Multnomah County Library

Adult Literacy volunteers support learners with GED exam tutoring, English language classes, tutoring for adults learning to read, and other needs such as help with college placement tests, studying for vocational tests, etc. See current Adult Literacy volunteer opportunities and apply here.

Looking for an opportunity to volunteer at the library with your certified therapy dog? Read to the Dogs is a popular program that gives kids the opportunity to make a new friend and improve their reading. We are looking for enthusiastic dog/person teams to help young readers build their confidence by practicing their reading skills. All teams must be certified prior to applying. If you’re not yet certified, check out Pet Partners, Portland Area Canine Therapy Teams, or Alliance for Therapy Dogs for more information.

Time Commitment: Minimum two, 1-hour shifts per month for six months 

Current Openings

Capitol Hill Library: Flexible (evenings or anytime on Saturday)

Duties

• Accompany certified therapy dog at all times
  

• Facilitate positive reading experiences with young struggling readers
  

• Provide a good interaction between your therapy dog and individual children and parents
  

• Teach children about how to positively interact with animals
  

• Maintain therapy animal certification through the duration of volunteer position
  
  

Qualifications

• Current Certification by Pet Partners, Portland Canine Therapy Team, or Alliance of Therapy Dogs is required
  

• Ability to pass a criminal record check

• Minimum 18 years or older
  

• Patience and flexibility
  

• Comfort working with diverse groups of people and diverse learning abilities
  

• Comfort working with various ages of young children
  

• Fluency in written and spoken English
  

• Empathy and a friendly demeanor
  

• Ability to work as part of a team and to collaborate with volunteers and staff 

• All human volunteers serving in person will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or receive an approved religious or medical exception from the vaccine.

Benefits

• Gain leadership skills
  

• Help youth with literacy skills
  

• Interact with children from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds
  

• Engage in a meaningful service
  

• Contribute to our mission: The leading advocate for reading
  
  

Training

• Onboarding and orientation to volunteering at Multnomah County Library staff at the host location
  
  

Do you always get asked by friends and family members to help with their tech issues - and love it? Share your tech skills with library patrons that need help with mobile devices, websites, downloading, e-readers, getting started with tech, and more. See the bottom of this description for libraries with in-person volunteer opportunities.

Tech Help sessions involve working with people one-on-one. Empower patrons by improving their computer skills and their access to information. This is a teaching position; volunteers help the patron find information about using their mobile device or computer, and talk them through the steps, and the patron will navigate through the steps themselves. We are in great need of volunteers that speak English and also bilingual Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese/Mandarin, and Ukrainian/Russian. 

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Help people use the library catalog and other library electronic resources

• Help people use the Internet and assist with their email accounts

• Teach patron resources related to Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Home Office and other office productivity software

• Assist patrons with learning about personal electronic devices like e-readers, cell phones, laptop computers, tablets and various applications

Skills & Qualifications

• Be familiar and comfortable with computers and mobile devices

• Be proficient and up to date with basic computer software and components, the Internet, using apps and email

• Experience teaching adult learners a plus

• Experience working with people who have diverse educational, economic and cultural backgrounds

• Excellent communication and customer service skills

• Ability to be patient and flexible with novice computer users

• 18 years or older

Benefits

• Share your technology experience with the community

• Learn behind-the-scenes information about how technology classes are conducted in the library

Training & Other Requirements

• Site orientation and training at library location before volunteer shift begins.
• Able to pass a criminal records check
• All volunteers serving in person will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or receive an approved religious or medical exception from the vaccine.

In-person Volunteer Opportunities

In-person Tech Help is currently happening at several library locations including Central, Capitol Hill, Fairview-Columbia, Kenton, Rockwood, Troutdale, St Johns and Woodstock. Other locations may offer Tech Help in the future so let us know if you’re interested in a particular location that isn’t listed. 

Sessions take place at various times and days, including evenings and weekends, and are added as needed and/or when volunteers are available. Start dates are flexible and the day, time, and location of your shift will be decided in collaboration with the Tech Help team.

Join Online Teen Council (6th - 12th grade)

Wednesdays, 4:00 - 5:00 pm or Thursdays, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

• A safe place for everyone to be themselves, whoever that may be.
• A virtual space to hang out with new friends, share ideas, and find things in common.
• A place to advocate for a cause.
• A way to support the library while earning volunteer hours.

Please email libraryevents@multcolib.org for details on how to join.

Middle and high school students meet to get involved at neighborhood libraries. Teen councils meet twice monthly and work with library staff to help improve services for teens. This is an opportunity to help the library organize and facilitate teen meetings, plan teen activities, develop library displays and help with library events. Meeting other Teen Council members is an added bonus.

• A fun, simple way to earn volunteer hours  
• A chance to eat free (yummy) snacks
• A venue for meeting new people outside of school  
• A way to be a part of your library.
• An opportunity to collaborate on or lead group projects
• A place to plan a community event or advocate for a cause 
• A safe place to be yourself

Location: Hollywood Library, 4040 NE Tillamook St, Portland, OR, 97212

Time Commitment: 2 times per month for one hour each

Age Requirement: 12-18 years old

Meeting Dates & Times: 2nd & 4th Thursday, 4:00-5:00pm 

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Respect and support other council members
• Participate in meetings and in teen council brainstorming and activities
• Learn how to contribute ideas and get things done
• Chance to organize and facilitate council meetings
• Identify ways that adults can help

Skills & Qualifications

• Ability to work with other teens
• Dependability

Training & Other Requirements

• A volunteer application must be completed in order to earn service hours
• All volunteers serving in person will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or receive an approved religious or medical exception from the vaccine.

Benefits

• Build skills in event planning and evaluation
• Find a community of people who care about the same issues you do 
• Connect with people in your neighborhood
• Get service hours for school and scholarships
• Opportunities to collaborate on or lead group projects.  
• Opportunities to plan a community event or advocate for a cause.  
• A safe place to be yourself.

Students grades 3rd-6th meet to get involved at neighborhood libraries. Tween councils meet twice monthly and work with library staff to help improve services for tweens. This is an opportunity to help the library improve the collection for tweens, plan tween activities, develop library displays and help with library events, and generally facilitate a way to get tween input and involvement in the library. Meeting other Tween Council members is an added bonus.

• A fun, simple way to earn volunteer hours  

• A chance to eat free (yummy) snacks

• A venue for meeting new people outside of school  

• A way to be a part of your library

• An opportunity to collaborate on or lead group projects 

• A place to plan a community event or advocate for a cause  

• A safe place to be yourself!

Location: Kenton Library, 8226 N Denver, Portland, OR 97217

Time Commitment:  2 meetings per month, 90 minutes each

Age Requirement: 9 - 12 years old

Meeting Dates & Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 4:30-6:00 PM

Tasks & Responsibilities 

• Respect and support other council members
• Participate in meetings and in tween council brainstorming and activities
• Learn how to contribute ideas and get things done
• Chance to organize and facilitate council meetings and library events
• Identify ways that adults can help improve the library for tweens

Skills & Qualifications

• Ability to work with other tweens
• Dependability

Training & Other Requirements

• Training will be provided at the library as needed
• A volunteer application must be completed in order to earn service hours
• All volunteers serving in person will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or receive an approved religious or medical exception from the vaccine.

Benefits

• Build skills in event planning and evaluation
• Find a community of people who care about the same issues you do 
• Learn from others who have different life experiences and opinions
• Connect with people in your neighborhood
• Get service hours for school
• Opportunities to collaborate on or lead group projects  
• Opportunities to plan a community event or advocate for a cause 
• A safe place to be yourself.

Students grades 4th-6th meet to get involved at neighborhood libraries. Tween councils meet twice monthly and work with library staff to help improve services for tweens. This is an opportunity to help the library improve the collection for tweens, plan tween activities, develop library displays and help with library events, and generally facilitate a way to get tween input and involvement in the library. Meeting other Tween Council members is an added bonus.

• A fun, simple way to earn volunteer hours  

• A chance to eat free (yummy) snacks

• A venue for meeting new people outside of school  

• A way to be a part of your library

• An opportunity to collaborate on or lead group projects 

• A place to plan a community event or advocate for a cause  

• A safe place to be yourself!

Location: Woodstock Library, 6008 SE 49th Ave, Portland, OR 97206

Time Commitment: 2 meetings per month, 1 hour each

Age Requirement: 4th-6th grade

Meeting Dates & Time: 2nd and 4th Fridays, 4:00-5:00 PM

Tasks & Responsibilities 

• Respect and support other council members
• Participate in meetings and in tween council brainstorming and activities
• Learn how to contribute ideas and get things done
• Chance to organize and facilitate council meetings and library events
• Identify ways that adults can help improve the library for tweens

Skills & Qualifications

• Ability to work with other tweens
• Dependability

Training & Other Requirements

• Training will be provided at the library as needed
• A volunteer application must be completed in order to earn service hours
• All volunteers serving in person will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or receive an approved religious or medical exception from the vaccine.

 Benefits

• Build skills in event planning and evaluation
• Find a community of people who care about the same issues you do 
• Learn from others who have different life experiences and opinions
• Connect with people in your neighborhood
• Get service hours for school
• Opportunities to collaborate on or lead group projects  
• Opportunities to plan a community event or advocate for a cause 
• A safe place to be yourself