Want to Volunteer?
Volunteer opportunities in our libraries change regularly. See our Volunteer at the Library form for current opportunities and to apply.
There are also opportunities available with the Library's Friends groups and the Wisconsin Book Festival, and we have some great internships too! See below for details.
Volunteer Opportunities
Friends of the Madison Public Library
Volunteer at the Friends' Book Store, library book sales, or helping with special projects at the Central Library, or contact your local library to find out more about their Friends group and volunteer options.
Current volunteer openings:
Volunteer Outreach Coordinator. Be the front face of the Friends with potential volunteers. Duties include: monitoring the online volunteer application process, screening potential volunteers for interest (bookstore clerk, book sales, book sorting, etc.) and connecting volunteers to managers of those Friends activities, and assisting with the scheduling of book sale volunteers, including reminder calls. Commitment of 2-5 hours per week (with a little more during the week before each of the four books sales held annually). If interested, contact the Friends for more details.
Friends' Shop Assistant. Work at the Friends of Madison Public Library used book shop. Duties include: customer assistance and cash handling, stocking shelves, cleaning, organizing and other duties as assigned. Minimum commitment of 4 hours per week. If interested, contact the Friends for more details.
Wisconsin Book Festival
The Library needs volunteers like you to help put on the Wisconsin Book Festival in September and October of each year.
If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities with this four-day festival, check out the "Get Involved" page on the Wisconsin Book Festival website.
Internships
Madison Public Library works with internship students from many different disciplines. Current internship opportunities include:
Library Studies Graduate Students
Want to gain valuable experience working in an urban public library? Madison Public Library accepts 1-5 practicum students per semester from the UW-Madison Information School as well as distance education programs in Library Studies if students are based in Madison. Contact your school's advisor or the library for more information.
For more information on internships, or to discuss other internship opportunities, please contact Tana Elias, Digital Services & Marketing Manager, at 608-266-4953 or telias@madisonpubliclibrary.org.