Summer Reading Challenge Volunteer

General Description of Duties:

To volunteer in one of the County Council’s libraries alongside other volunteers and library staff to help children and families participating in the Summer Reading Challenge during July to September.

Details of Duties:

• Helping families register for the Summer Reading Challenge, which may include guiding them to use a computer, tablet or smartphone

• Explaining to families how the Challenge works

• Talking to children about the books they have been reading

• Encouraging children to progress through the Challenge by reading more books.

 Updated April 2026

• Helping them choose books and find new things to read

• Giving out stickers and other rewards, preparing certificates and awarding medals for children who complete the Challenge

• Assisting with art displays, activities or story times if required

• Supporting other basic library jobs during quieter periods, e.g. shelving or tidying books.

Benefits

Fun, gain experience working in a library, gain experience of working in a team.

Practical Considerations

• Regularity of Duties: The ideal commitment is a minimum of 10 hours during July to September but there can be flexibility in choosing days and times within this period.
• Guidance and Support: Volunteers will work alongside library staff who can provide general support and help. Families and Wellbeing Librarians and other senior staff visit libraries during the summer and can offer additional guidance.
• Training and Equipment: All volunteers will be invited to attend a training session to find out what the role involves, how the Challenge works, and how to talk to children about books and reading. This is also an opportunity to meet library staff and other volunteers. Attendance at a training session is required before starting the role.

Support Disabled

Supported volunteer role training and guidance flexibility.

What skills do I need?

Skills Required:

This volunteer role is suitable for people with existing skills and experience working with children and families and also young people, or others, wishing to build or develop new skills in the following areas:

• Helping children and families 

• Organisational skills and team working

• Promoting and talking about books and reading

• Digital Skills.

Ideal Volunteer

• Age 14 years and above

• Enjoys working with people, and working as part of a team

• Comfortable to engage and communicate with young children, their parents and other adults

• Enjoys listening to children describe what they are reading

• Able to ask children questions about their reading

• Demonstrates patience and understanding

• Reliable and able to keep to time commitments, letting library staff know when this is not possible

• Behaves in an appropriate way with children in libraries

• Has basic digital skills and is confident using online forms.