Volunteering

Volunteers play an important role within the University’s Library, Special Collections and Museums, contributing significantly to its overall success. As such, members of the public are encouraged and supported to become volunteers. Every effort is also made to accommodate students of the University of Aberdeen wishing to become volunteers, particularly where a vocational interest is expressed.

Special Collections have over the last few years had an average of 10 volunteers at any one time, contributing about 50 contact hours per week. The majority of the volunteers have worked with the archive team on cataloguing projects but increasingly volunteers have also worked with the rare books team and assisting with collection preservation tasks. Students are also taken on every year as part of placements organised by the University of Aberdeen History Department and as part of the Information and Library Studies MSc course ran by Robert Gordon University. With the introduction of new facilities and services such as the new exhibition space, conservation department and schools programme, there will be additional opportunities available.

The Library, Special Collections and Museums recognise that people volunteer for a variety of reasons and, as such, will endeavour to arrange placements so they are as mutually beneficial as possible to both parties. Consequently, volunteer placements will be made by interview and discussion with appropriate staff members, to match the applicant’s skills, talents, interests and desires with the needs of the Library, Special Collections and Museums at the time. Selection for interview will be based on the Volunteer Application Form or the applicant's CV where appropriate. Selected applicants will be asked to provide the names and contact details of two referees. Professional, technical or other qualifications may be necessary for some volunteer placements. Where this is the case, the volunteer will need to hold the relevant qualification before taking up a placement.

For more information see our Volunteer Policy which is available here.