Become a Volunteer
Teaching adults to read and write would not be possible without volunteers like you. No prior teaching experience is required. We provide free introductory online training and on-going additional support. OC Read’s goal is to help you succeed and provide a meaningful volunteering experience.
OC Read offers different volunteer positions, with different responsibilities and time commitments. Please see the To Get Involved section at the bottom of this page for the latest status of volunteer opportunities.
OC Read Volunteer Position Descriptions
One-on-One Tutoring
One-on-One tutors are trained and then matched with an adult learner who has specific reading or writing goals. Tutors coach a minimum of 2 hours per week at the library or virtually, using provided curricula.
OC Read One-on-One tutors are:
- 18 years of age or older.
- Willing to try new things and think outside the box.
- Regularly able to commit a minimum of 2 hours a week to tutoring time, plus lesson prep time, for at least 1 year.
- Must check email regularly, and have or be willing to learn basic computer skills.
Tutors are matched with learners based on availability and geographic location. Tutoring takes place at your nearest OC Public Libraries branch. For a list of all branches, visit ocpl.org/libraries.
Walk-in Tutoring
Walk-in tutors assist adult learners one-on-one for 20 minutes each during a two-hour volunteer shift. Walk-in tutors help learners on a first-come, first-served basis on the topic of their choice. This can include, but is not limited to, mail, reading passages, job applications, or conversations in which tutors gently and actively correct grammar, sentence structure, and/or assist with pronunciation. Learners may bring in their own material or use library and OC Read resources. Walk-in tutors assist learners in person at a library.
OC Read Walk-in tutors are:
- 18 years of age or older.
- Reliable, patient, compassionate, and have a positive attitude.
- Able to commit to volunteering for two hours (1 shift) per month.
- Must check email regularly, and have or be willing to learn, basic computer skills.
Walk-in tutoring is held at the following locations:
- Tustin Library - Mondays and Saturdays, 10 AM - 2 PM
- Rancho Santa Margarita Library - Mondays, 5 PM - 7 PM
- Fountain Valley - Thursdays, 3 PM - 5 PM
To Get Involved
Recruiting
OC Read is currently enrolling a small number of volunteers, depending on their interest, level of potential commitment, and location. Please see the list below for details.
One-on-One Volunteering:
- Currently not enrolling volunteers.
Walk-in Tutoring Volunteering:
- Currently not enrolling volunteers.
Volunteer Training
All OC Read volunteers must complete online training. Training is held on Zoom. Please see the status list above to check if OC Read is recruiting.
Many of our sister programs are actively looking for more hands to help!
