A new report from Libraries Connected shows a thriving culture of volunteering within England’s libraries, and calls for investment in staff time, training and coordination to match the scale of volunteer involvement.

The report Volunteering In Public Libraries, published today, draws on two national surveys completed by volunteers and library services in 2025. The findings reveal a large, committed volunteer base that plays a vital role in strengthening and enhancing services.

The surveys found that:

• Volunteer involvement in libraries is significant: over a third of services manage cohorts of 100 volunteers or more, with some supporting more than 750 volunteers
• Half of current volunteers have volunteered for more than two years and most give their time weekly
• Volunteers support a wide range of activities including Home Library Service deliveries, digital skills support and children’s events
• Satisfaction is very high, with 86 percent of volunteers rating their experience as good or excellent
• More than six in ten volunteers say the role makes them feel more positive about their local area

The economic, social and wellbeing benefits of volunteering are well recognised, with strong evidence that it helps people build confidence, develop skills and feel more connected to those around them. Its contribution to community cohesion and local pride is also increasingly understood. (See notes for references.)

However, the report also highlights clear pressures on the workforce and infrastructure that underpin volunteering, and emphasises the need for paid staff to support and co-ordinate volunteers. Library services identify lack of staff time (71 percent) and administrative burden (60 percent) as the greatest challenges in managing volunteers. While 79 percent of services have a volunteer management policy, many say that they lack capacity to provide consistent support to volunteers. Services also warn of risks linked to over-reliance on volunteers, lack of role clarity and uneven training opportunities.

The report calls for an expansion of library volunteering to further enhance and add value to the work of professional staff, but warns that renewed investment in infrastructure, training and coordination is required. It also advises broadening the range of roles, including micro and digital volunteering, to engage a more diverse group of volunteers.

Tina, a volunteer with Kent’s home library service, is profiled in the report. For Tina, volunteering has brought fulfilment and a renewed sense of belonging:

“I retired and was looking for a new purpose. I enjoy reading and chatting to people, so it’s a perfect role for me. And it’s lovely to give something back to the community.”

Isobel Hunter MBE, Chief Executive of Libraries Connected, said:

“The energy, local knowledge and practical skills that volunteers bring to public libraries are invaluable. This report shows how central volunteering has become to the modern library service, but also that its success depends on adequate staff time, training and clear structures. With sustained investment and strong leadership, volunteering can continue to enhance and extend what libraries offer – while bringing huge benefits for the whole community.”

The report comes out of the Know Your Know Your Neighbourhood programme, a DCMS-funded initiative administered by Arts Council England.