Open Books :: Volunteer

Open Books' amazing volunteers help make our programs possible. Be one of them!

Fill out one simple form and you'll be on your way to volunteering! Once you've submitted the form and attended orientation, we'll set you up in the program of your choice. Start here.

Upcoming Orientations

RSVP by filling out the above form.

Orientations take place at the literacy center, located at 213 W Institute Place, Suite 207.

Friday, May 25
12-1pm

Thursday, June 7
1-2pm

Please note, we will be focusing on Adventures in Creative Writing field trips and summer literacy programs at our upcoming orientation sessions. These opportunities require daytime availability during the week.

Volunteer Opportunities

From weekly Buddies sites to as-needed events, we've got a whole slate of ways for you to make a difference.

	Literacy Programs
	Book Programs
	Group Opportunities Is your office or community group interested in spending the morning making a difference in the lives of Chicago's students? Are you seeking a fun and enriching team building experience? Open Books would be delighted to have your group sit in as writing coaches for an Adventures in Creative Writing Field Trip! To learn more and schedule your visit, contact Ava ([email protected], 312.475.1355 x119) today.
	Associate Board
	Fundraising
	Microvolunteering
	Events From book sales and book swaps through the Printers Row Lit Fest and Pitchfork Music Festival, the year is full of fantastic events at Open Books! We're always looking for volunteers to have fun with us. Check out the Events page to see what's coming up on the calendar and how you can help!
	Partner Programs Open Books is delighted to help our volunteers get started with any of the groups below. Feel free to contact them directly or ask Ava ([email protected] / 312.475.1355 x119) for an introduction. Looking for a group or literacy focus not listed here? Just ask! We work with literacy organizations all over the city and are always happy to make connections for you. Chicago HOPES www.chicagohopes.org What they do: Academic help and enrichment for homeless children. Sit Stay Read! www.sitstayread.org What they do: Bring volunteers and dogs to schools and community facilities so kids can read and write with them and improve literacy skills. Christopher House www.christopherhouse.org What they do: Work with low-income children and families to build educational, social, financial, etc. skills. StoryBus www.storybus.org What they do: Bring pre-K children in underserved neighborhoods aboard a bus to tell stories and encourage reading. East Village Youth Program http://www.evyp.org What they do: Help low-income Latino youth prepare for college with tutoring and mentoring programs. Albany Park Community Center www.apcc-chgo.org What they do: Largest social service agency in the Albany Park neighborhood, providing services to educate and support the community’s individuals, families, and businesses. Literacy Works www.litworks.org What they do: Promote adult and family literacy, ESL, and ABE tutoring through an umbrella of literacy organizations, including Open Books.

Volunteer Extras

Volunteer Central - The Open Books volunteer community is online! Come talk to us, get tips and resources, and more.
Need Volunteers? - Are you a nonprofit group that could use some extra hands? Find out how we can help.
Blog - Read all about it! Updated several times a week with the latest news from Open Books.
Contact - Have a question about volunteering? Let us know at [email protected] or 312.475.1355 x 119.

Newsletter: Join our Volunteer Vanguard mailing list and get volunteer news, updates, and more sent straight to your inbox.