Volunteering and libraries

What you can do

There are many ways you can join in and help people with library services.

  • Home library service volunteer
    Choosing, packing and delivering library materials to people unable to get to a library easily. Please note, you will be carrying a number of books which can get quite heavy. Read about library services for people with disabilities.
  • Mobile library champion
    Helping promote the mobile library service in areas of the county without a library nearby. Read about mobile libraries.
  • Local studies volunteer
    Organising local studies material, including newspapers, photographs and postcards. Read about local studies resources in libraries.
  • Summer reading volunteer
    Helping with the summer reading challenge, supporting primary aged children to read over the summer holidays. Read about our summer reading challenge.
  • Computer buddy
    Helping people to learn the basics of using the computers in the library. Read about computers and the Internet.
  • Reading group volunteer
    Leading a 'Feel better with a book' group, reading aloud poems, short stories and novels. Groups are run in a variety of community locations on a weekly/fortnightly basis. Alternatively support a new or existing monthly reading group. See reading groups and read aloud groups.

How to become a volunteer

We will ask you for provide a reference for all our volunteering roles.

If your role will involve unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults, you will also require an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. We will arrange this free of charge. Existing CRB disclosures cannot be used. Read about Criminal record checks – Directgov.

Appropriate training will be provided and we will meet with you regularly to ensure all is going smoothly.

We pay agreed out-of-pocket expenses such as mileage costs if you use your own car for our home library service. We will need written confirmation from your insurance company that your car is insured for voluntary work.

If you're interested in volunteering, please fill in our:

What our volunteers say about it

Joan and Ann – members of Bexhill Library Friends Group – tell how they have helped make the library's local history collection easier to use. Read Joan and Ann's story: