose are interested in growing their group and would welcome new Friends.
Please complete this form, opens a new window to share a bit more about your skills, interests, and connection to the Melrose Library.
If you have any questions about these volunteer opportunities, please contact Sara DuBois, Coordinator of Grants & Volunteers, at sdubois@oaklandlibrary.org.