Story Timers Volunteer Opportunities

The Baltimore County Public Library's STORY TIMERS offers several different volunteer opportunities. Volunteers are encouraged to choose from the opportunities below. After you've selected a specific opportunity, special consideration will be placed on your interest, skill, and availability to find the perfect match just for you. Opportunities include:

Branch Story Time Presenter

These volunteers will perform fun story times for babies and young kids at branch locations around the county. The story times will be prearranged with the Early Literacy Volunteer Program Coordinator and volunteer, based on individual branch's needs. Daytime availability during the week or weekend is desired for this position. Evening story times also are available at certain branches.

Some personal qualities of these volunteers will include:

• Flexibility
• Timeliness
• Positive demeanor
• Ease with interacting with infants and young children
• Genuine love of children

Skills that will help volunteers in this position include:

• Good presentation skills
• Ability to deal with different groups of people

Training Period:

• Volunteers will observe one story time presentation and assist on 2-3 story times or until such time the volunteer and Early Literacy Volunteer Program Coordinator conclude that the volunteer is ready to deliver the story times autonomously, not to exceed 4 supervised presentations.
   
• Volunteers are required to attend at least one additional early childhood education training offered at Baltimore County Public Library through the Early Literacy Program each year while they are members of STORY TIMERS.

Outreach Story Time Presenter

These volunteers will travel to childcare facilities and family day care providers and take story times to children who can't get to the library. Volunteers will perform fun story times for babies and young children around the county. The story times will be prearranged with the Early Literacy Volunteer Program Coordinator and volunteer, based on the volunteer's schedule and childcare facility needs. Weekday availability is essential for this volunteer opportunity, as most facilities are only open Monday through Friday.

Some personal qualities of these volunteers will include:

• Outgoing personality
• Flexibility
• Timeliness
• Positive demeanor

Skills that will help volunteers in this position include:

• Good writing skills
• Ability to deal with different groups of people

Training Period:

• Volunteers will observe one story time presentation and assist on 2-3 story times or until such time the volunteer and Early Literacy Volunteer Program Coordinator conclude that the volunteer is ready to deliver the story times autonomously, not to exceed 4 supervised presentations.
   
• Volunteers are required to attend at least one additional early childhood education training offered at BCPL through the Early Literacy Program each year while they are members of STORY TIMERS.

* All applicants need a driver's license or access to dependable transportation.
** All positions require completion of STORY TIMERS Training and Orientation.