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Volunteer Opportunities & Contacts

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BOOKS TO PRISONERS
This is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that was founded in the early 70's and provides free books to prisoners in the United States. Books to Prisoners believes that books are tools for learning and opening minds to new ideas and possibilities. By sending books to prisoners, they hope to foster a love of reading and encourage the pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement. Books to Prisoners receives 600 to 800 requests for books each month. Volunteers work two evenings a week opening letters, finding books in their collection that correspond to the request, and wrapping and mailing parcels.
Contact: (206) 442-2013 or email bookstoprisoners@cs.com.


FIRST PLACE SCHOOL
A service agency devoted to educating and nurturing children whose families struggle with the risk or reality of homelessness. Volunteers are needed in a variety of areas including after-school tutoring, club leadership and planning, and library help.
Contact: Joyce Scoggins, Volunteer Coordinator, at (206) 323-6715 ext 1205


KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
The Traveling Library Center's Words on Wheels program needs volunteers who have reliable transportation and can commit to select, deliver, and return library materials to at least one shut-in patron at least once a month for a year. Training is provided. The Literacy and ESL Services: Talk Time program provides volunteer facilitators that work with adult immigrants and refugees in the process of improving their English literacy and speaking skills. The classes provide a comfortable informal environment for students to express themselves and practice English. Volunteers are needed for specific days and times. The NetMaster Volunteer Training Program provides you with the opportunity to teach others how to use personal computers and the Internet. The volunteer training will show you how to teach others how to harness the impressive powers of personal computers and how to unlock the doors to the vast store of information on the Internet. Share your skills with teachers, parents, students, seniors, and others who want to discover how to make computers work successfully for them. The Study Zone needs dedicated volunteers. Use your skills in math, science, English, social studies, study methods and more! Study Zone Leaders are volunteers who will be in participating KCLS community libraries, during Study Zone hours, to answer homework questions and direct students to additional resources. Students, grades K-12, can "drop in" for homework help any time during Study Zone hours. The minimum commitment is 2 hours one day per week for one academic semester (September-January or February-June). Other KCLS volunteer opportunities can be found by contacting your local branch.


MOUNTAINEERS LIBRARY
This library assists both Mountaineers members and non-members find guidebooks and instructional materials which assist them in expeditions and outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, sailing, skiing, snowboarding, and climbing. A special collections section contains books and journals that date to the early to mid-1800's and that provide insight into the past history of mountaineering. Volunteers are needed to assist with the running of the library and are welcome to work on special projects as their interest dictates. Contact:  Kathleen McCluskey, Librarian, Library@Mountaineers.org or 206-284-6310 ext. 3014.


NATIONAL PARK SERVICE-PACIFIC WEST LIBRARY
The Pacific West Regional Library (PWR) of the National Park Service is located in Pioneer Square in Seattle. The library staff catalogs park library collections, including the PWR Library collection, provides literature searches, reference and interlibrary loan services for National Park Service employees in the Pacific West Region. The Region extends from Idaho, Oregon, Washington and California through the Pacific Islands. The library is open to the public on a limited basis. Volunteers maybe involved with: Copy Cataloging; Processing and shelving books; Working with reference files; Checking in and shelving periodicals; Creating lists for distribution of surplus materials; Maintenance and enhancement of library website; Process and fill Interlibrary loans; Original Cataloging; and other fun stuff. The PWR Library is able to reimburse public transportation costs and provide funds for lunch if the volunteer is in the library more than 4 hours a day. Contact:  Nancy Lori, Lead Librarian, nancy_hori@nps.gov or (206) 220-4154.


PAGE AHEAD CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAM
This is a non-profit agency that promotes reading activities and provides new books for at-risk children and their families. Ongoing needs for volunteers include weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly storytimes in schools that receive Page Ahead books; Board and Committee membership; Book Drive Coordination; Book Sorting; Event Staffing; Fundraising; and Office Support. Contact: Jacki Crowther at jcrowther@pageahead.org.


SEATTLE ART MUSEUM LIBRARIES
The Seattle Art Museum Libraries consists of the Dorothy Stimson Bullit Library, the McCaw Foundation Library, and the Wyckoff Teacher Resource Center. The SAM Libraries are great places to volunteer! You have an opportunity to learn about and share your own knowledge in a number of art- and education-related areas. Volunteers complete finite and ongoing projects, as well as work on frequently-needed tasks: assisting library patrons locate books and other materials, preparing catalogued materials for the shelf, and re-shelving returned books. Volunteers may also assist patrons with research requests or record information for the Library staff person to complete the request. In some cases, volunteers will work with the staff to complete specific projects based on volunteer interest and urgency of project completion. Current students can apply their time towards internships, directed fieldwork and directed study projects that offer meaningful learning opportunities and build skills useful for future career endeavors. Interested volunteers should complete an online volunteer application, indicating their availability and their interest in one or more of these library projects.


SEATTLE METAPHYSICAL LIBRARY
This is an all-volunteer non-profit private lending library. It has over 12,000 books, videos, audio tapes, magazines and clippings on unusual subjects like UFOs, reincarnation, and psychic phenomena, as well as an extensive collection of books on spirituality and comparative religions, including shamanism, Christianity, Buddhism, Sufism, Islam, Hinduism, and Chinese philosophy. Other subjects include alternative health, psychology and self-help, Yoga, energy work, body-mind healing, and more. There is an on-going need for help with publicity and graphics, data-entry, and possible work on the website. Contact: volunteer@SeattleMetaphysicalLibrary.org.


SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
There are a variety of volunteer positions available at SPL including Welcome Desk, Book Distribution, ESL Talk Time facilitators, ESL Wired for Learning teachers, Homework Helpers, Special Event Volunteers, Mending Services, and Friends of the Library. To learn about volunteer openings at the Library, please call the Volunteer Services Infoline at 206-386-4664.


SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LIBRARY
The Orchestra Library is a special collection and is a non-circulating, except to the players in the Orchestra. Many the items are archival and are in the process of being preserved. The library has need for an intern or volunteer especially interested in cataloguing. It is not
necessary that the intern read music or is a musician. Contact: robert.olivia@seattlesymphony.org.


THEOSOPHICAL LIBRARY
This is a special library with a focus on metaphysical literature including theosophy, meditation, mysticism, healing, alchemy, astrology, comparative religion, philosophy, and esoteric studies. We are looking for able volunteers to cover our library desk and help
with ongoing library projects. Attention to detail and reliability are essential, and willingness to work one afternoon per week is desired. Skill in working with one's hands is helpful for repairing our books, as is a mindful care in tending the books. Contact: Nancy at library@seattle-ts.org.


THE WASHINGTON TALKING BOOK AND BRAILLE LIBRARY (SPL)
This library serves blind or visually impaired patrons in the region. They currently have a great need for volunteers to help inspect returned cassette books. Volunteers can also assist in braillng and taping books, producing radio programs, providing clerical support, repairing equipment and cassette tapes, and carrying out special projects. Training is provided for all positions. Contact: volunteer@wtbbl.org, or call Volunteer Services at (206) 615-0417.


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     last modified January 19, 2008
     contact club officers at iserveuw@u.washington.edu