Pleasanton Public Library welcomes and encourages volunteers.
There are no waiting lists for volunteers, just waiting lists for those that need them.

Adult Volunteer Opportunities

The Friends of the Pleasanton Library is a volunteer organization whose purpose is to support the library and to supplement library services and materials.

BUY BOOKS from the Friends of the Library at Amazon.

The Friends have a year round magazine and paperback book sale in the library and have two major book sales a year. The Friends are always looking for volunteers to sort, set-up, and run the book sales and to sort and restock magazines and paperbacks year round.

Members of the Friends volunteer team shelve children's books, videos & CD's; mend books, process and shelve magazines; and serve as docents for our genealogy collection.

Contact: Nancy Bering (925) 462-4368.

Homebound Service Volunteers

The Library provides homebound residents with access to Library materials through its Homebound Service Program. After a short orientation, adult volunteers use their new Outreach Services card to take books, videos and CD's to community residents. Volunteers may take materials to one or more individuals. For an application or more information.

Contact: Jan Bauman at 931-3411

Pleasanton Reads Project

Pleasanton Reads depends on volunteer tutors to provide one-on-one instruction in both basic literacy and English as a second language to residents over 18 who are struggling with reading and writing.  Library staff train adult volunteers and then pair them with a student.  Students and tutors usually meet once per week for 1-2 hours at a mutually convenient time and place. Tutoring and all necessary materials are free of charge.

Contact:  Jan Bauman at (925) 931-3411 or jbauman@ci.pleasanton.ca.us

Teen Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Information Meetings

Teens in high school may volunteer at the library at various times of the year.
Twice a year, in the Spring and Fall, teens may help out with the Friends of the Library Book Sale.

From May through July, teens support the Children's Summer Reading Program by creating decorations, ushering at larger programs or working with Kid-Power volunteers on game-day.

Students (not parents please) will need to set up an appointment to meet briefly with the Teen Services Librarian and fill out an application to get on the e-mail notification list. Students will be notified about volunteer opportunities from the library and other local organizations.

Students are encouraged to look at the blog: www.ptownteenlib.blogspot.com to see what is available before they e-mail Teresa Parham at tparham@ci.pleasanton.ca.us

Middle School Volunteer Opportunities

The children's department welcomes middle school volunteers to help run the library's summer reading program. Students must attend one of the one-hour training sessions offered in June or July before volunteering.

"Kid Power Volunteers" help children sign up for and play the summer reading game, as well as distribute prizes. Volunteers sign up for 1 or 2 hour periods at a time during any hours the library is open. Scheduling is very flexible to work around vacations and other activities and it is fun to work with other middle school volunteers and encourage children to read! Those volunteering 8 hours or more during the summer are invited to a fun party in August.

During the school year volunteer opportunities are limited. Students may add their name to a list to be called to work on an occasional special project. We encourage students to plan ahead and use the unlimited hours available in the summer to accumulate needed volunteer or leadership hours.

Contact: Children's Desk (925) 931-3400 Ext. 8

Booklegger Program

The Booklegger Program is a volunteer opportunity for adults who love to read and enjoy children.

Bookleggers take library books into the public schools in Pleasanton, from kindergarten through grade eight, reading picture books, booktalking novels, demonstrating craft books and science experiments and encouraging children to read.

Booklegger training classes are offered twice yearly.

Contact: Chris Spitzel at (925) 931-3400, ext. 26 or cspitzel@ci.pleasanton.ca.us