Library Volunteer Opportunities
School Year Volunteers
Applications are submitted directly at individual library locations. Please speak with the Youth Librarian at the location where you would like to volunteer.
If that location is accepting applications and agrees to have you volunteer, complete the SFPL youth volunteer application (PDF) and have your parent or guardian sign the Youth Agreement on the last page.
Many locations will also schedule a brief interview and orientation. After you submit the signed Youth Agreement, they will work with you to set up your volunteer schedule.
FOG Readers
FOG (Free Orton-Gillingham) Readers is a remedial reading program with a rigorous structured curriculum provided by San Francisco Public Library to help struggling readers in Grades 1–4 with trained tutors. All tutors go through at least seven hours of training and one-time fingerprinting (at no cost to the volunteer). SFPL will prepare you to be an effective literacy tutor as well as provide follow-up help. FOG Readers accepts select volunteers aged 15 and up who can meet the following requirements:
- a minimum of a 6-month commitment to meeting once a week, every week (except holidays & when sick, of course) with your elementary school student
- the ability to communicate with staff and your student's family reliably and independently (without your parent or guardian's assistance) by email and phone
- the ability to follow a detailed and rigorous curriculum and file monthly reports on progress
- weekly meetings usually last around 1 hour, in the late afternoon/early evening on weekdays or on the weekends
- complete 7–8 hours of training
- spend around 1 hour of preparation before each weekly meeting
- fingerprinting for a background check, which requires a SSN. If you do not have a California State-issued ID (note: passports are Federal; this must be a California driver's license or California ID), a parent or guardian must come to your fingerprinting and bring additional ID.
If you are committed to taking on this difficult and important work, please fill out the FOG Readers Volunteer Tutor Interest Form. Once you submit that form, you will receive a reply with information on how to register for the next training.
Julia Robinson Math Festival
The Children's Center at the Main Library needs teen volunteers 12noon-5:00pm on Saturday, November 15 as they host the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival (JRMF). Help children learn math through play! It doesn't need to be scary, hard or boring. Play gives children the opportunity to take charge of their learning, grow from their mistakes, and have fun at the same time.
You will assist with setting up different activity stations, receive training (and pizza!), and then assist with activities during the festival.
Afterwards, you'll help with break-down and clean-up tasks. Sign up to volunteer here! And spread the word with this flyer.
Paid Library Jobs for Teens
- Youth Engaged in Library Leadership (YELL)
- A paid workforce development program designed for older teens that requires a weekly commitment over the summer. Interns work collaboratively with local librarians and assist with content creation, support STEM and literacy activities and develop project-based youth led events. Applications open annually in March. Learn about the requirements and how to apply.
- San Francisco Public Library Youth Advisory Board (YAB)
- A paid leadership development program designed for older teens that requires a 10-hour weekly commitment over the school year. Youth Advisory Board members work collaboratively with local librarians and develop skills including leadership, facilitation, advocacy and more while helping shape teen services at the San Francisco Public Library. Applications open annually in September. Learn about the requirements and how to apply.
Additional Paid/Stipend Opportunities
- Mayor's Youth Employment and Education Program | MYEEP
- Paid workforce development for youth in San Francisco for ages 14-17.
- Opportunities for All | OFA
- Paid internships, mentorship and pathways to employment for ages 13-24.
- San Francisco Youth Works | SFYW
- Paid work experience in San Francisco City Government Departments for 11th and 12th graders.
- 826 Valencia | Youth Leadership Advisory Board (YLAB)
- Stipended youth leadership opportunity. YLAB is a special opportunity for youth, grades 8–12, to develop leadership skills, work on writing, editing, public speaking and form a community with students from all of 826 Valencia's programs.
- 826 Valencia | Black Literary Achievement Club
- Stipended youth workshop opportunity. The Black Literary Achievement Club is a writing workshop for Black high school students. In this affinity-based program, students meet weekly and receive mentoring from Black-identifying staff and volunteers. Students explore their identities through writing in a community that celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Black and African Americans.
- Asian Women's Shelter | Youth are Aware, Active & Supportive! Youth Leadership Program
- Stipended opportunity. Youth are Aware, Active & Supportive! (YAAAS!) is a youth leadership program by Asian Women’s Shelter (SFAWS) centered on building strategies to promote safe and healthy relationships/friendships and preventing violence.
City & County of San Francisco Volunteer Opportunities
- Recreation & Parks Volunteer Programs
Most individual opportunities are for Park Volunteers. There are whole-classroom field trips to volunteer at The Ecocenter. See the Parks Volunteer Calendar for habitat restoration, gardening, and "cleaning & greening" work party dates and sign up. - The Randall Museum
Individuals ages 13–17 will be trained by animal care specialists and gain experience working with native wildlife. Duties will include daily animal husbandry tasks such as enclosure cleaning, diet preparation, animal enrichment activities, and interacting with the museum guests. - Public Works
Opportunities to clean and green San Francisco - Animal Care & Control
Youth ages 12-17 must serve with parent or legal guardian and are eligible for specific roles.
Bay Area Volunteer Opportunities
SF-Marin Food Bank
Offers online sign up for shifts at warehouse and pop-up pantries, among other opportunities. Click on heading for more information.
826 Valencia
826 Valencia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting under-resourced students ages six to eighteen with their creative and expository writing skills. They welcome high school juniors and seniors to tutor in our After-School Programs each semester. If you’re interested in tutoring younger students, gaining professional experience, or looking for a place to volunteer as part of a community service or work placement program, email them here.
Additional Volunteer Resources
- Volunteer Match (recently merged with Idealist)
- Teen Life
- HandsOn Bay Area
