Organisation Name:
York Minster
Organisation's Cause(s):
Arts / Culture / Heritage / Museums
Location of voluntary activity:
The Old Palace
York Minster Library
York
YO1 7JQ
When are volunteers needed: Commitment involved:
• The role will last for six months from the date of induction. Suggested commitment is 2 hours a week or fortnight. Hours are agreed in advance with the coordinator.
Type of Voluntary Activity:
Miscellaneous
Role description:
Help maintain the General Collection, Periodical, Lower Stack, Historic Series and Reading Room books in order and assist with shelving. To assist with other collections work, including short-term projects, when opportunities to do so become available.
Key tasks and activities
• To tidy and provide assistance with shelf checks, searches and other collection activities in the public areas of the library and rearrange items as required.
• To assist with re-shelving or re-directing books, ensuring books are shelved in the correct order.
• To support the behind the scenes work of the Old Palace Library, including minor collections work in public and restricted access areas, after relevant training.
• To assist the Library Customer Services Coordinator with short term projects that occur: for example, creating space for stock movement, auditing, searching for missing books, amending labels, catalogue-related research for small exhibitions or to improve historical library records.
• Attend mandatory training when asked, for example, Safeguarding.
Skills and behaviours needed for the role:
• An empathy with the Mission of York Minster and the aims of the Chapter of York and the Collections Team.
• Attention to detail and willingness to follow instructions.
• Willingness to wear required identification.
Will there be a DBS check? No
Driving Licence required? No
Volunteer's own vehicle required? No
Suitable for:
Short term Volunteering
What will the volunteer gain/benefit from:
Training provision:
• General induction (Introduction to the Minster your place within in it) and Health and Safety induction;
• Role-specific induction
• Safeguarding training appropriate to the role
• Ongoing training opportunities
How to get involved:
Please compete the application form online via Better Impact: https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/d48179bf-cf9f-4b9b-89d1-cd40a8ef06e7/1
Web link: Click here
Closing date: 23-11-2026