Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering with the Woodbridge Public Library is an excellent way to give back to your community and help make the libraries a great place for people of all ages to visit. Volunteering is an impressive addition to college and job applications, helps you build workplace skills, and allows you to meet like-minded people in your community while fulfilling much-needed library tasks!

Student Volunteering

We're looking for motivated students that want to make the library an amazing place! Woodbridge Public Library patrons must be in grade 7 - 12 in order to be a student volunteer.

The Woodbridge Public Library system offers several opportunities for volunteering throughout the year. The tasks, availability or details of these programs may differ slightly by location.

Book Hours

Do you love sharing information about your favorite books? If you're in grades 8 through 12 and live in Woodbridge, you could earn volunteer hours just by writing book reviews for the library!
Where: Online
When: All year
Expected involvement: 1-2hrs/week (plus time spent reading)
How to volunteer: Visit our Book Hours page to read the details and conditions and to submit your reviews, then when you're ready to collect your hours email Teen Services at teenservices@woodbridgelibrary.org to arrange getting your volunteering signatures confirming your participation.

Community Service Club

Help us prepare materials for library programs and outreach events, get books ready for our Free Little Libraries, and assist the staff with basic tasks and projects. When you sign in and give us your email address, you'll also be making sure you're the first to hear about other volunteer opportunities as they arise.
Where: All locations
When: All year
Expected involvement: 1hr/meeting
How to volunteer: Visit the Community Service Club page to see upcoming CSC meetings (or find them on our Library Calendar), and then just show up to as many meetings as you'd like!

Event Programming

If you have a special skill or passion you'd like to share with your community (such as art, acting, or origami), the Henry Inman Library might be able to incorporate your skill into a special program! (And if you're not interested in leading a workshop, you may still be able to assist with some of our special programs, such as crochet club, chess club, builders club, etc.) Throughout the year, we may call for assistance for other special programs, as well.
Where: Henry Inman Branch Library
When: All year
Expected involvement: 1hr/program
How to volunteer: Contact the Henry Inman Branch Library to talk with a librarian about how you can help with Event Programming.

National Honor Society Crash Course

If you need volunteer hours last minute for your National Honor Society application and none of the other opportunities here will work, the Fords Library is willing to try helping. This is an eclectic opportunity and we can't tell you how you'll be volunteering, but we'll try to find some way to help you earn some of your hours with the little time you've got to finish in!
Where: Fords Branch Library
When: December
Expected involvement: Typically about 4hrs
How to volunteer: Contact the Fords Branch Library and let them know you need volunteer hours for the National Honor Society.

Reading Buddies

Encourage children to practice reading out loud in a relaxed environment. This isn't tutoring! You may be reading to the student, listening to the student read, or playing educational games with the student to help build their vocabulary. No matter what you'll have fun while discovering characters/stories together!
Where: Henry Inman and Iselin Branch Libraries
When: All year
Expected involvement: Approx. 1hr/week
How to volunteer: Contact the Henry Inman or Iselin Branch Library to sign up to become a Reading Buddy.

Summer Reading Club

Provide assistance during our busy library summer reading program for children, teens and adults from the end of June to August. Help with reading program registration, events, and more!
Where: All Locations
When: June to August
Expected involvement: Up to 5hrs/week
How to volunteer: Contact the Main Library Children's Room or any branch library in April or May to sign up to be a Summer Reading Club Volunteer. (At the Main Library, you can get a special application form for this program.)

Teen Tech Help

Come spend some time at the library and help your community learn to use technology. We'll work out a schedule for you and other teens and invite patrons who seek basic assistance with their computer/device questions to visit us during those hours. Then they can ask questions and learn from you!
Where: Henry Inman Branch Library
When: All year
Expected involvement: Approx. 2hrs/week
How to volunteer: Contact the Henry Inman Branch Library to sign up for Teen Tech Help.

Winter Reading Challenge

Provide assistance during the winter reading program for children in January to March. Help with reading program registration, events, and more!
Where: Henry Inman Branch Library
When: January to March
Expected involvement: Up to 5hrs/week
How to volunteer: Contact the Henry Inman Branch Library in December to sign up to be a Winter Reading Challenge volunteer.

Adult Volunteering

Owing to the need for community service hours, the majority of our volunteering opportunities are intended for teen students, but adults can help the library, too!

The Woodbridge Public Library system offers several opportunities for volunteering throughout the year. The tasks, availability or details of these programs may differ slightly by location.

Friends of the Libraries of Woodbridge Township

Adults are encouraged to volunteer by joining the Friends of the Libraries of Woodbridge Township. Help educate the people of Woodbridge about the resources at our local libraries, act as advocates in the community, and help raise funds for library equipment, materials, and programs! Find more information and a membership form on the Friends of the Library page.
Where: Main Library
When: All year; biggest time commitment during annual book sale in April
Expected involvement: Periodic meetings; most help is needed during the annual book sale in late April
How to volunteer: Print and fill out the Membership Form on the Friends of the Libraries information page, and bring it to any library location with the appropriate membership as indicated on the form.

Next Chapter Book Club

Adults who are comfortable working with older adolescents and adults with special needs can become a volunteer for our local Next Chapter Book Club program in collaboration with Our House, Inc. Help members of our community discover the joys of reading in an aide-supported group environment.
Where: Main Library
When: October to June on Wednesdays, 1:30-2:30pm
Expected involvement: 1hr/week
How to volunteer: Email your interest to wplprogramming@woodbridgelibrary.org. Volunteers must complete a video training course at the Main Library before participating, which we will work with you to schedule.

Who to Contact to Volunteer or Learn More

If you'd like to volunteer, reach out to the library you'd like to volunteer with first according to the relevant "How to volunteer" instructions above, and tell them which program you're interested in.

If you are asked to fill out a volunteer application, you can pick up a form at any location or print your own Volunteer Application (PDF).

Return the completed form to the library branch at which you would like to volunteer, along with anything else requested when you first called or visited, and be sure to note which volunteering program you are volunteering for on the application as well.

Please note: If you are volunteering at the Main Library for the Summer Reading Club, specifically, please visit the Children's Room at the Main Library to get a special application.

If you would like more information about volunteering with one of the above programs:

If you would like to volunteer at the Main Library and:
- You are an adult 18 years of age or older, please contact the Reference Department at 732-634-4450, ext. 7120.
- You are a student in grades 7 to 12, please contact the Children's Room at 732-634-4450, ext. 7140.
If you would like to volunteer at a library branch, please contact the branch directly:
- Fords Branch Library: 732-726-7071
- Henry Inman Branch Library (Colonia): 732-726-7072
- Iselin Branch Library: 732-726-7073