VOLUNTEER FOR THE FRIENDS

Volunteer in the Basement

We need you!

The Friends of the Sunnyvale Public Library is an all-volunteer organization. We generally need help with our various sales venues: book sales, lobby sales, and Internet sales. Before donated books are ready for sale, they need to be sorted and priced on a weekly basis at the library.

Besides general help, we also often need people for the various committee positions that keep the Friends going as an organization (publicity coordinator, volunteer coordinator, computer tech support, etc.), as well as people willing to make the commitment necessary for elected board member positions.

Please note that we have no paid jobs. Everyone working for the Friends of the Sunnyvale Public Library in any capacity is an unpaid volunteer.

If you are interested in giving your time for our worthwhile cause, check out the job summaries and then send a message to our volunteer coordinator.

This site is for the Friends of the Sunnyvale Public Library. If you are interested in volunteering at the library itself, please view the City’s Current Volunteer Opportunities and complete the Library Volunteer Application if an opportunity interests you. Questions? Contact the City’s Volunteer Office at 408-730-7533.

What People Think About Us

I love Art Night and look forward to it every time. Thanks FOTSVL!

Participant

Thank you FOTSVL for helping us with our Little Free Library!

Student

Volunteer Opportunities

General Help

GENERAL HELP

Book Sales: good for entry-level volunteers for a single opportunity or ongoing bi-monthly commitment. Typically 2-3 hours a time. Helping at the book sales can include setting up tables and signs, lifting boxes of books, pushing loaded carts to the sale area, arranging books for sale, tallying books for checkout, keeping books in their respective categories, marking bags for checkout, assisting customers to their cars, monitoring the lobby, and clean up which involves putting away boxes, books, tables, and moving unsold items to the appropriate area. Setup and Clean up volunteers should be moderately active, able to lift banker’s boxes, weighing approximately 30 lbs, and move carts loaded with boxes.

Book Sorting: One Day Per Week ~9 a.m. for 2- 3 hours * Minimum 3-month commitment. Volunteers come to the Library on a weekly basis to handle donated books. This includes screening for acceptability, screening for appropriate sales venue, pricing, and sorting into categories. Sorting Volunteers should be moderately active, able to lift banker’s boxes, weighing approximately 30 lbs, and move carts loaded with boxes to the basement. Volunteers also need to be able to read and converse in English. It would be useful if you are literate in another language or have a degree, expertise, or experience in a particular subject such as science, business, literature, history, art, etc. 
*Other time slots may be available upon arrangement with current Friends members.

Internet Sales: 1 – 3 hours weekly. Previous experience with the Friends and training with a current volunteer is required. Volunteers need to be able to read and converse in English. Volunteers regularly list books on Amazon.com and pack and ship orders.

Committee Chairpersons

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

(appointed by current President)

  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • Book Sales Coordinator
  • Online Book Sales Coordinator
  • Lobby Book Sales Coordinator
  • Publicity Coordinator
  • Membership Coordinator
  • Web Coordinator (must know WordPress, XHTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL knowledge desirable)
  • PC Tech Support (mostly Microsoft, some Apple)
Member of the Board

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

  • President – elected 1-year term
  • Vice President – elected 1-year term
  • Secretary – elected 1-year term
  • Treasurer – elected 1-year term
  • Members-at-large (3) – elected 1-year terms