Volunteering in Libraries

The exciting Chai Experience project aims to celebrate and showcase Nottingham’s Asian Social Heritage in the 50s and 60s.

Volunteers will support and encourage people to share their personal experiences and memorabilia of life in Nottingham.  The 18 month project will run at 4 libraries; Central, Wollaton, Dales Centre (Sneinton) and Hyson Green and will form a collection of resources for our Local Studies department.

Key Tasks:

• Encourage people to chat and discuss their experiences of life in Nottingham
• Support any language barriers to enable individuals to take part in conversations
• Ensure individuals are motivated and encourage future attendance and engagement with the project
• Act as an advocate for the project
• Support individuals to fill in any paperwork required as part of the project to capture memories or to acknowledge donations of material
• Contribute to the identification and recording of heritage material
• Support the project team with the interpretation of material within the Local Studies Library (Full training and support provided for this element)

What are we looking for:

• Good communication skills with the ability to support language barriers
• Interest in Heritage/ Asian Heritage
• An organised, reliable team player
• Commitment to one venue with a minimum attendance of 4  x 2 hour workshops. Dates TBC
• Able to support end of project celebration events

Role: Community Gardener

Description:
A rewarding opportunity to help maintain one or more of our library gardens. To use your creativity to make them accessible, inviting and enjoyable environments for local people. We have outdoor spaces at these libraries: Aspley, Basford, Bilborough, Dales Centre, Meadows, Radford-Lenton and  Wollaton.

Key Tasks:

• Maintain garden with weeding and planting, keeping it tidy, safe and attractive
• Share ideas with library staff and seek donations of seeds, plants and equipment for the gardens

What are we looking for:

• A friendly person with some gardening knowledge and skills
• Organised and reliable and able to use own initiative
• Able to commit to maintaining at least one library garden regularly (ideally weekly or fortnightly)

Role: English Conversation Group Facilitator

Support and encourage people from different cultures to improve their spoken English skills and to help them integrate with the City through stimulating and varied conversation

Key Tasks:

• Plan and deliver weekly sessions using a wide range of appropriate discussion topics and materials
• Complete and submit basic weekly attendance records to help monitor and develop the service

What we are looking for:

• A non-judgemental, open-minded and friendly person with good spoken English and the ability to encourage people from all communities
• Ongoing commitment to at least one of the following weekly sessions:

Mondays         12.30pm to 3 pm at Dales Centre Library

Thursdays       2.15pm to 4.30pm at Nottingham Central Library

Role: Home Library Service Volunteer

Enable people to enjoy books, film, or music once they are unable to visit their local library for reasons such as disability, mobility, illness, or caring responsibilities

Key Tasks:

• Deliver books, music, films and information to people in areas of Nottingham City
• Take time to discuss with the customer what further books, music, films etc they would like, giving any suggestions or ideas

What are we looking for:

• A friendly, enthusiastic and reliable person who can communicate with a diverse range of people
• We are particularly interested in people who have fluency in other languages that represent the diversity of Nottingham
• Ability to commit to at least 1 round per every 3 weeks (various times available) for 6 months or more
• A DBS check is required for this role

 Information about the Home Library Service is featured on our Accessible Library page.

Role: Language Café Volunteer

Support and encourage Nottingham’s diverse communities to learn and develop new languages, share knowledge, and meet new people in a relaxed, inclusive environment.

 Key Tasks:

• Prepare the room with refreshments, books etc and clear up at the end of the session
• Welcome new members, match them appropriately based on chosen language and teach and converse with participants using your language skills

What are we looking for:

• An encouraging, non-judgemental person with good spoken English and a genuine interest in supporting people from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and situations
• Minimum 3 month commitment, for at least one Saturday afternoon per month from 12.45 to 3.15pm at Nottingham Central Library

Role: Storysmash Helper

Help young adults develop confidence and new skills with this innovative project connecting reading, creative writing and gaming.

Key Tasks:

• Encourage and motivate 11-25 year olds to actively participate in workshops developing games using Twine, an open source tool enabling the creation of interactive stories
• Facilitate casual, inclusive gaming sessions

What are we looking for:

• A reliable, good communicator who can relate well to young people aged 11-25 years and has an interest in creative writing, reading and literacy
• Good digital skills with a knowledge of gaming and a willingness to learn basic Twine skills. All training provided

Minimum of 6 months commitment to at least one of the following weekly sessions:

Saturdays, Bulwell Riverside Library 10am to 12pm

Mondays, St Ann’s Valley Library 4pm to 6pm

Thursdays, Nottingham Central Library 5pm to 7pm