Volunteer at the library

Volunteering opportunities

Home library service

Royal Voluntary service volunteers work in partnership with Edinburgh Libraries to provide library services to elderly, housebound or disabled readers

Volunteering opportunities come up all the time. Now we are looking for volunteers at the following locations for around 3 hours a fortnight

  • Fountainbridge Library Link. Start at the library and meet the driver and minibus to go out and collect a group of people to bring them back to the library for an hour where they can take out and return books and socialise over tea and biscuits. This is not a driving role. This takes place fortnightly on a Tuesday afternoon from 1.30pm for around 3 hours. This role starts on Tuesday 15 October 2024, but it would be great if you could shadow the outgoing volunteer on Tuesday 1 October.
  • Various locations across Edinburgh (could be from any library in the city). Relief cover volunteers for both Housebound deliveries (driving required) and Library Link services (no driving but must be able to go out on a minibus to collect people), to cover sickness and absence. Around 3 hours maximum per stint. This is a flexible role and will suit someone who cannot volunteer at a regular time or who goes away frequently, but would like to offer their time when available.

All our volunteer roles require a PVG certificate (Protection of Vulnerable Groups, provided by Disclosure Scotland, free of charge to volunteers).

You can apply for these roles immediately via the Royal Voluntary Service website

For further information, please email or call Sarah, Home Library Service Manager, on sarah.tomlins@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk  07736 924099

Macmillan cancer information and support volunteers

We are looking for caring individuals who have a few hours a week to volunteer supporting people affected by cancer.

We run drop in services in selected libraries across Edinburgh.

Full training is given and expenses are payable. To find out more contact macmillan.libraries@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Digital volunteer

You could volunteer with our Get Online service delivering one to one support in one of our libraries or other community settings, to help people learn basic digital skills, such as  

  • using the internet, email and everyday apps
  • communicating with friends and family online through social media and video calls
  • staying safe online
  • transacting online - using council and government services and banking/shopping
  • creating documents and taking and sharing photos.

Skills you need

The opportunity will suit you if you

  • are passionate about the digital world
  • can demonstrate your knowledge and experience in digital or new technologies
  • want to help us to reach the digitally excluded in their communities by advocating the benefits of digital, and signposting people to free training and resources available online and across the city
  • are enthusiastic, reliable and friendly
  • enjoy meeting people and working in a team
  • have a good level of English language skills.

For more details email getonline@edinburgh.gov.uk.