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Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

Listed are all volunteer opportunities currently open at the Indiana State Library.  Positions will be added regularly as new opportunities arise.

Unless otherwise noted, there is no deadline for volunteer applications.

Application form
Background check

Volunteer applications are always accepted and will be maintained for at least 6 months. However, volunteer applicants are not guaranteed placement. The Indiana State Library contacts volunteer applicants as openings occur. It is up to the discretion of the library whether or not to contact, accept, and place a volunteer applicant.  Applicants are chosen based on a combination of the applicant’s (1) skills and abilities in combination with the needs of the department the volunteer will serve; (2) ability to pass a background check. The State Library maintains an equal opportunity work place. Like staff, volunteers are chosen and dismissed based on competence and job performance without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, veteran status, familial status, or other non-merit based factors.

Current Positions

Audiobook Editor
Audiobook Narrator/Monitor Teams
Audiobook Recording Monitor
Collections Processor
Digitization Assistant
Early Records Inventory Volunteer
Fourth Grade Field Trip Leader

Historical Marker Survey Volunteer
Indiana Young Readers Center Volunteer
Newspaper Collection Assistant
Saturday Great Hall Monitor
Transcriber

Audiobook Editor
Indiana Voices

Indiana Voices, a program that produces audiobooks for blind and visually / physically impaired citizens is looking to fill its new volunteer position of audiobook editor.  This volunteer opportunity will play an important role in speeding up the production of titles to our patrons.

The audiobook editor reviews audio files for errors that have occurred during the recording process and makes needed corrections to these files so that the finished titles can moved along to a final review and to their ultimate completion as a finished audiobook.  To serve as an effective audiobook editor individuals need to learn the software needed for editing, and have an ability to multitask, strong reading / listening skills and be detail oriented. Training will be provided for volunteers to assure the candidate has a strong comfort level in the operation of the editing software

The hours for this position are fairly flexible with volunteers needing to be able to work for two hours blocks of time on a weekly basis. Shifts are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Due to the amount of training needed for success at this task a commitment of at least three months is expected.

Audiobook Narrator/Monitor Teams
Indiana Voices

This position requires two volunteers; one to narrate the audiobook while the other manages the recording/monitoring process.  Team members may work in both positions, allowing each to narrate an audiobook.

There is a weekly time commitment of at least one hour required for each recording session.  Also, teams will need to be willing to spend the amount of time needed to complete a book, as one book can take weeks or months to complete.  Book titles are selected by the Indiana Voices Director.

Monitors must be comfortable with learning new technology and software.  However, no prior experience is required and training will be provided.  An audition is required for narrators.

Recording sessions may take place Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 3:30 pm.

Audiobook Recording Monitor
Indiana Voices

Indiana Voices is seeking volunteers to assist in recording audiobooks by monitoring the recording process while following along in a print version of the text, providing pronunciation corrections and quality control.  Volunteers need to be detail-oriented, familiar with basic computer use, able to learn the recording software, and have a good “ear” for pronunciation.  Prior experience with recording equipment is a plus.

This position is flexible, with shifts available Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.  However, the monitor must be available to work as a team with the reader for at least one hour per week at a consistent time.

To learn more about Indiana Voices, please visit the program’s webpage.

Digitization Assistant
Indiana Division

The Indiana Division is seeking volunteers to scan historical State Government Documents.  Volunteers should have experience with a library environment; effective communication skills, both verbal and written; and strong organizational skills. Experience with digitization tools is preferred.

This position is flexible, with shifts available Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4 pm.

To learn more about the Indiana State Library’s digital collections visit Indiana Memory

Early Records Inventory Volunteer
Genealogy Division

The Genealogy Division is seeking volunteers to assist with maintenance of the genealogy collection by creating a digital inventory of a large collection of indexed early records.  The intern with spearhead the inventory project by developing a spreadsheet and completing data entry of all pertinent information.

Volunteers must have attention to detail, strong organizational skills, be proactive, and have a high level of accuracy in data entry.  This position is flexible, with shifts available Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Fourth Grade Field Trip Leader
Indiana Division

The Indiana State Library provides field trips to fourth graders from around Indiana.  The field trip includes the Indiana Young Readers Center, the Statehouse Education Center, a geographic mapping activity focused on the history of Indiana as well as a video of our historic murals. The field trip covers over 30 Indiana educational standards for 4th graders.

The field trip has pre-written prompts for leaders to follow, and training is provided prior to your first field trip.  Leaders are expected to be able to be trained to lead a discussion with students. Field Trip season runs from August through May, with various times and days each month.  Each field trip runs about 45 minutes and requires a total time commitment of about 1½-2 hours.  Field trips take place on weekdays only, usually between the hours of 9:00-2:00.

Volunteers must be comfortable working with late-elementary school-aged children and be capable of a fair amount of walking and climbing multiple flights of stairs, sitting on the floor, and must be able to pass a background check.

Historical Marker Survey Volunteer
Indiana Historical Bureau

The Indiana Historical Bureau is looking for volunteers to help survey our Indiana state historical markers. These markers are located in almost all counties of the state. Volunteers would be asked to travel to these markers, photograph them, and send photos electronically to Indiana Historical Bureau staff.

This position is very flexible. Volunteers can survey as many markers as their time allows.

To see a full listing of Indiana’s state historical markers, visit IHB’s marker website.

Indiana Young Readers Center Volunteer
Indiana Division

The Indiana State Library is looking for volunteers to help in our Indiana Young Readers Center (IYRC). Volunteers would be expected to staff a public service desk and do light secretarial duties such as answering the phone and tracking usage statistics. Simple library duties would also be expected such as shelving books and assisting patrons with directional questions. Volunteers would provide assistance with IYRC projects like prepping for storytimes, and other program prep as well as additional project based assignments.

Volunteers must be comfortable working with patrons of all ages and have good communication skills and adequate computer skills. Volunteers must be able to pass a background check.

Newspaper Collection Assistant
Indiana Division

The Indiana State Library is seeking a volunteer for the Newspaper section of the Indiana Collection.  This position will help with print newspaper organization and storage within the library.  The goal of this ongoing project is to help better preserve and store historic Indiana newspapers.

Some lifting, dusting, and re-wrapping of the newspapers will be necessary during the process.

For more information on the Newspaper Collection, please visit their website.

Saturday Great Hall Monitor
Indiana State Library


The Indiana State Library is seeking volunteers to staff the library’s Great Hall during the library’s weekend hours, Saturdays 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Volunteers will greet guests and answer questions about the historic library building.  No prior historical knowledge is necessary; the library will provide all necessary training.

Transcriber
Indiana Historical Digital Newspapers Project

The Indiana Historical Digital Newspapers Project is seeking volunteers to correct computer-generated transcriptions of digitized Indiana newspapers, providing more accurate search results for researchers.

Volunteers must be able to follow instructions, be detail-oriented, and have good typing skills.

This position allows volunteers to work from home.  A computer and reliable internet connection are required.

There is no need to formally apply for this position.  Interested volunteers can register to transcribe at the Hoosier State Chronicles website.

For more information on the Indiana Historical Digital Newspapers Project, please visit the Hoosier State Chronicles blog.

VOL JL 12-7-2018