Volunteer Opportunities

A volunteer at the Friends Cafe posing while preparing a beverage.

Become a Volunteer with the Friends

Friends of the Alameda Free Library is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that provides essential support to the Library and it's programs.

You'd be surprised by the variety of talents and abilities that are helpful to our organization. If you don't see an opportunity that fits your interests listed here, reach out anyway!

Fill out our volunteer interest form and our volunteer coordinator will contact you soon. Email [email protected] if you have any questions. We look forward to speaking with you about how you can help!

Friends of the Alameda Free Library participates with a variety of Employer Volunteer Programs matching your volunteer time with corporate gifts. Let us know if your company offers these programs and we'll be happy to coordinate with your HR department.

Please note that volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Minors must also obtain parental/guardian permissions to participate.

In-person Volunteer Opportunities

  • Book Sorting
    • We need volunteers to help us sort through book donations at the warehouse on Alameda Point. Two-hour book sorting shifts occur on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Sorters place books in their appropriate genre bin and box up books.
  • Book Moving
    • We move a lot of books. We are looking for volunteers with large SUVs or trucks to pick up donations, move book boxes to and from storage and/or help pack books for storage for the Used Book Sales. Please join us if you have a reliable vehicle and can comfortably lift up to 40 pounds.
  • Used Book Sales
    • There are two to three Used Book Sales throughout the calendar year, typically in February, May and October. The sales are held in the Stafford Room, Family Study Room and Books & Bites Cafe at the Main Library. Sales require the support of 70 to 80 volunteers per sale. We need volunteers to help set up, breakdown, monitor book tables and assist patrons. Please click here if you would like to volunteer at one of these sales.
  • Books For Friends
    • Friends has a used bookshop named Books For Friends (BFF) inside the Main Library. BFF is open Wednesdays from 12 to 6 pm and Thursdays through Saturdays from 12 to 4 pm.
    • BFF accepts volunteers who can commit to working a regular weekly two to four hour schedule for two or more months at a time. Volunteers work to shelve books, keep the shop clean and sort and price merchandise). On the job training is offered.
  • Books & Bites Cafe
    • The Cafe is located inside the Main Library and is currently open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Shifts are two to four hours in length and duties include serving coffee, tea, soft drinks, and snacks to patrons. Completion of a food handling course is required and assistance is available.
    • The Cafe is currently in need of drivers to pick up pastries from Firebrand on Alameda Point and deliver them to the Cafe on Monday, Wednesday and/or Friday mornings. Please text Joni Mahler at 510-205-9594 if you have a reliable vehicle and are able to help out one to three mornings a week.
  • Live @ the Library concert series
    • FAL organizes an annual concert series every year, bringing live music to the Library.
    • We are always looking for volunteers interested in helping put together this incredible event.

Sign up to volunteer today!

Remote Volunteer Opportunities

Communications & Public Relations

Do you have experience with public relations and communications, graphic arts, web development, or social media? Do you enjoy copywriting or editing? Apply your strengths to our Communications Committee and help us spread the word about the important work carried out by the Friends. Our Communications Committee meets on the second Monday of every month at 6:30pm on Zoom.

We are currently in need of volunteers to take on the following roles:

  • Communications Committee member
  • Graphic Artist / Designer
  • Social Media Manager
  • Marketing project management

Friends @ Home Online Programming

We continue to offer our popular Friends @ Home online programming, which involves producing monthly art docent presentations and/or author talks. There are many opportunities to become involved in this program, whether in front of or behind the camera. Are you a bookworm who would enjoy interviewing authors about their latest books? Are you a Zoom webinar whiz who likes to work behind the scenes to ensure that presentations run smoothly? Do you have connections with artists or authors that would be of interest to the community? Let us know how you’d like to become involved!

Technology & Digital Services

FAL manages several digital platforms and services for everything from internal work collaboration to website hosting. If you are comfortable with complex digital systems and are excited to troubleshoot pesky software bugs, please reach out and join the Technology & Digital Services Committee!

Volunteer Management

We have hundreds of volunteers in our organization and organizing and scheduling them for specific roles takes several people. If you have an interest in working from home while meeting new people then volunteer management is for you!

Event Sponsorships

Sponsoring programming with Friends of the Alameda Free Library and underwriting program fees is an amazing opportunity for marketing your company, or simply declaring your love of libraries and literary life! Sponsorship benefits include online advertising exposure for your business online. Please reach out to discuss what we can do for your business.

For more information on how to sponsor, please contact:

Marcie Soslau Johnson