Volunteering in Westminster Libraries, Archives and Arts
Westminster Libraries,
Archives and Arts offer a wide variety of opportunities for volunteering. Volunteers can be involved in routine work or specific projects and activities.
Examples of typical Volunteer Roles and Projects include:
Libraries
- Library events - organisation, presentation; new ideas
- Promotion and publicity
- Carrying out public surveys about the library service
- Homework Clubs – helping children with their homework and schoolwork
- Summer Reading Challenge – supporting children's reading
- Reading Groups – running a group or helping staff run group
- Providing IT support. e.g. assisting with the Silver Surfers Sessions
- Assisting with day to day delivery of the service, e.g. shelving, stock displays, tidying
Westminster Archives offer several volunteering opportunities including:
- Building Plans
- St Martin-in-the-Fields Settlement Records Indexing Project
- Preservation/Conservation Projects - Currently the Conservation Studio offers accommodation to 10 NADFAS volunteers (National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies), and periodically to CAPA (Centres for Academic Programs Abroad) student volunteers. Tasks can include collation of the materials, dry cleaning, re-packaging materials to acid free folders
- Education Projects
More information can be obtained by contacting the archives or visiting their volunteering page.
Arts
- Researching information for inclusion on arts databases or in publicity
- Compiling reports
- General administration
- Assisting with organising specific projects such as launches or networking events
- Assisting at arts workshops or public events
The minimum age of a volunteer is 16 and there is no upper age limit. Younger people may be taken onto work experience placements when sponsored through a school or education establishment.
Further details on volunteering in Westminster are outlined in the Libraries, Archives and Arts Volunteer Policy.
For further details of how to become a volunteer please complete an expression of interest form and contact your local library on 020 7641 1300, the Archives Centre on 020 7641 5180 or Westminster’s Arts Liaison Officer on 020 7641 2498.
