FLP - Seasonal Volunteer Opportunities

One Book, One Philadelphia

One Book, One Philadelphia—a joint project of the Office of Mayor Michael Nutter and the Free Library of Philadelphia—is a citywide program whose mission is to promote reading, literacy, library usage, and community-building throughout the region, by encouraging all Philadelphians to come together through reading and discussing a single book. This year's selection is The Soloist, by former Inquirer reporter Steve Lopez.

Last year, more than 400 Community Partners throughout the region sponsored and helped promote events; this year's calendar will feature a variety of author lectures, panel and book club discussions, exhibitions, performances, and other activities.

One Book, One Philadelphia Volunteers

Community Outreach volunteers will promote this literacy program through the placing of marketing materials in high traffic community centers, and they will serve as community liasons for OBOP and the Free Library.
A book club discussion leader can facilitate a discussion group at the Parkway Central Library or at any of the Free Library's 54 locations. They may also integrate OBOP into an existing book club. Book clubs can be facilitated in churches, coffee shops, or any other place convenient to attendees. Book club discussion leader training will be provided.

Requirements

Volunteers in this capacity should be good public speakers and facilitators. They should also be resourceful and knowledgeable about the community in which they serve.
For start-up book clubs, volunteers should be great self-starters who can bring participants into the group.

Opportunity Expires: 03/15/09

EITC Preparation Program

The Campaign for Working Families is a partnership that promotes free filing of the Earned Income Tax Credit and connects Philadelphia residents to other tax credits, public benefits, and asset-building resources. The Campaign boosts the number of people who receive free tax filing assistance and do not have to pay high fees to commercial tax preparers.

Tax Volunteers

Volunteers in this capacity will assist tax preparers involved with the Campaign for Working Families' EITC Free Tax Preparation Program. Volunteers will greet free tax preparation customers and prepare intake documents. Volunteers will also assist other volunteers in the management of the Books to Go program (the Free Library's used "bookstore"). This is an exciting opportunity to assist many citizens with free income tax preparation, while getting low-cost books into the homes of those persons.

Requirements

Volunteers should be available to assist one day a week, either Monday or Wednesday evenings from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., or Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Volunteers should also be patient and customer service-oriented.

Opportunity Expires: 03/30/09

2009 Free Library Festival

Lend a hand with events leading up to our 2009 Free Library Festival, to be held April 18 and 19, 2009, at Parkway Central. Prior to the event, assist with community outreach, organization, and promotion of the weekend—and during the Festival, assist with Author Events, Children's Storybook Parade, live performances, or event coordination. There's something for everyone at our biggest event of the year! For more information about the Festival, please visit http://libwww.freelibrary.org/bookfestival.

Festival volunteer roles may include:

program assistants
information guides
exhibitor assistance
registration check in
pre-event community outreach

Requirements

Festival volunteers must commit to at least one 4-hour shift. Some volunteer positions require the ability to stand, sit, or walk for long periods. Other positions require the ability to lift, bend, or stoop. All volunteers must be flexible, dedicated, resourceful, and able to work with the public. Festival volunteers will be required to attend one 2-hour orientation session at the Parkway Central Library prior to the festival (dates TBA).

Opportunity Expires: 04/20/09

Author Events/Special Events

The Author Events series offer Philadelphians a chance to get close to and personally hear some of the greatest literary lights of our time, including in recent years Elie Wiesel, Joyce Carol Oates, Salman Rushdie, Orson Scott Card, John Updike, and more.

Event Volunteers

Lecture event volunteers greet and seat patrons prior to events, assist with microphones during Q & A sessions, and help with post-event author signings in the Main Lobby.

Requirements

Must be able to stand for long periods of time and work evenings, dress appropriately, and be customer service-oriented.

Opportunity Expires: Ongoing