Role Summary

Role Title: Children’s Library Stock Support Volunteer

Responsible to: Senior member of library staff on duty

Location: Children’s Library in Central Library

Role Purpose: to assist library staff in the general day to day organisation and maintenance of stock in the Children’s Library, including fulfilling customer reservations and shelf tidying.

Details:

Volunteers should 

• have an interest in libraries. 
• have excellent skills in literacy and numeracy. 
• understand that duties will include searching through low level book boxes, standing, pushing trolleys, reaching up to high shelves and some carrying of equipment. This therefore requires a good standard of fitness, mobility and stamina. 

After appropriate training, the volunteer should be able to carry out the role with minimum supervision, including:

• locating books requested by customers.
• ensuring the general tidiness of the library and stock (ordering shelves, shelf tidying, flagging damaged stock to staff).
• accurately shelving returned stock.
• being able to operate safely under Health and Safety guidelines.

Training available:

• Induction.
• Shelving training.

Role Summary

Role title: Code Club volunteer

Responsible to: Designated member of library staff

Role purpose:

• To help children use code club activity sheets to make games, websites and animations.
• To lead basic computer coding tuition for approximately 20 children aged 8-12 with support from library staff.

Volunteering with code club is a way to develop coding skills and help the local community.

Details: 

You must be at least 16 years old to undertake this role.

Volunteers should:

• be willing to undertake a DBS check.
• be willing to sign up at the official UK code club website as a volunteer.
• undertake training available on the code club website.
• prepare for the code club activities each week.
• be comfortable using coding languages like Scratch.
• have an interest in libraries and work with library staff to run the club.
• be able to offer basic IT support and provide good customer care.
• have good communication skills.
• be available for 2 hours each week (currently Monday) to help with the code club session at Central Library.
• commit for at least one school term (approximately 10 - 12 weeks)
• preferably (not essential) have experience of teaching or instructing - but training and help will be provided.
• be responsible for conducting a session and work in a team of 2-3 volunteers.

Training available:   

• Induction.
• Code club online training.
• Possibly shadowing an existing code club volunteer.

Milton Keynes City Council expects all employees and those undertaking voluntary activity to take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of any child or adult involved in any activity or interaction for which they are responsible. Any person responsible for or working with children or vulnerable adults in any capacity, whether paid or unpaid, is considered both legally and morally, to owe them a duty of care. This includes a duty to behave in a manner that does not threaten, harm or put people at risk of harm from others. All employees working for or on behalf of the Council have a duty to report any child or vulnerable adult protection or welfare concerns.

Role Summary

Role title: English conversation club volunteer

Responsible to: Designated member of staff

Role purpose:

• To coordinate and lead an informal conversation group of mixed ability ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) visitors.
• To work with other volunteers to plan and guide the conversation session.
• To help group members improve their confidence speaking English and encourage them to join in.
• To help the group share cultural interests and arrange activities accordingly.

This role will help group members with their English and help integration and understanding of different cultures.

Details: 

You must be at least 18 years old to undertake this role.

Volunteers should:

• have an interest in libraries.
• be able to work with library staff to run the club.
• provide good customer care.
• have a good level of spoken English and good communication skills.
• be available for two hours every week.
• preferably have experience of teaching and instructing (not essential).
• be friendly, enthusiastic and good at speaking with a diverse range of people.
• be a team player.
• be diplomatic and constructive when dealing with any differences of opinion which may arise.

Training:

• Induction including health and safety.

Other requirements:   

We would appreciate a commitment of two hours each week.

Role Summary

Role title: Family history volunteer

Responsible to: Senior member of library staff on duty

Role purpose:

• To support customers with family history enquiries and help customers online.
• To provide tutorials, preferably on a one-to-one basis, and help with family history resources such as Ancestry and parish records (prior knowledge would be useful).

Details:

• Volunteers should have an interest in libraries and genealogy.
• Duties will involve helping customers with family history enquiries and providing basic tuition using the Ancestry website.
• Good customer care is required.
• Experience of teaching/instructing is desirable but training and help will be provided. 
• After appropriate training, duties will extend to more detailed customer family history enquiries.

Skills required:

• Knowledge of free family history resources
• Customer care
• IT skills
• Teaching/instruction
• Good communication skills

Training available:

• Induction.
• Access to Ancestry.

Other requirements:

We would appreciate a commitment of at least two hours each week.

Role Summaries

Role title: Volunteer home library service deliverer

Responsible to: Senior member of library staff

Role purpose:

The volunteer home library service deliverer takes and collects library books and/or other library items to customers who are unable to visit the library themselves.

Details:

You must be at least 18 years old to undertake this role.

Volunteers should:

• Volunteers need to have a current driving licence and their own vehicle, with their own motor insurance.
• Volunteers should be reliable and friendly individuals with good listening skills.
• Some experience of working with vulnerable adults is desirable.
• Volunteers will be given a regular round delivering books to approximately 2-8 customers fortnightly or monthly, depending on their branch/round. Days and times can be agreed.
• Duties will involve light lifting and handling of books, therefore a good standard of fitness, mobility and stamina is required.
• A volunteer deliverer acts as a link between the customer and the library so good communication skills are important.
• The volunteer will listen to feedback from customers about the books provided and make sure it's communicated back to library staff.
• All volunteers are covered by Milton Keynes Council’s Insurance policy (although your own motor insurance is required).

Training available:

• Induction.
• Possible shadowing of staff or another volunteer.

Milton Keynes City Council expects all employees and those undertaking voluntary activity to take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of any child or adult involved in any activity or interaction for which they are responsible.

Any person responsible for or working with children or vulnerable adults in any capacity, whether paid or unpaid, is considered both legally and morally, to owe them a duty of care. This includes a duty to behave in a manner that does not threaten, harm or put people at risk of harm from others. All employees working for or on behalf of the council have a duty to report any child or vulnerable adult protection or welfare concerns.

Other requirements:

• Volunteers will need to be available for around 2 - 4 hours monthly by agreement.  
• Volunteers will need a current driving licence and their own vehicle
• Expenses for mileage will be paid and volunteers should ensure that their motor insurance policy covers this activity.

Role title: Home Library Service Relief Delivery volunteer

Location: Any branch library as needed

Responsible to: Senior member of library staff

Role Purpose:

To cover sickness and holidays as needed for Home Library Service volunteers, delivering and collecting library books and/or other library items to customers who are unable to visit the library themselves.

Details: 

You must be at least 18 years old to undertake this role.

• Volunteers will be contacted when needed to cover sickness or holidays to deliver books to approximately 2-8 customers, depending on the branch/round. This could be for any branch or area in Milton Keynes.
• Volunteers need to have a current driving licence and their own vehicle, with their own motor insurance.
• Volunteers should be reliable and friendly individuals with good listening skills.
• Some experience of working with vulnerable adults is desirable.
• Duties will involve light lifting and handling of books, therefore a good standard of fitness, mobility and stamina is required.
• A volunteer deliverer acts as a link between the customer and the library so good communication skills are important.
• The volunteer will listen to feedback from customers about the books provided and make sure it is communicated back to library staff.
• All volunteers are covered by Milton Keynes Council’s Insurance policy (though own motor insurance is required).
• Induction.
• Possible shadowing of staff or another volunteer.
• This is a relief role so regular volunteer hours are not guaranteed and will change depending on need.
• Volunteers will need a current driving licence and their own vehicle.
• Expenses for mileage will be paid and volunteers should ensure that their motor insurance policy covers this activity.

Other Requirements:

• This is a relief role so regular volunteer hours are not guaranteed and will change depending on need.
• Volunteers will need a current driving licence and their own vehicle.
• Expenses for mileage will be paid and volunteers should ensure that their motor insurance policy covers this activity.

Training available:

• Induction.
• Possible shadowing of staff or another volunteer.

Role Summary

Role title: Volunteer IT Buddy

Responsible to: Senior member of library staff on duty

Role purpose:

• To provide basic computer skills tuition and help library customers to get online.
• To provide tutorials, usually on a one-to-one basis and offer help on basic IT functions and knowledge.

Details: 

You must be at least 18 years old to undertake this role.

Volunteers should:

• have an interest in libraries.
• be able to offer basic IT tuition and support.
• use recognised websites to provide the initial training.
• assist with customer IT enquiries, for example: setting up an email address, using social media, searching for jobs online and guiding users through online shopping.
• preferably have experience of teaching/instructing/guiding but training and assistance will be provided.
• have good communication skills and provide good customer care.
• be willing to commit to regular sessions as arranged with the branch.

Training available:   

• Induction.
• Guidance from a Librarian regarding online resources to be used.
• Shadowing an existing volunteer, if possible.

Guidelines/policies to follow:

• Confidentiality and discretion
• Patience and the right skills to make sure that:
  • customers are able to complete online transactions themselves; and not to do it instead of them
  • customers are able to take responsibility for the online transactions
  • customers are aware of security measures.

Milton Keynes City Council expects all employees and those undertaking voluntary activity to take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of any child or adult involved in any activity or interaction for which they are responsible. Any person responsible for or working with children or vulnerable adults in any capacity, whether paid or unpaid, is considered both legally and morally, to owe them a duty of care. This includes a duty to behave in a manner that does not threaten, harm or put people at risk of harm from others. All employees working for or on behalf of the Council have a duty to report any child or vulnerable adult protection or welfare concerns.

Role Summary

Role title: Lego club volunteer

Responsible to: Senior member of library staff on duty

Role purpose:

To help library staff provide Lego/Duplo clubs for library users. This includes setting out the area with Lego boxes and tidying up at the end of the session, supervising the activities and interacting with library users.

Details:

Volunteers should:

• have an interest in libraries and interacting with children.
• have a good standard of fitness, mobility and stamina as the role involves lifting and moving boxes of Lego and possibly rearranging light furniture.
• be reliable and friendly.

After appropriate training, the volunteer will be able to carry out the role with minimum supervision, including:

• setting out the Lego resources and area.
• meeting and greeting library users.
• ensuring the general tidiness of the area during and after the club.

Other requirements:

Lego clubs are held at all Milton Keynes libraries at various times. The hours will depend upon which library you are volunteering at. See all the Lego club locations and times on the Event and Activity Information web page.

Role Summary

Role title: Volunteer library shelver

Responsible to: Senior member of library staff on duty

Role purpose:

To shelve library stock accurately ensuring it's accessible for customers, and to assist in the tidying of library stock.

Details:

Volunteers should have an interest in library work. Duties of a library shelver volunteer include standing, pushing trolleys and reaching up to high shelves. This requires a good standard of fitness, mobility and stamina.  

We expect that after appropriate training, the volunteer will be able to carry out the role with minimum supervision, including:

• shelving returned stock.
• keeping the stock in order.
• keeping the library and stock tidy.
• operating safely under health and safety legislation.

Other requirements:

We would appreciate a commitment of at least two hours each week.

Role Title: Library Support Volunteer

Responsible to: Senior member of library staff on duty

Location: any defined branch library in Milton Keynes

Role Purpose: to assist library staff in general day to day library tasks. This will include accurately shelving library stock, assisting with library activities and supporting customers using the library.

Details:

Volunteers should 

• have an interest in libraries.
• understand that duties will include standing, pushing trolleys, reaching up to high shelves and some carrying of equipment, requiring a good standard of fitness, mobility and stamina. 
• have excellent skills in literacy and numeracy. 

After appropriate training, the volunteer should be able to carry out the role with minimum supervision, including:

• accurately shelving returned stock.
• ensuring the general tidiness of the library and stock (shelf tidying, flagging damaged stock to staff).
• assisting with stock deliveries
• helping to set up activities, for example Lego Club or story time.
• providing basic assistance to customers, e.g. offering help with self-service machines, photocopying and library layout. 
• being able to operate safely under Health and Safety guidelines.

Training available:

• Induction.
• Shelving training.

Role Title: Olney Library & Storytime Volunteer

Responsible to: Senior member of library staff on duty

Role Purpose:

To assist in the smooth running of Olney Library during the Storytime session, alternating each week between delivering the story session, and supervising the customer desk, assisting other library users. 

Requirements: 

Volunteers should:

• have an interest in libraries and interacting with families and young children.
• be enthusiastic about books and have good communication skills with young children and adults.
• be reliable and friendly, with good customer service skills.
• have a good standard of fitness, mobility and stamina as the role involves lifting and moving toys and possibly rearranging light furniture.

After appropriate training, the volunteer will be able to carry out the role with minimum supervision, including:

• prepare the space and equipment (e.g. chairs, instruments).
• meet and greet children and their parents/carers.
• engage with children and their parents/carers before and after sessions. 
• lead the session and encourage children and adults to participate.
• help keep a record of the numbers attending Storytime.
• supervise the library desk, providing basic assistance to customers, e.g. offering help with self-service machines, photocopying and locating books.  
• ensure the general tidiness of the library and stock (shelf tidying, accurately shelving returned stock).
• promote library membership, activities and reading initiatives.
• tidy the area and move furniture as required at the end of the session.
• operate safely under Health and Safety guidelines

Training available:

• Induction.
• Possibly shadowing an existing volunteer or staff member.

Role Summary

Role title: Stay and Play volunteer

Responsible to: Senior member of library staff on duty

Role purpose:

To help library staff provide weekly Stay and Play sessions for library users with children under 5. This includes setting out the area with toys, chatting with families and tidying up at the end of the session, supervising the activities and interacting with library users.

Details:

You must be at least 16 years old to undertake this role.

Volunteers should:

• have an interest in libraries and interacting with families and young children.
• have a good standard of fitness, mobility and stamina as the role involves lifting and moving toys and possibly rearranging light furniture.
• be reliable and friendly.

After appropriate training, the volunteer will be able to carry out the role with minimum supervision, including:

• setting out the toys and area.
• meeting and greeting library users.
• ensuring the general tidiness of the area during and after the session.

Other requirements:

There are two locations for this weekly role and volunteers would be required for these hours:

• Bletchley Library on Tuesdays 10-11.45am
• Central Library on Wednesdays 1-2.45pm

Role Summary

Role Title: Storytime Volunteer

Responsible to: Senior member of library staff on duty

Role Purpose:

To assist in the delivery of Milton Keynes Library Service’s Stories, Songs and Rhyme sessions.

Details: 

Volunteers should:

• have an interest in libraries and interacting with families and young children.
• be enthusiastic about books and have good communication skills with young children and adults.
• be reliable and friendly.
• have a good standard of fitness, mobility and stamina as the role involves lifting and moving toys and possibly rearranging light furniture.

After appropriate training, the volunteer will be able to carry out the role with minimum supervision, including:

• Assist in preparing the space and equipment (eg chairs, instruments).
• Meet and greet children and their parents/carers.
• Make customers aware of any health and safety issues (eg buggies blocking walkways).
• Engage with children and their parents/carers before and after sessions.
• Join in the session and encourage children and adults to participate.
• Help keep a record of the numbers attending.
• Promote library membership, activities and reading initiatives.
• Tidy the area and move furniture as required at the end of the session.

Other requirements:

Stories, Song and Rhyme sessions are held at different Milton Keynes libraries at various times. The hours will depend upon which library you are volunteering at.

Training available:

• Induction.
• Possibly shadowing an existing volunteer.

What is the Summer Reading Challenge?

The Summer Reading Challenge (SRC) is a national event produced by the Reading Agency and held across libraries in the UK during the school summer holidays. Children sign up at their local library, then complete reading challenges over the six weeks. 

Volunteers help us with the challenge by signing up children when they come into the library, giving out rewards for reading books, talking to children about the books they have read, helping them choose their next book and promoting the challenge within the library and community. 

Is it right for me? 

You should:

• be aged between 13 and 19 years old.
• have an interest in libraries and enthusiasm for reading.
• enjoy talking to and working with children.
• have good attention to detail – it is important to keep accurate records for the Challenge.
• be reliable, punctual and friendly, and able to work well in a team.

How much time do I need to give?

This year, the Challenge runs from 17 July to 5 September 2026. Your hours will be arranged with the library you are volunteering at. Most volunteers complete 2 - 4 hours of volunteering each week over the summer holidays. It is helpful if we can know in advance any planned holiday.

What will I be doing?

There will be a training session in July to explain how it works. You will then be able to carry out the role with minimum supervision, including:

• promote SRC to children, parents and carers, encouraging them to join in and explaining how it works.
• register children as they join by completing a handwritten record card, updating those cards during children’s return visits and keeping those cards filed correctly.
• talk to children about the books they have read and encourage them in their reading.
• give out stickers, treasure hunt sheets, medals and certificates.
• help keep the library tidy by shelving books and tidying shelves during quieter periods.
• promote the other summer activities going on in the libraries.

Why volunteer?

• To support your local community and share your love of reading with children.
• To develop your confidence and social skills, working as a team and meeting new people
• To have experience representing an organisation and being professional, for example being polite, punctual, observing policies such as mobile phone use and developing your time management and admin skills.
• To add volunteering experience to your UCAS personal statement or CV