Volunteering with Lexington Public Library

LPL After School is a FREE drop-in program for kids aged 5-12 that takes place after regular school hours on Mondays through Fridays. Volunteers are needed during this time to assist program participants with reading, homework, and STEAM and other enrichment activities! Snacks will continue to be provided to youth age 18 and younger courtesy of God's Pantry. 

Volunteer shifts are offered 3:00-5:00 Monday-Friday at Marksbury and Northside Branches.

The Library has many handwritten documents in the Digital Archives that are not currently searchable. Transcription of these documents will make them more usable for people researching Kentucky history and ancestors. We are seeking volunteers to assist with transcribing documents online for current and future projects! Requirements to volunteer with this opportunity are: able to read cursive, able to use a computer and access the internet, and able to transcribe 2-4 pages at a time. This volunteer opportunity is flexible in schedule and remote, as you get to determine when, where, and how long you transcribe! The current transcription project is Baptismal Ledgers from St. Paul Catholic Church in Lexington, KY. These ledgers contain baptism records dating back to 1854 and include genealogical information such as birthdates and parents’ names, information not widely available in Kentucky until 1911. More projects will be added as they become available.

Makerspace Volunteers: Interested in assisting folks making, doing, and crafting? Volunteers are needed on a regular basis in our Makerspace at Eastside Branch  and Makerspace at Marksbury Family Branch! No specific experience is required, but experience with computers is preferred. Makerspace volunteers must be able to commit at least 3 months to a regular schedule, be 18 years or older, and have an interest in creating and helping others. Volunteers can expect to assist customers of all ability and skill levels, ranging from teens to adults. No two days will be the same, so volunteers should be comfortable assisting customers with a wide range of projects.

Eastside's current volunteer shifts are available every Wednesday and Thursday from 3-6 PM.

Marksbury's current volunteer shifts are available every Monday and Tuesday from 3-6 PM, and the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4 PM.

Volunteers are needed to assist Lexington Public Library staff with their ongoing D&D programs at the Eastside Branch. The programs are the first Saturday of each month from 2-4:30 pm, and the third Thursday of each month from 4-6:30 pm. Volunteers are needed to run a game as a Dungeon Master (DM) and should have experience as a DM, experience working with beginner players as well as seasoned players, and experience working with, teaching, or assisting kids 11 and older. Sessions may be one-shots or part of the current campaigns. Volunteers should be patient, friendly, and enthusiastic! A regular/consistent schedule is preferred.

ESOL- Beginners English Classes and/or English Conversation Groups are current and upcoming programs taking place at several of our library locations. These classes or groups are for individuals learning English to improve English language reading, writing, listening, or speaking skills. Required skills and experience for volunteers include: consistent attendance on a weekly basis, being comfortable communicating with limited English speaking population; having an understanding and acceptance of diverse populations; having experience leading groups and serving as moderator of up to 20 people; and being an encouraging presence with a positive attitude. Volunteers will have resources and trainings available to prepare them for ESOL instruction and tutoring. Volunteers are needed to assist with ESOL programs at a few of our library locations on a variety of weekly schedules, so if interested, please apply.

This area of interest is intended for volunteers who are interested in assisting with some of the daily functions of our library locations. Many of these tasks require little to no training and have a flexible schedule. Tasks may include shelf reading and straightening, cleaning and organizing children’s department areas, sanitizing surfaces, cutting paper and preparing craft materials, and more. Task availability will vary by the library location, day of the week, time of day, and season, so please indicate your preferred locations and availability on your application! Time commitments can vary, but volunteers should expect to volunteer from at least 30 minutes to 2 hours at a time. 

Shelving Volunteer: Shelving is a long-term volunteer role, requiring a commitment up front of a certain number of weeks and a certain number of hours, depending on the volunteer's schedule and the library location's need.

This volunteer opportunity is physically demanding, requiring the volunteer to bend, squat, kneel, lift, and stand for up to 2 hours. Potential volunteers will be given online training materials and tests before being officially trained and onboarded to ensure long term success.

Shelving volunteers will be trained to organize library materials on carts, then accurately shelve books, DVDs, CDs, and other library materials.

Please ensure you select the locations where you will prefer to volunteer. Not all library locations will need volunteers to shelve, so we will do our best to place you at a location that works for us as well as you! A regular schedule is set between the volunteer and the library location.