Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is a great way to provide meaningful service to our community and to meet people from all walks of life.
Become a Library Volunteer
Develop skills, share your talents and make a difference in your community. Library volunteers help kids and teens with homework, tutor adult English learners, assist librarians with programs and events and more. If no volunteer roles are listed, there are no openings at this time.
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Homework Help Tutor
Want to support K-12 students? Join us as a Homework Help tutor! In addition to helping with homework, tutors also work with students to develop literacy, math, and learning skills. Our most common subject question is math.
We are currently looking for additional tutors for the following library locations:
- Broadview (Wednesday afternoons)
- Columbia (Tuesday afternoons and evenings, Wednesday evenings)
- High Point (Monday - Wednesday afternoons)
- Lake City (Tuesday - Thursday evenings, Thursday afternoons)
- New Holly (Thursday evenings)
- Northgate (Monday afternoons, Tuesday - Wednesday afternoons and evenings)
- Rainier Beach (Monday afternoons, Wednesday afternoons and evenings)
Shifts are 1.5-2 hours per week throughout the school year. We are also looking for substitutes at most of these locations.
For more information and to apply, please visit: Homework Help Application.
Applicants may be contacted beginning in July, and then throughout the 2025-2026 school year. Volunteer service begins in late September or early October. If possible, we request a commitment for the entire school year (October - June).
Volunteers must be 18 or older. Please contact volunteer@spl.org with any questions.
Volunteer: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out if there are currently volunteer openings for adults?
Available opportunities are listed on this page. Because of considerable interest in volunteering at the Library, we are unable to place all interested volunteers.
Visit the following websites to learn about other volunteer opportunities that are available in the community.
What is the time commitment for volunteering?
Adult Tutors and Homework Helpers typically volunteer once a week for two hours. We request a six-month commitment. If you are looking for a short-term volunteer opportunity, contact:
How do I complete court-mandated community service hours?
You cannot complete court-mandated hours at The Seattle Public Library, but you can fulfill this requirement at other local organizations, including:
- Seattle Parks and Recreation’s volunteer work parties
- Food Lifeline and local food banks
- United Way of King County
- VolunteerMatch
How can I volunteer with the Friends of The Seattle Public Library?
The Friends of The Seattle Public Library is a nonprofit group that supports fundraising and advocacy on behalf of the Library. They offer volunteer positions at their book sales and in the FriendShop at the Central Library. Find out how to get involved with the Friends.
Can my group work on a service project with the Library?
We do not offer service projects for groups of volunteers. The following organizations offer volunteer opportunities for groups:
Where can I earn service learning hours for high school graduation?
While we are not currently offering teen service learning programs at The Library, we have suggestions for other teen learning opportunities in your community.
Are student internships offered for college students?
Students who are enrolled in the MLIS program at the University of Washington are eligible to apply for a Directed Fieldwork Internship at The Seattle Public Library. Students of color are encouraged to apply. Contact your academic adviser for more information. Visit Student Internships to learn about the City of Seattle’s internships for students.