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Volunteer Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
Volunteers provide an invaluable service to the librarians and the public. By shelving and caring for library materials, or sorting requested items destined for each of the 70 public libraries in Allegheny County, you free librarians to do collection development, reference work, program presentation and outreach. Without our volunteers we would have less time to work with the children, teens and adults, and our materials would not be as accessible for our customers.
New Volunteer Opportunities
Career Assistant - Main
Location: Job & Career Education Center at CLP-Main (Oakland)
Job Description:
Seeking volunteers with career counseling, human resources or related expertise to assist customers develop resumes, compose cover letters, complete online job applications and provide some career/job searching advice.
Hours:
Weekday afternoons, between 1:00 and 5:00 pm
This volunteer position is flexible. The volunteer will provide assistance by appointment. Appointments last approximately one hour.
Special Requirements:
Position requires a 6 month commitment.
Career counseling, human resources or related expertise
Career Assistant - Squirrel Hill
Location: Namm Business Center at CLP-Squirrel Hill
Job Description:
Hours:
Sun: 1pm-5pm
Mon: 10am-5pm
Tues-Thurs: 10am-8pm
Fri-Sat: 10am-5pm
This volunteer position is flexible.
The volunteer will provide career assistance by appointment (assist customers develop resumes, compose cover letters, and provide some career/job searching advice). Appointments last approximately one hour.
Special Requirements:
Seeking volunteers with career counseling, human resources or related expertise.
Position requires a 6 month commitment.
Friends Shop Coordinator - Squirrel Hill
Location: CLP-Squirrel Hill
Job Description:
Hours:
This position is flexible. The volunteer will be able to create their own schedule by coming in during regular library hours:
Mon: 10:00 - 5:00
Tues-Thurs: 10:00 - 8:00
Fri-Sat: 10:00 - 5:00
Sun: 1:00 - 5:00
Looking for volunteers to organize and coordinate ongoing book sales by scheduling and training members to stock and restock the Friends Shop shelves, create displays, and maintain an overall attractive retail environment. The coordinator will also create a system to regularly rotate through the inventory, offering a fresh new selection of items for sale.
Special Requirements:
Must be able to commit approximately 10 hours per week.
Online Sales Coordinator - Squirrel Hill
Location: CLP-Squirrel Hill
Job Description:
Hours:
This position is flexible. The volunteer will be able to create their own schedule by coming in during regular library hours:
Mon: 10:00 - 5:00
Tues-Thurs: 10:00 - 8:00
Fri-Sat: 10:00 - 5:00
Sun: 1:00 - 5:00
Seeking volunteers with experience in selling items on Amazon. This position will coordinate online sales activities; scan items for prices, list for sale, fill orders and ship items daily. The coordinator will also train other Friends to help with duties.
Special Requirements:
Must be able to commit 5 hours per week.
Computer Class Instructors
Location: CLP-Squirrel Hill
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- Squirrel Hill needs volunteer computer instructors to help with their new computer classes beginning in the fall. Classes will span over several topics: basic computers (Meet the Computer, Computer Survival Skills, Safety First); Windows (Looking at Windows); Internet and Email (Exploring the Internet, Exploring Google, Wellness on the Web, Online Genealogy); Job Hunting (Online Job Searching, Your Resume); Microsoft Office (Word and Excel); Social Networking (Social Networking Basics; I'm on Facebook: Now What?); and Digital Photography.
Special Requirements::
Volunteers are required to take a four hour webinar presented Tuesday, June 18th or Thursday, July 18th
Four month commitment to teach a class once a month.
Ability to give one-on-one scheduled lessons a plus.
Wanted Skills:
Proficiency in computer basics, software, and programs (mousing, Windows 7, etc.) and internet basics (familiarity with different browsers, using email, etc.).
Good oral communication skills.
Must be patient, energetic, encouraging, and friendly.
Experience leading groups or instruction-based classes is preferred, but not required.
Any specialized knowledge (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, online genealogy, eBay, job searching, Facebook, Twitter, digital photography, etc.) is welcomed.
Street Teams Library Marketing Program
Location: Various neighborhoods in Pittsburgh (Squirrel Hill, Oakland, East Liberty, Regent Square/Point Breeze, South Side, Strip District, Shadyside, Bloomfield)
Job Description:
Explore neighborhoods at volunteer's convenience and talk with the businesses and organizations owners/managers regarding hanging posters and distributing flyers advertising programs at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
When the volunteer(s) picks up the material to distribute, they will tell us a neighborhood of preference and we will give them five businesses to visit within that neighborhood. Volunteer(s) will report to us whether the business agreed to display the Libraries material or not.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is "Free to the People." We would appreciate help in spreading the word about resources and programs at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
Special Requirements: none
Teen Reviewers
Location: CLP-East Liberty Teens Department
Job Description:
Read and Rate Comics
The CLP-East Liberty Teens Department needs teens ages 12-18 to read and rate new comics and graphic novels as a volunteer activity.
Special Requirements:
Teens ages 12-18
Materials Sorter
Location: Library Support Center, 50 Alexander St. Pittsburgh, PA 15220 (located in Pittsburgh's West End behind CLP-West End)
Job Description:
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Library Support Center needs volunteers to help sort library materials for delivery to the over 74 Allegheny County Public Libraries.
Volunteers work with friendly library staff in a team environment sorting books and other library materials to prepare them for delivery. The Shipping area is well-lit, comfortable (albeit on a concrete floor), with a Crystal Springs bottled water cooler.
Hours:
Open Monday - Friday: 9 am to 5 pm (except for holidays)
Any amount of time a group or individual can donate is appreciated.
This activity is good for groups and team-building. If you are volunteering as a class project, or fraternity, sorority, or other group project, this might be something your group could consider.
There is a parking lot adjacent to The Library Support Center which is right behind the West End Branch. Parking is free to volunteers in the Library Support Center lot inside the gate.
Special Requirements:
Volunteers must be able to carry books that can weigh up to 5 lbs., stand, bend and walk for extended periods of time.
Minimum Age: 18
Book Shelf Maintenance
Location: Children's Department at CLP-Main (Oakland)
Job Description:
Assist Children's staff to prepare library material for use by our customers: Children, Parents and Teachers.
TASKS INCLUDE: relabeling books, putting shelves in order, checking for lost and missing books, cleaning books, toys, library equipment etc. in teams of 5 volunteers
Special Requirements:
Volunteers who may work with Children must have clearances.
Must be able to carry books that can weigh up to 5 lbs., stand, bend and walk for extended periods of time.
Foreign Language Instructors
Location: CLP-Main (Oakland)
Job Description:
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Main in Oakland hosts various language classes, programs and conversation groups. If you are a native speaker of a language other than English, please consider volunteering to share your language with others. We ask for a commitment of four months this includes two sessions per month and preparation time.
Special Requirements:
Fluent in foreign language
Location: CLP-Squirrel Hill
Job Description:
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- Squirrel Hill needs an assistant/backup instructor volunteer to help with their new French for Beginners class.
Special Requirements:
Fluent in French
Booksale Stock Assistant
Location: CLP-Squirrel Hill
Job Description:
Help with stocking of ongoing library booksale shelf.
Special Requirements:
Minimum 6 hours a month required with a 6 month commitment requested.
* Most opportunities ask for a commitment of two to four hours each week for three to six months.
* Volunteers who may work with Children must have clearances. Clearances are background checks required for anyone who may come in contact with children. The volunteer is responsible for obtaining the clearances. For more information go to the Pennsylvania Department Public Welfare Child Abuse Clearance web site.
To Volunteer
Please fill out our online application form.
Due to the large number of applications we receive, it may take time for us to process your application. We will get in touch with you as soon as possible.
