The Library is always looking for reliable and enthusiastic volunteers. Opportunities range from handyman projects, to database entry, and various other projects. We may not have needs in all areas so please see below for more details. All volunteers are also Friends of the Library. To learn more about the activities of this group, see the Friends page.

Linda Ballard, Assistant Director,  coordinates volunteers and welcomes your questions and comments. Contact her at 734-475-8732 x202 or email her.

 Please click here for our adult online volunteer application or here to print a paper copy.
Teen volunteers, please see the application below.

Volunteer Opportunities

CPUS – Computer & Public User Support Volunteer

<This position is not currently available>

Are you good with computers? Do you enjoying helping others? If so, this could be a rewarding volunteer position for you. CPUs assist patron during Tech-By-Request session. Help teach technology workshops, and assist the Head of Technology and Network Administrator with various projects from time to time.  We are currently short on people with Mac computer or Android experience so those skills would be especially appreciated. For more information about this position contact Ron Andrews 475-8732 ext. 223.

Local & Family History Index

Our local history volunteers help organize and improve the library's collection of materials about the Chelsea area. Tasks include creating inventories, assisting with special research projects, and digitizing and preserving delicate material. Family history volunteers help develop and maintain the Family History Index, a collection of more than 60,000 obituary cards and accompanying web-based database. Tasks include data entry, creating digital images,  and assisting with genealogical research.

Workroom Volunteer

<<This position is currently unavailable>>

Assist the Technical Services Coordinator with media care and repair. Assess damage to library media to help maintain collection. Work on withdrawn library materials, record-keeping and collection maintenance as needed.

Book Sale Manager — **OPEN POSITION**

Do you love to work around books? Are you an organized person who likes people and is looking for a way to use your talents to support the library? If so, we have a great volunteer opportunity for you! We need a manager for our monthly used books sales. Contact Jann Carr (jancarr9214@gmail.com) or Linda Ballard (lballard@chelseadistrictlibrary.org) 475-8732 ext 202 if interested.

This individual is a member of the Used Book Sale Task Force and is responsible for scheduling and running the sale. Approximately 16-20 hours between each monthly sale is required to satisfactorily fill this position. Tasks include:

  1. Maintain all sale processes and procedures.
  2. Assure sales floor is set up correctly.
  3. Train/coordinate staff and make ad hoc decisions regarding pricing, logistics, etc. during sale or delegate responsibility.
  4. Recruit and schedule all required volunteers for the sale.
  5. Assure sales floor is cleaned up/reset after sale.
  6. Communicate PR/sale information to Communication Chair on Friends’ Board.
  7. Attend Used Book Sale Task Force meetings, approx. six times per year.

Post-Sale Manager — **OPEN POSITION**

If you love the library and helping other non-profit organizations as well, then this volunteer position may be the perfect fit for you! Contact Jan Carr, CDL Friends Used Book Sale Manager at jancarr9214@gmail.com if interested.

This individual works with the Inventory/Space Manager and is responsible for seeing that all unsold items are removed (culled) from the general used book sale inventory to help reduce inventory overload. It is usually done during the week after the sales in January, March, May, July, September, and November. These culled books are then made available to non-profit organizations every other month. Responsibilities include:

  1. Organizing culled material (Hardcover & Paperback) for final shopping sale.
  2. Scheduling and hosting appointments with non-profits to choose material from culled inventory (every other month).*
  3. Boxing culled inventory for donation to goodwill (10 boxes max at one time.)
  4. Boxing culled inventory, hardcover and paperback, for Better World Books (40 boxes min), arranging for pick up, and staging boxes for pickup.
  5. Boxing all discarded “Trash” hard cover books (70 boxes min) in Baker & Taylor boxes for pick up by Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority (WWRA), scheduling pick up, and staging boxes for pickup.

*Non-profit organizations coming to select culled books should be encouraged to review all culled books. They may use any of the miscellaneous boxes to pack their selections.

Book Bin Emptiers

We need three or four volunteers to empty the book donation bins on Tuesdays anytime, on Saturday OR Sunday, or to help another volunteer with this task on Thursdays. Work involves moving filled bins to the basement, removing donations and stacking them on tables to be sorted for processing. You may also request to be trained to scan the donations for value by our online vendor.  Contact Jan Carr (jancarr9214@gmail.com)  or Linda Ballard (lballard@chelseadistrictlibrary.org) 475-8732 xt. 202 if interested.

Used Book Sales – General — **OPEN POSITIONS**

The Friends of Chelsea District Library hold monthly used book sales in the library basement. Assistance is needed for weekly sorting/cleaning sessions as well as day of sale set up, sales help and tear down. If you are interested in helping with the book sale, your name and information will be given to the Friends’ book sale manager for scheduling and more information.

Youth Service Group

Geared to students from 7th grade up, the Youth Service Group is a year-round community service opportunity. Participants assist the Youth and Teen Services librarians with program creation and implementation, Reading Program registration, and various other tasks throughout the year. Please call Stacey at 734-475-8732 ext. 212 with any questions.

Senior Outreach/Programs & CDL Delivers

Senior outreach volunteers assist the Adult Services Department with programs held at area senior living facilities or at the library. Volunteers should be comfortable reading/performing for special senior populations, such as those in assisted-living facilities, and available to travel to and from the program site on their own during the work day. This may include set-up and clean-up after programs. CDL Delivers volunteers bring books to residents who are homebound due to illness or disability.

Volunteer of the Year

Volunteer of the Year 2023

CDL’s Volunteer of the Year, Dan Kaminsky, has a decades-long service record with CDL. He was part of the successful campaign to form our library district and an incredibly generous donor in our recent efforts to bring Mobile CDL into library services. He has helped with book sales, deliveries to the homebound, and even served a stint as the library board president. Reflecting on the formation of the district, Dan shared, “At the time, I envisioned more books, more room, finally some staff.  What happened astounds me now today. The library has become an enormous benefit for our community, with interesting programs, great resources, and helpful knowledgeable staff. It’s a place that everyone in Chelsea can be proud of.” Thank you, Dan, for your generosity to Chelsea District Library!