The Power of Volunteers

In 2019, the Library benefited from 321 individuals contributing 21,167 hours of service, the equivalent of 10 full-time positions!

Using the Independent Sector's value of volunteer service for Kansas, these volunteers provided $494,249.45 in service value. This makes a huge impact on the quality of service the Library is able to provide.

Become a Volunteer

To be considered for a volunteer opportunity, please complete and return the Volunteer Application .

The completed form may be returned to any Library location, mailed to 711 W. 2nd St., Wichita, KS 67203 or scanned and emailed to admin@wichitalibrary.org.

If you have questions, please call (316) 261-8500.

Available Opportunities

• Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd

  • Interlibrary Loan Mail Clerk

    Job Purpose: The volunteer will unpack incoming mail and separate the mail into two stacks:

    1. For items being returned to Wichita Public Library (WPL),
    2. Items received which fill request from WPL customers.

    The position will also be responsible for packing library material for shipment through U.S. Mail.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Opens and sorts arriving mail onto two carts
    • Attaches identification labels to items borrowed from other libraries
    • Labels, sorts and sends out mail; places material in envelops or packages

    Qualifications:

    • Equivalent combination of experience and training may be considered
    • Skills: organizational, detail-oriented
    • Ability to package material neatly
    • Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with others
    • Ability to learn within a short period of time
    • Ability to write legibly
    • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
    • Ability to observe differences in copy, to proofread words and numbers

    Hours: Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - Noon.

    Physical Requirements: May require standing while moving for up to 2 hours, or standing stationary for up to 2 hours, on carpet, tile or concrete flooring; walking while pushing a loaded book cart weighing up to 200 lbs.; unloading packages of various sizes.

  • Library Greeter

    Job Purpose: In the new Advanced Learning Library, we host large crowds and many customers. In order to assist customers upon point of entry, greeters will be stationed near entrances on the 1st floor and/or 2nd floor to assist people in finding the area of their interest.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Greet customers with a smile and a verbal hello.
    • Be professional and courteous to all those that enter the library.
    • Offer to assist customers in finding the area of the library and/or the right staff person to assist them with their information need.
    • Become knowledgeable about programs, services, and events happening at the Advanced Learning Library and share accordingly.
    • Become an expert about the locations of library materials, displays, and physical library layout.
    • Assist customers with the self-checkout machines on the 2nd floor as needed.

    Qualifications: Greeter must be friendly, knowledgeable about library services and programs, and able to communicate effectively. Must know where library materials are located and be able to effectively guide customers to those locations.

    Hours: Schedule is flexible. Weekend hours on occasion.

    Working Conditions: Sitting, standing, and walking throughout the building.

    Physical Requirements:

    • Able to move about on foot to accomplish tasks
    • Able to convey simple or detailed directional instructions to customers
    • Able to listen and confirm understanding of customer requests

  • Registration Scanner

    Job Purpose: This is clerical work which will assist the Library in scanning paper registration forms into the Laserfiche scanning software.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Scans documents into Laserfiche software
    • Enters customer information into Laserfiche software
    • Searches in Laserfiche software for scanned files

    Volunteer will be trained to use Laserfiche software.

    Qualifications:

    • Skills: organizational, detail-oriented
    • Ability to use a computer to access, interpret, and record information
    • Ability to scan written forms quickly and accurately for errors
    • Ability to accurately record and file information
    • Ability to learn, within a reasonable period of time, applicable procedures
    • Ability to follow oral and written instructions
    • Ability to write legibly
    • Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates
    • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
    • Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with others
    • Ability to observe differences in copy, to proofread words and numbers
    • A volunteer shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace

    Hours: Monday - Friday for approximately 2-4 hours per day.

    Physical Requirements: Sitting in a chair and looking at a computer monitor for 1-2 hours scanning documents and continuous data entry.

  • Youth Services Morning Volunteer

    Job Purpose: Prepare the library space for customer use.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Cleans and sanitizes surfaces, manipulatives, and internal windows
    • Tidies bookshelves, faces books front
    • Refreshes displays from pre-selected materials

    Qualifications:

    • Ability to follow oral and written instructions
    • Ability to clean and sanitize horizontal and vertical surfaces
    • Ability to match physical materials to entries on a list
    • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
    • Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with others
    • Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with staff
    • A volunteer shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace

    Hours: Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, 9-11 a.m.

    Physical Requirements:

    • Visual acuity to distinguish between different colors
    • Stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching

• Alford Branch Library, 3447 S. Meridian

  • Clerk Assistant

    Job Purpose: This position assists with unpacking, sorting, and processing items from deliveries. Candidate will also be trained to pull and process customer holds requests.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Unpack boxes from deliveries
    • Sort boxes onto carts according to items requested and items returned
    • Scan requested items and put printed sticky label on item
    • Shelve requested items in proper place according to guidelines
    • Scan returned items to make them available at Alford
    • Place returned items on a cart to be shelved
    • Print holds requests
    • Pull holds from shelves
    • Check in holds and sort according to requested location

    Qualifications:

    • Basic alphabetical skills
    • Basic computer skills
    • Good attention to detail
    • Recognize unique situations that may need staff assistance

    Hours: Monday - Friday, 1-3:30 p.m. We are in need of two or three applicants to ensure all days are covered.

• Angelou Northeast Branch, 3051 E. 21st

  • Computer Volunteer

    Job Purpose: To assist customers with various computer issues.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    Work in this position includes:

    • Assisting customers with the internet, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher
    • Being able to assist customers in saving files, creating email accounts, applying for online jobs, uploading and sending files, printing documents, etc.

    Qualifications:

    The following skills are needed for this position:

    • Need to be customer service-oriented
    • Have knowledge of computer programs
    • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
    • Understanding and respecting customer confidentiality when assisting customers with their work

    Hours: Schedule is flexible during the branch's regular hours of operation, Tuesdays 1-8 p.m. and Wednesdays through Saturdays 1-6 p.m.

• Linwood Park Branch Library, 1901 S. Kansas

  • Clerk Assistant

    Job Purpose: This position assists with unpacking, sorting, and processing items from deliveries. Candidate will also be trained to pull and process customer holds requests.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Unpack boxes from deliveries
    • Sort boxes onto carts according to items requested and items returned
    • Scan requested items and put printed sticky label on item
    • Shelve requested items in proper place according to guidelines
    • Scan returned items to make them available at Linwood
    • Place returned items on a cart to be shelved
    • Print holds requests
    • Pull holds from shelves
    • Check in holds and sort according to requested location

    Qualifications:

    • Basic alphabetical skills
    • Basic computer skills
    • Good attention to detail
    • Recognize unique situations that may need staff assistance

    Hours: Monday, 1-3 p.m.; Tuesday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

• Rockwell Branch Library, 5939 E. 9th

  • Deliveries Assistant

    Job Purpose: This adult volunteer position assists library staff with unpacking and checking in of library materials deliveries and processing and shelving delivery hold requests.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Unpack delivery boxes
    • Use the library's computer system to check in material and process requested material
    • Shelve processed requested material on holds shelves, shifting and straightening the shelves as needed
    • Work efficiently, making good use of time
    • Abide by all volunteer, library, and city policy and procedures

    Qualifications:

    • Computer experience
    • Ability to file alphabetically
    • Ability to work a regular schedule
    • Self-motivated and able to work with limited supervision
    • Enthusiastic attitude and willingness to learn new tasks
    • Professional demeanor

    Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Applicants may apply for one or more shifts.

    Working Conditions: Must be able to work in a busy, active environment without distraction.

    Physical Requirements: Must be able to stand, sit, bend, and kneel for long periods of time with reasonable accommodation. Must be able to push a cart weighing up to 250 pounds.

  • Requests Processing Assistant

    Job Purpose: This adult volunteer position assists library staff with pulling requested material from shelves using a list, straightening of library shelves, and shelving of library materials.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Locate and pull requested material from a list
    • Straightening library shelves and shifting material as needed
    • Shelve requested material on holds shelf, shifting and straightening area as needed
    • Shelve library material as needed
    • Work efficiently, making good use of time

    Qualifications:

    • Ability to file alphabetically and numerically according to library shelving rules
    • Ability to work regular schedule
    • Self-motivated and able to work with limited supervision
    • Enthusiastic attitude and willingness to learn new tasks
    • Professional demeanor

    Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, approximately 4-6 p.m. Applicants may apply for one or more shifts.

    Working Conditions: Must be able to work in a busy, active environment without distraction.

    Physical Requirements: Must be able to stand, sit, bend, and kneel for long periods of time with reasonable accommodation. Must be able to push a cart weighing up to 250 pounds.

• Friends of the Wichita Public Library (inside the Advanced Learning Library)

  For questions or more information about volunteering with the Friends of the Wichita Public Library, contact Melissa Baum, Operations Manager, at fwplbooks@gmail.com.

  • Used Bookstore Desk Workers

    Duties and Responsibilities: The duties include counting money and working the desk for a 3-4 hour shift. The volunteer is responsible for helping the public when they are paying for their items. The volunteer is mainly sitting for the shift. The volunteers also help out by straightening the shelves.

    Hours: Monday 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., Tuesday - Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

    Skills: Need to be able to handle and count money, and handle books.

  • Used Bookstore Substitute Desk Workers

    Duties and Responsibilities: The duties are the same for the Desk Worker but instead of a regular schedule substitutes are called on an on-call basis. If a permanent volunteer is absent for any reason a substitute is called in. You can decline when called if you are unable to help on the day and time you are called.

    Hours: Monday 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., Tuesday - Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

    Skills: Need to be able to handle and count money, and handle books.

  • Used Book Sale

    The Friends hold special sales throughout the year. Responsibilities may include helping customers, sorting and stacking books, and event set up and tear down.