Volunteer
Find your passion, your interest, and join others in volunteering to do something that you love. You'll be helping to change lives, and you'll be helping both our Library and our great community.
The Redwood City Public Library has four branches - Downtown, Schaberg, Fair Oaks, and Redwood Shores. There are many opportunities to volunteer your time. Just a little or a whole lot are both appreciated!
Choose one of the following volunteer opportunities:
Promote Digital Literacy | Traveling Storytime | Project Read | Teen Volunteers | Friends of the Library| Homebound Services | IT Volunteer | Children's Homework Help | Collection Maintenance
Library Volunteer Opportunities
Promote Digital Literacy
Library customers come to our libraries with a wide array of technology questions and experience with computers. Help increase digital literacy in our community at our drop-in technology labs or by teaching classes. Volunteers needed 2-4 hours per month for a six month commitment.
Contact: gsuarez@redwoodcity.org
Traveling Storytime: Read to Children
Share the love of books, reading and libraries with the children of Redwood City in preschools and home daycare settings. Training and all materials, including books, puppets and flannel board stories are provided. Volunteers must be available to read to children ages 1 to 5 years of age for thirty minutes on a weekly basis. Must provide own transportation.
Contact: jpedden@redwoodcity.org
Visit our Traveling Storytime pages
Project READ: Be a Tutor
Give the gift that lasts a lifetime - teach someone to read! Project READ’s innovative intergenerational programs bring literacy to the adults, youth and families in our community. Our programs include: One-on-one tutoring for youth, adults and families. Adults, Teens and Preteens are welcome to volunteer as tutors or event support. Fifteen hours of training provided.
Contact: rclread@redwoodcity.org
For information on our upcoming tutor training programs, call us at 650-780-7077 or see our web page.
Teen Volunteer Opportunities
Learn how to shelve materials and maintain the collection or help select and run teen programs.
Contact: slatorra@redwoodcity.org
Friends of the Redwood City Public Library
Bookstore Volunteer
The Friends runs a resale bookstore at the Downtown Library. If you are a reader/lover of books, it is a great opportunity to browse during your shift. Volunteers work 2-3 hour shifts in the store either weekly or biweekly.
Sell Books at the Redwood City Farmers Market
The Redwood City Public Library's Friends operates a booth at the Redwood City Farmers Market that runs Saturdays, April - November in downtown Redwood City. Volunteers work either 8-10am or 10am-Noon.
Manage Book Donations
The Friends of the Redwood City Public Library is a non-profit organization that provides financial support to the Library through the sale of donated books. Volunteers needed to evaluate and sort books.
Sign up to volunteer with The Friends through Volunteer Match or Volunteer Center or by emailing Friends at: friendsofrwclibrary@gmail.com
Friends of the Redwood City Public Library website
Homebound Services
Choose and/or deliver library materials to homebound and disabled residents. New volunteers are needed and welcome!
Contact: 650-780-7056
IT Volunteer
- Clean IT equipment
- Help with special projects
- Help with surplus items
Contact: 650-780-7064 or email
Children's Homework Help
We need volunteers to help students K - 6th grade with math, spelling, writing, and other homework subjects. No formal training required.
Contact: javerill@redwoodcity.org
Collection Maintenance
Searching for Holds - pull library materials from shelves using a list of customer requests. Volunteers are asked to volunteer 1-2 days per week, and each day requires 2-3 hours. Training is provided.
Shelf Reading - keep books in proper Dewey order and/or alphabetical order on designated shelves. Keep shelves neat by aligning books and shifting books when necessary. Ability to alphabetize and work with the Dewey Decimal system. Placement test required.
Contact: volunteer@redwoodcity.org