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About Us

Since 1901, when North Carolina Sorosis took up the cause for a Free Public Library in Wilmington, volunteers have been essential to providing library services to the community.

Volunteers stepped up when the county cut library staffing during the Great Depression, keeping the reading room open during the evening hours. Citizens provided labor and materials for the following milestones in our library history:

  • 1950: Opening of a new Carolina Beach facility 

  • 2000: Opening of the Northeast Branch

  • 2015: Opening of the Pleasure Island Branch

  • 2019: Opening of the Pine Valley Branch

Currently, volunteers contribute over 13,000 hours a year!

Whether shelving books one morning a week, working behind the scene on book sale, raising money through the Library Foundation, promoting library programs and outreach through the Friends of the Library, or supporting library operations through the Library Advisory Board, volunteers are essential to Creating Library Experiences that Matter.​

NHCPL volunteers must be at least 14 years of age.

Most volunteer work at NHCPL requires the following skills and abilities:

  • Listen and follow directions
  • Pay careful attention to detail
  • Stay on task with minimal supervision
  • Read fluently
  • Decipher small print
  • Put items in alphabetical and decimal number order with a high degree of accuracy
  • Stoop and stretch to reach and place items on top and bottom shelves
  • Stand for extended periods of time

NHCPL will give priority to volunteers who can work a consistently scheduled 2-3 hours per week over an extended length of time.

In general, the Library cannot place volunteers who want to work once for a few hours.  Exceptions are made for special events.

NOTE: The following branches are at capacity.  Applications for book sale are accepted year-round.

  • Northeast
  • Pine Valley
  • Pleasure Island

Thank you for your interest in volunteer opportunities with New Hanover County Public Library! Please tell us about yourself so we can determine your best placement.

LIBRARY HOURS FOR COURT-ORDERED and OTHER REQUIRED COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS ARE LIMITED AND WE CANNOT GUARANTEE PLACEMENT. We will make every effort to help you complete your assigned hours but we recommend you apply to other agencies while you wait to hear from us.

Main Library & Law Library
201 Chestnut Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

Northeast Regional Library
1241 Military Cutoff Road
Wilmington, NC 28405

Pine Valley Library
3802 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28412

Pleasure Island Library
1401 N. Lake Park Boulevard
Carolina Beach, NC 28428

Call (910) 798-6300
Hours: Monday-Thursday 10 am - 7 pm
Friday-Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday 1 - 5 pm