Thinking of Becoming a Volunteer?
Our Community Library
Stoneleigh Library is run entirely by a family of volunteers for the benefit of our community.
We have many and varied roles so you'll probably find something you'll really enjoy doing and it only needs to be for a few hours a month.
We rely on people just like you to keep this local resource available for everyone.
The Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteering helps you make new friends, increases your confidence and lets you play a part in your community. It can also give you a better chance of getting paid work or improving your career prospects. In particular, it can help you to:
- Learn something new
- Put your experience and skills to good use
- Discover new hobbies and interests
- Include volunteering experience on your CV
- Show potential employers you can handle a commitment
So why not have some fun doing something that gives you a sense of satisfaction and achievement?
Many Different Volunteering Roles
Our family of volunteers is considerable and there are a number of roles to choose from, depending on your abilities and interests.
If you're not sure or would like to try different things, then you can join as a general volunteer, which is an essential role that we rely on to deliver our day-to-day core service to the community.
Below are details of our General and Specialist Volunteering Roles.
General Volunteering
There are so many ways to get involved at Stoneleigh Community Library, and you don't need any specialist skills to make a real difference. If you enjoy meeting people, love being part of a community and want to spend some of your time doing something genuinely worthwhile, this could be just the thing.
Stoneleigh Community Library is run entirely by volunteers. Every shift covered, every book returned to its shelf, and every customer welcomed through the door is made possible by people just like you giving a little of their time. We'd love to have you on the team.
As a General Volunteer, you'll be a familiar and friendly face in the library, helping customers to get the most from everything we offer. You'll work alongside our Lead Volunteer and the rest of the team, with full training and plenty of support from day one. No two shifts are quite the same, which is part of what makes the role so enjoyable.
We are not currently recruiting for general volunteers.
What You'll Be Doing
As a general library volunteer, your day-to-day tasks will include opening and closing the library alongside the Lead Volunteer, helping customers to borrow, renew or return items using the self-service kiosk, and returning books and other items to the right place on shelves and displays. You'll also help customers log on to the public computers or Wi-Fi, and use the till to take cash or card payments for printing and other items. After training, you'll be able to use the library computer system to help with a range of day-to-day tasks.
There's also plenty of scope to get more involved if you'd like to. Many of our volunteers find themselves taking on activities they'd never considered before, and loving it.
Other Ways to Get Involved
There are lots of ways to support the running of the library without necessarily being on the frontline. Some of our volunteers help with admin tasks or support events and regular activities. Others enjoy creating eye-catching book and wall displays, or getting creative with children's craft sessions. There are opportunities to run Rhymetime or Storytime sessions for pre-school children, organise school visits, build links with local schools, or help to promote the library through social media, email newsletters or the website. Whatever your interests and skills, there's likely to be a way to put them to good use.
What We Expect from Our Volunteers
We ask all our volunteers to be polite and treat customers and fellow volunteers with respect, to follow our procedures and guidelines, and to be ready to take part in appropriate training. We also ask that you let your team leader know in good time if you're unable to make a shift. Maintaining confidentiality is important too. These are simple things, and they help make the library a welcoming place for everyone.
What We're Looking for
We're not looking for any particular qualifications or previous experience. What matters most is that you're friendly, reliable and genuinely keen to be part of something good. If you enjoy being around people and want to contribute to the local community, you'll fit right in.
What You'll Get in Return
You'll become part of a warm, welcoming and supportive team of volunteers who share a real passion for their local library. Full training is provided, and you'll never be left to figure things out on your own. Many of our volunteers say that their time at the library is one of the most rewarding things they do each week.
Whether you give a couple of hours a week or a little more, your contribution makes a genuine difference to this library and to the community it serves.
How to Apply
Applying is easy. Click the link below to complete our short online application form. Tell us a little about yourself and what draws you to volunteering at the library. We'd love to hear from you.
Ready to apply? We'd love to hear from you. Click the link below to complete our short online application form.
It only takes a few minutes. Apply now.
Volunteering for Specific Activities
At Stoneleigh Library we regularly have events and activities which benefit from particular support. As a volunteer for specific activities you'll be a warm and welcoming face for children from toddlers to teens, for the seniors in our community – and everyone in between.
We are seeking people with special skills in helping with activities including:
- Regular Thursday coffee mornings
- Children's activities:
- School visits
- Craft events
- Rhymetimes and storytimes
If you enjoy meeting people, love being part of a community and want to spend some of your time doing something genuinely worthwhile, this could be just the thing
How to Apply
Applying is easy. Click the link below to complete our short online application form. Tell us a little about yourself and what draws you to volunteering at the library. We'd love to hear from you.
Ready to apply? We'd love to hear from you. Click the link below to complete our short online application form.
It only takes a few minutes. Apply now.
Duke of Edinburgh (DoE) volunteering
Our volunteer programme offers valuable experience in library operations whilst supporting personal development. We operate with carefully managed volunteer numbers to ensure everyone is assigned meaningful tasks, and receives proper support. The volunteer programme is therefore extremely popular; opportunities are always in demand.
Stoneleigh Community Library receives an exceptionally high number of enquiries from young people keen to complete their volunteering requirements.
Fill in an application form if you wish to be considered.
Those seeking alternative volunteering venues should contact their school Duke of Edinburgh coordinator.
Volunteer Website Editor
As Website Volunteer, you'll join our Communications Team and work closely with our Content Manager. Together, you'll make sure the website reflects everything that's happening at the library. It's a flexible role that can be done from home, at a pace that works for you.
We use WordPress to manage the website. If you've used it before, that's great. If not, don't worry. We'll provide a proper introduction and make sure you feel comfortable before you start working on anything live. WordPress is designed to be straightforward, and most people pick it up quickly with a little guidance.
What You'll Be Doing
Your main tasks will involve adding new articles and event listings to the website, updating text and images as things change, and making sure that all information is current, well presented and easy to read. You might be adding details of an upcoming author event one week, and updating our volunteering page the next. No two updates are quite the same, which keeps the work interesting.
You'll also play a small but important role in making sure the library stays visible to the community it serves. When people search online for things to do in Stoneleigh, or look for their nearest library, a well-maintained website makes all the difference.
What We're Looking for
We're looking for someone with a good eye for detail who takes care to make sure things are accurate and well written. You'll need to be comfortable working with computers and happy to pick up new tools as needed. Reliability matters a great deal in this role. Our website needs to be updated consistently, so we need someone who can be counted on to be available and to follow through.
Some understanding of web design or content management is helpful, but it's not essential. Much more important is that you write clearly, check your work carefully and take pride in presenting information well. If you're comfortable using a computer for everyday tasks and you enjoy the idea of helping your local library stay connected to the community, you're already most of the way there.
What You'll Get in Return
You'll gain practical, hands-on experience of website content management using WordPress, which is one of the most widely used platforms in the world. That's a genuinely useful skill to have. You'll also be part of a warm and welcoming Communications Team, working alongside people who are enthusiastic about what they do.
Most of all, you'll be helping to make sure that Stoneleigh Community Library stays visible, connected and relevant to the people who depend on it. That's something to feel good about.
How to Apply
Click the link below to complete our short online application form. Tell us a little about your experience with computers and websites, and why you'd like to get involved. We'd love to hear from you.
Ready to apply? We'd love to hear from you. Click the link below to complete our short online application form.
Ready to apply? We'd love to hear from you. Click the link below to complete our short online application form.
It only takes a few minutes. Apply now
Young Person Work Experience Volunteer
We currently have NO work experience slots for 2026 available.
We offer work experience placements for young people aged 14 and over who are currently in secondary school. Placements typically last for one week, in line with most schools' work experience programmes, and take place during the library's normal opening hours. We're open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, so there are plenty of sessions to fit into your school's chosen week.
You'll work alongside our experienced team of volunteers, who will make sure you're looked after, kept busy and always know what you're doing. You won't be left to figure things out on your own. We'll give you a proper introduction on your first day and make sure you feel part of the team from the start.
Please note that all placements are subject to approval from your school and, for students under 16, will require signed parental or guardian consent. Your school's work experience coordinator will be able to help with the paperwork.
What You'll Be Doing
During your placement, you'll get a real taste of how a community library works from day to day. You'll help to keep the shelves tidy and make sure books and other items are in the right place. You'll meet and assist customers who come in to borrow, return or renew items, and learn how to use the library's self-service kiosk.
You'll also have the chance to help with creating book and display boards, supporting any events or activities running that week, and general day-to-day tasks that keep the library looking its best.
Depending on your interests and what's happening during your placement week, you might also get involved with social media or helping to write content for the library's communications. We'll do our best to make sure your week is as varied and interesting as possible.
What You'll Learn
By the end of your placement, you'll have experienced what it's like to be part of a working team, dealt with real customers in a real community setting, and taken on tasks that require care, reliability, and a willingness to get stuck in. These are exactly the kinds of skills that schools, colleges and future employers look for.
You'll also come away with a much better sense of what goes into running a community organisation. Libraries are about far more than books. They're about people, connection and making a local area a better place to live. Being part of that, even for a week, is something worth having on your CV.
What We're Looking for
We welcome applications from young people of all backgrounds and interests. You don't need any particular qualifications or previous experience. What we do ask is that you turn up on time, give things your best effort, treat customers and volunteers with respect, and follow the library's guidelines. If you do those things, you'll get on just fine.
A genuine interest in reading, people or community is always a plus, but it's certainly not a requirement. Curious, enthusiastic and willing to try new things is all we're really looking for.
A Note for Parents and Guardians
Stoneleigh Community Library is a safe, welcoming and well-supervised environment. Young people on work experience placements are supported by our team of trained adult volunteers at all times. We take the welfare of young visitors and volunteers seriously, and we're happy to answer any questions you may have before a placement begins. Please call in to the library and speak to one of our friendly volunteers, or email us at info@stoneleighlibrary.org.uk.
A Note for Teachers and Work Experience Coordinators
We're happy to work with local schools to arrange placements that fit your programme's requirements. We can provide a placement confirmation letter, a brief overview of planned activities for the week, and feedback at the end of the placement if your school requires it. Please make contact in good time before the requested placement dates, as availability is limited. The best way to get in touch is through the application form below, call in to the library and speak to one of our friendly volunteers, or email us at info@stoneleighlibrary.org.uk.
How to Apply
If you're a student who'd like to apply for a work experience placement, click the link below to complete our short online application form. Tell us a little about yourself, which school you attend, your preferred placement dates and why you'd like to spend your work experience week at Stoneleigh Community Library. We'd love to hear from you.
When more slots become available, a link to our Work Experience Volunteer application form will be here.
Find out more
If you'd just like to know a little more about how you can help your local community…
Please call in to the library and speak to one of our friendly volunteers, or email us at info@stoneleighlibrary.org.uk.
