The Friends Lobby Shop is located inside the front entrance of the Library. When you join the Lobby Shop team, you get to meet lots of friendly people while making the Mountain View Library an ever-better part of our community.
It’s Easy to Help the Library
Lobby Shop team members greet and help customers as they shop our selection of gently used books, handmade jewelry, and other unique gifts. Team members are trained how to use a cash register and a Square credit terminal. Volunteers staff the shop with 2-hour shifts during library hours. The Lobby Shop is a warm and welcoming place to read or relax when you’re not helping customers.
Join the Lobby Shop team
Complete our volunteer application and email or mail it back to us. We’ll follow up with you to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions: Lobby Shop Volunteering
Q: Where is the lobby shop?
A: It’s adjacent to the lobby of the library, just across from the Circulation desk and check-out machines.
Q: Who works in the lobby shop?
A: The lobby shop is run by the Friends of the Mountain View Library and is staffed by volunteers.
Q: How often would I need to volunteer?
A: Volunteers typically put in 2 hours per week on a regular schedule. Some volunteers help by being on-call to work as needed or as fill-in for vacations.
Q: How long is a volunteer shift?
A: Most people take a single 2-hour shift each week.
Q: When would I be volunteering?
A: You tell us what time(s) and day(s) you are available, and we match that to openings in the staff schedule. You are not assigned a time that does not fit your availability. We only open the shop during regular library hours, and we close the shop when volunteers are not available.
Q: Do I need to know how to run a cash register?
A: We provide training and stay with you until you are comfortable with the job.
Q: Do I need to be a library or book expert?
A: No, the library’s professional staff handles library issues. Volunteers meet and greet people coming into the shop and run the cash register.
Q: How does the Lobby Shop help the Library?
A: All sales from the shop go to the library through the Friends of the Library. The Friends are the sole sponsors of the Children’s Summer Reading Program and the Friends’ Bestseller Collections of popular books and DVDs. The Friends also help pay for other library books, materials, programs, and equipment.
