Opportunities From: Volunteer Portal | City of Hillsboro

Simple science is a hands on mini science event held once a month alternating between the two libraries. Volunteers help the STEM librarian with setting up the science activity tables, helping patrons experience the hands on science, and then staying to clean up and put away the supplies.  These events typically attract older toddlers to about grade 3, are very popular, and can be somewhat chaotic and loud. Some parents are more engaged then others so volunteers must be proactive in looking for opportunities to help little learners who may not understand the concept and need help accomplishing the hands on task. Online overview available to view prior to your first shift. Contact Volunteer office for link.

Be the first friendly face patrons see as they enter Brookwood Library. Volunteers welcome each patron as they enter and thank them as they leave.  You'll help with way finding, assist staff in occasional simple projects that can be done at the desk, and answer patron questions about library services.  Greeters share two hours per shift between hours of 10 AM-6 PM anytime library is open (occasional evening shift for an after hours event).  

Help create the magic as our tiny witches, wizards and magical creatures of all kinds are invited to gather to celebrate the arrival of a magical tower at HPL Brookwood.  Help set up the magical wonderland, facilitate the crafts and games, and encourage our adventuring children to collect enough stamps to reach the top of the tower!

Must love being part of a magical playtime, costumes, and non scary makeup encouraged.  You'll help with set up, facilitating activities, games, songs, and take down at the end.

Oregon Battle of the Books is a a highly anticipated competition for grades 3-5 testing their knowledge of books for that age range.  Volunteers are needed to help set up the room, help the Librarians facilitate the competition and moderate battles, and help take everything down at the end.  It's fast paced, furious competitive fun as kids get a practice run during the mock battle ahead of the main event on January 25.  Volunteers should be familiar with the competition and willing to moderate the mock battles. A meet-up prior to the event will likely take place to make sure volunteers understand what is expected. 

Help create some winter magic by hosting the hot cocoa station, greeting patrons, or helping with one of the hand on craft areas.  It's our annual holiday tradition, a low key, festive holiday event for the whole family.  

The Library hosts a very early New Year's Eve Party at NOON for our toddlers and younger patrons.  Volunteers encouraging dancing, maybe dress up in one of our character costumes,  and of course celebrate the countdown to our virtual balloon drop!  This event is always very well attended with double the amount of volunteers we usually have.  And you'll be home well in advance of your own New Year's Eve celebrations!

It's holiday/school break time!  Volunteers help keep out of school kids engaged by hosting activity tables, games, crafts and interactive learning experiences.  Volunteers help set up the activities/room, host the activity/game/craft then help clean up at the end of the event.  Excellent customer service skills, patience, and an enthusiastic engaging personality required to bring smiles to faces, and busy minds occupied!

At the change of every season our librarian, Mary, leads a walk around the Brookwood Library ponds at a kid pace, discovering nature, signs of the season, looking for wildlife while sharing stories and songs.  A cheerful, watchful volunteer brings up the rear to wrangle the stragglers, keep an eye on any who may decide to venture off the path, and bonus points if you are willing to sing marching songs loudly and share the joy!

Story time helpers assist our story time librarians by helping to set up the room (some lifting and moving of chairs and rolling tables), setting up the activities (usually simple hands on crafts) helping to keep the audience engaged, and assisting with clean up afterwards.  You'll keep count of the attendees, help them settle in, assist with name tags, and generally be another set of eyes and ears in the room.  The extent to which the story teller wants you to participate during the story varies.  Some enjoy having you also acting out the story as they tell it, others just have you sit with the audience or remain toward the back to watch for "escapees" and to help if people need to leave the room.  This storytime is geared toward 3-5 year olds.

Help families engineer their amazing cardboard creations!  Using cardboard, duct tape, crayons, glue, staplers and imagination help kids and adults build a cardboard creation.  Volunteers help by keeping the cardboard ready, you are the ones with the box cutters, you have the tape/glue inventory, and you provide the encouragment.  Lots to do for volunteers who love to engage with creative kids!

Help make the magic of story time happen!  Helpers assist with setting up the story space, sometimes prepping make and take materials a head of time (by arrangement), welcoming patrons in the room, helping them find a place to sit, then helping the story teller engage the guests in the story!  You'll do the hand gestures, sing the songs, act things out right along with the librarian leading the story time.  You'll help with the make and take activity then help say goodbye to patrons and help clean up the space.

Help make the magic of story time happen!  Helpers assist with setting up the story space, sometimes prepping make and take materials a head of time (by arrangement), welcoming patrons in the room, helping them find a place to sit, then helping the story teller engage the guests in the story!  You'll do the hand gestures, sing the songs, act things out right along with the librarian leading the story time.  You'll help with the make and take activity then help say goodbye to patrons and help clean up the space.

Help people get their craft on!  Maker Mentors are crafty people themselves who thrive on helping others use the tools, equipment, and crafting supplies to explore their creative or artistic side! Maker Mentors learn the general safe operation of the various craft machines such as the button maker, sewing machines, heat press, 3-D printers, and digital die cutter.  From time to time new machines are introduced and you'll learn how to get people started on those too.  Other crafting tools include supplies to learn skills like beading, felting, scrapbooking, paper crafting, knitting, crocheting, weaving and more.  While it is not required to be proficient in a craft, it's helpful.  Your role as a maker mentor is to learn how to navigate the DIY written instructions and links to You Tube videos on the various equipment and tools, and to be able to help patrons understand the instructions so they can learn on their own.  You'll also help stock the craft supplies and carts, make sure the room is used safely, keep it tidy and welcoming, and if you are so inclined help someone learn to do what craft you might know.  

This storytime is always focused on a science theme including a science based activity related to the story.  Volunteers assist with set up, and are proactive in assisting young attendees with the hands on science portion of the activity. Volunteers will assist with clean up afterwards. Volunteers should be prepared for a high degree of interaction, have patience, and the ability to know when to provide help to the little learners. All will be attending with an adult, but some adults are more engaged than others. Volunteers will support storyteller by making sure supplies are available and being safely used, and anticipating the needs to keep the activity components ready to go at all times.  Discovery Storytime alternates with Simple Science monthly alternating between both libraries.