Volunteer as a Storytime Reader
Fall 2026 Volunteer Applications Open July 1, 2026 — Join Our Waitlist Today.
Originally a partnership between the Oakland Public Library and the City's Youth Services, this program began in 1994 and has provided weekly story reading by volunteer readers to all Oakland Head Start Centers.
Supporting early literacy development and nuturing the lifelong love of reading for young children has been a major service goal for the Oakland Public Library Children Services. The Book for Wider Horizons volunteer readers support this goal by providing weekly reading experiences to thousands of young children in Oakland.
How to Volunteer
Please complete this form to be added to our waitlist. Fall 2026 Volunteer Applications open on July 1, 2026.
For more information, email KDeLeon-Fong@oaklandlibrary.org or call (510) 238-7453
FAQs
FAQs
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Our volunteer readers come from all backgrounds and age groups, from students and seniors to professionals on their lunch breaks. Bilingual readers are able to provide multi-lingual storytime experience and also provide the needed language support at many centers where children are English language learners.
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Our volunteers read aloud to children in partnering preschools throughout Oakland. Each volunteer does a weekly 20-25 minute storytime at an assigned preschool.
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Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older.
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Volunteers visit an assigned preschool once a week for a 20–25 minute storytime. We ask for a 6-month commitment, which gives you enough time to get to know a classroom of kids and their teachers and to see how excited they get when you walk through the door each week.
Storytimes take place during school hours (weekdays, generally 9am - 3pm).
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Volunteers complete a training series, which takes place over six weekday mornings and one full Saturday in the fall.
We cover many topics in the training, all focused on how to create a fun and engaging storytime. The training is conducted by the Oakland Public Library's Children's Librarians, so they each bring a wealth of experience and creativity to the topics they cover, and the training is super fun!
