Volunteer – Friends of the West Florida Library

Even if you just change one life, you’ve changed the world forever.

Volunteer with Friends

Make a Difference

Thank you for your interest in volunteering! For over 50 years, volunteers have been the heart and soul of our organization. Each year hundreds of volunteers donate their precious time to support the Friends. Some volunteers have helped for over 20 years! We are so grateful for all our volunteers and truly appreciate all their hard work. We offer many rewarding volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups of high school, college, corporate, or community teams of any size. Please join us in making a difference in our community by supporting literacy and helping our library to succeed.

Benefits of Volunteering

If you love books and book people, the Friends is a great place to be. Learn valuable skills and gain experience in book management, retail administration, customer service, event planning, sales, marketing, and order fulfillment. Enjoy the camaraderie of fellow book lovers and library supporters. Contribute your time and talent in support of Pensacola’s extraordinary library system.

Ways to Volunteer

Help with a Book Sale

Help during one of our book sales at the Downtown Library. We rely on hundreds of volunteers to help set up tables and unpack books before the sale begins, monitor and stock tables during the sale, serve as cashiers, and clean up after a sale. Choose the days and hours you would like to help. The ability to lift boxes of books that may weigh more than 20 pounds is helpful, but not required. Many different shifts are available during the sale. Sales occur 3-4 times every year and are held at the Downtown Library branch.

Sort Books

Help us sort, inventory, and organize all donated items that are sold at book sales, in our bookstores, and online. Books are sorted according to genre and placed into boxes in preparation for movement to either a bookstore or a book sale. We also scan books for to determine if they are a collectible, these books are sent to an E-Bay provider to sell on their website. Prior experience working with books is helpful, but not necessary. Volunteers can work on Thursdays, anytime between 9:00AM-12:00PM, at our warehouse located at 325 Commerce Street.

Work in a Bookstore

Help us staff our bookstores. Duties include greeting customers, and operating a SQUARE point of sale device. Retail or customer service experience preferred but not required. Must be at least 18 years of age and pass an initial training process. Due to the training and level of responsibility involved, we ask volunteers to make a minimum three-month commitment. Shifts are available during the hours listed below. Shifts are typically 2-3 hours in length and can be weekly or monthly. We also need substitutes who can fill in a shift when needed.

Bookstore Volunteer Opportunities

Downtown Library Bookstore

239 North Spring Street | (850) 436-5060

Hours: Monday–Wednesday & Friday: 10:00AM–3:00PM
Thursday: 10:00AM-5:00PM | Saturday: 10:00AM-4:00PM
Sunday: Closed

Tryon Branch Library Bookstore

1200 Langley Avenue | (850) 471-6980

Hours: Monday–Wednesday: 10:00AM–3:00PM
Thursday: 10:00AM–5:00PM | Friday–Saturday: 10:00AM-3:00PM
Sunday: Closed

Join a Committee

Communications

Ensure relevant content is maintained on the Friends website
Use social media platforms to promote Friends activities and events

Communicate with all committees to publicize event information
Develop newsletter articles & coordinate author and special events

Membership

Manage current membership and volunteer lists

Welcome new members and send reminders about renewals

Recruit new members to join the Friends

Actively recruit volunteers in the community to support Friends events

Fundraising

Conduct an annual campaign to obtain sponsors and partners

Account for receipts and disbursements related to fundraising activities
Seek opportunities for gaining sponsors, donors, and other funding
Ensure advertising is used to promote fundraising events and activities