Jobs and volunteering at Hertfordshire Libraries

Volunteer to help children complete the Summer Reading Challenge 2026. The challenge runs from 4 July 2026 to 5 September 2026 across Hertfordshire libraries.

Summer Reading Challenge volunteers

My Voice gives young people aged 14-24 the chance to shape their own volunteering experience within Hertfordshire's libraries.  

More about My Voice youth volunteers

My Voice Youth Volunteer opportunities are available at all 30 of our main libraries. The libraries listed below are currently recruiting My Voice Youth Volunteers:

Location and current availability

• Radlett

You will be supporting the library service to provide a range of Early Years activities for children which include Baby Rhyme Times, Storytime, Weekend stories and Family Learning activities.

What will I be doing?

• Help prepare for the activity session
• Meet and greet children, parents and carers
• Manage buggy parking, making customers aware of health and safety
• Keep the children’s area attractive, by tidying and displaying books
• Help children, parents and carers to find books that they will enjoy reading
• Promoting joining the library and My Firsts library incentives, including writing out certificates
• Take part in the activity along with the member of library staff.
  
  

What skills and experience do I need?

• Outgoing and friendly manner with good communication skills
• Comfortable talking and listening to children and their parents/carers
• Comfortable joining in with the activity and encouraging parent/carer involvement
• An interest in promoting the importance of sharing books and rhymes with babies and young children
• Discretion and sensitivity to customer individual needs
• Reliability and flexibility to work as part of the library team delivering Early Years activities.
  
  

How much time do I need to give?

• You will need to be available 1-2 hours per week, to be agreed and organised by the Library Manager
  
  

What experience will I gain?

• Experience working with children and families in a library context
• Increased knowledge of children's books and rhymes
• Experience of helping organise and run events
• Satisfaction from making a difference to children's literacy in your community
• Increased confidence from trying something new.
  
  

What support will I be given?

• An introduction to your local library and the staff who work there.
• Background context to Early Years Activities in Hertfordshire libraries and information about the structure and content of sessions.
• Support and guidance in your role from experienced library staff
• Information about library membership and the My Firsts library joining incentive

An introduction to the range of children's books available in Hertfordshire libraries, including the eLibrary.

Location – current availability

• Buntingford

You will be working in the community to help provide the library service to those who are otherwise unable to reach us.

What will I be doing?

• Selecting and issuing books from your local library.
• Matching books to customers’ requests.
• Arranging a time to visit your Home Library Service customer.
• Delivering a new selection of books to them and returning their previous items to the library.
• Chatting with the customer about books they have read or would like to read.

What skills or experience do I need?

• A Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) enhanced disclosure check is required.
• An interest in books and in delivering a library service within your local community.
• Good social skills, with discretion and sensitivity to customers' needs.
• A caring nature and ability to relate to a wide variety of people.
• Ability to work reliably within a team of library colleagues and volunteers.
• Ability to carry a bag of library books or talking books.
• Ability to travel between your local library and the customer's home.

Location -  current availability 

• Hatfield

You will be helping people to improve their IT skills.

We have opportunities to support our CreatorSpaces in Watford, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Hatfield, Hitchin and Welwyn Garden City.

What will I be doing?

• Assisting people with IT on a one-to-one basis.
• Promoting health and safety using computers and browsing online.
• Provide support and guidance on IT problems.
• Promote the role of IT champion.
• Pass on any technical problems or information enquiries to library staff.

What skills or experience do I need?

• Basic IT skills:
  • Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
  • Browsing the internet
  • Social networking
  • Using a scanner
  • Web-based email.
• Knowledge of internet safety and security.
• Good communication and social skills.
• Sensitivity and discretion to people’s needs.

Location - current availability 

• Bishop’s Stortford
• Croxley Green
• Hertford
• Hoddesdon
• Royston
• St Albans
• Stevenage central library

The role of library events volunteer is to help staff prepare the library for an event, make guests and speakers feel welcome and relaxed, and also to promote any other events and services.

What will I be doing?

• Help to set up equipment before the event starts and tidy up after
• Greeting guests at the door
• Ensure everyone has a seat
• Put refreshments on the table for the speaker
• Serve refreshments to guests
• Promote library events

What skills and qualities do I need?

• An interest in libraries and the services they offer
• Organisational skills
• Good communication
• Ability to travel to libraries
• A warm and welcoming manner
• Reliability and flexibility to work as part of a team

Location - current availability

• Baldock