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Get Involved

Volunteer With Us

The Friends are powered almost entirely by volunteers. Give a few hours at a book sale, help year-round, or find a role that fits your time and interests.

September Book Sale Volunteers Needed

Choose a shift from September 16–20. New volunteers are welcome, and every shift earns up to 5 free books.

Choose a book sale shift →

Ways to Help

Every volunteer role supports the Orange County Public Library.

Book Sales

Help set up, staff, and break down our semiannual book sales. Choose a short shift or stay for the day, whatever works for you. Every shift earns you up to 5 free books.

  • Setup crew
  • Sales floor volunteer
  • Cashier or checkout
  • Breakdown and cleanup
Choose a book sale shift →

Donation Processing

Sort, evaluate, and prepare donated books for sale. This is a year-round need with flexible scheduling and opportunities to work alongside other volunteers.

  • Book sorting and evaluation
  • Pricing and labeling
  • Shelving and organizing

Board Membership

Interested in helping guide the Friends? Board members attend monthly meetings and take an active role in events, fundraising, outreach, or advocacy.

  • Monthly board meetings
  • Event planning
  • Fundraising and outreach
  • Community advocacy

Events & Programs

Help with author events, community programs, and special fundraisers throughout the year. Some roles take only a few hours.

  • Event setup and greeting
  • Speaker coordination
  • Photography
  • Social media support

Volunteer Perks

A small thank-you for the time you give

Book sale perks

Book sale volunteers can shop before the sale opens to the public, and take home up to 5 free books for each shift they work.

Community impact

Your work helps turn book sales, events, and donated materials into funding for library programs, equipment, and resources.

Great community

Work alongside fellow book lovers and library supporters from across Orange County.

Flexible commitment

Take a single shift or find a recurring role. Either way, your help matters.

Upcoming Volunteer Shifts

Choose a shift below. New volunteers are welcome.

September 2026 FOCPL Book Sale Volunteers

Help us prepare for and run our Fall 2026 Book Sale, September 17–20. Volunteer shifts begin with setup on Wednesday, September 16, and continue through cleanup on Sunday. Choose the time and role that work best for you.

Orange County Public Library Main Library

Organized by Friends of the Orange County Public Library · focplnc@gmail.com

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

10:00am–1:00pm Setup
Full
DK WM KR MS
1:00pm–5:00pm Setup
Full
DK ML LT SV

Thursday, September 17, 2026

10:00am–1:00pm Setup
Full
DK LS SV MV
1:00pm–5:00pm Setup
1 of 4 filled
DK
5:00pm–7:00pm Sales
Full
GJ WM MS SV

Friday, September 18, 2026

9:00am–1:00pm Sales
Full
DR LS MS LT
1:00pm–5:00pm Sales
1 of 4 filled
SB

Saturday, September 19, 2026

9:00am–1:00pm Sales
2 of 4 filled
LC SL
1:00pm–5:00pm Sales
2 of 4 filled
LT SV

Sunday, September 20, 2026

12:00pm–4:00pm Sales
Full
LC ML CM LS
4:00pm–6:00pm Breakdown
Full
GJ DK KR KS

Interested in Volunteering?

Not ready to choose a specific shift? Email us with the kinds of work you enjoy and when you are generally available. We'll let you know when an opportunity matches your interests.

Email Us to Volunteer →

Other Ways to Help

Prefer to volunteer inside the library itself? The library runs its own volunteer program, separate from the Friends. Volunteers support librarians and library events, with training provided; applying starts with a short application to the Main Library in Hillsborough, followed by an interview. Volunteer at the Library →

Not able to volunteer right now? You can still support the library by becoming a Friend or making a donation. Memberships and gifts help fund programs, equipment, staff training, and other needs beyond the public budget.

Two mice reading back to back against a leaf, with the hand-lettered words Friends of the Orange County Public Library
Illustration by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell, gifted to the Friends 2026