/volunteer.en
Type: /type/page
body: value: ## Welcome!

Open Library ([openlibrary.org](https://openlibrary.org)) is a non-profit, [open source][1], digital public library, hosted by the [Internet Archive][2], which lends millions of ebooks to millions of patrons each year. Open Library is made possible by volunteers, like you, from more than 8 different countries (US, NL, NZ, ES, IN, UK, DE, GR, CA). We believe everyone deserves a say in how their library serves our community. A library should be not only for, but of the people. Together, let's build the World's library.

If you're busy but still like to show your generosity and support our cause, consider [sponsoring a book][3] or making a [tax-deductible donation][4].

## How it Works

Open Library hosts an invite-only community chat room on Slack where book lovers and contributors can stay updated, ask questions, and collaborate towards improve OpenLibrary.org. Each week, Open Library also hosts an inclusive Community Call where members of the community may learn and participate in discussing the evolution of OpenLibrary.org.

To join our chat or participate in one of our weekly community calls, please "Choose Your Character" and click the relevant link to become involved. We're so excited to welcome you!

## <a name="opportunities">Opportunities</a>

There are several ways to participate in Open Library.

1. Proceed to "<a href="#start">Choose Your Character</a>" to explore flexible volunteering opportunities 
3. <a href="https://forms.gle/zsV7G5U2sCRYGevF7">Submit interest</a> in being chosen as an <a href="https://github.com/internetarchive/openlibrary/wiki/Fellowships">Open Library Fellow</a>
3. Apply for a <a href="https://github.com/internetarchive/openlibrary/wiki/Google-Summer-of-Code">Google Summer of Code</a> internship
4. Participate in <a href="https://github.com/internetarchive/openlibrary/wiki/Hacktoberfest">Hacktoberfest</a> (every October)


## <a name="start">Choose Your Character</a>

Want to get involved? First, lets choose your character: Which role best describes you?

### <a name="librarian"> [Librarian][6]</a>

Open Library's book catalog has millions of books and thousands of data errors. Sometimes author names are misspelled, book covers are missing, or works and authors are duplicated or conflated. Librarians work together and communicate using our Slack chat channel to identify and fix data issues in our catalog. If you've ever been interested in programming scripts, Open Library's engineering team has written guides and created basic tools to empower librarians to start fixing common problems at scale. Your contributions will help patrons find the books they are looking for, ensure patrons receive accurate data, and that our engineering team has the right feedback to build thoughtful tools for librarians and our greater Open Library community. Learn more [about librarianship][7] at Open Library or browse our [librarian resources][8].


<a class="cta-btn cta-btn--available" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeU5Y4x6LNl2SW4NktRnZhFUDwhV6l9Xzr-IsqBow1KqNfdYw/viewform?usp=pp_url&entry.30454636=%F0%9F%93%9A+Librarianship+-+Improve+the+card+catalog,+merge+duplicate+books+%26+authors+records">Contribute as a <strong>Librarian</strong></a>


### <a name="communications">Communications & Outreach</a>

As a library, we're excited about how we're making our resources discoverable and accessible to book lovers worldwide. If you're interested in joining our communications team, please let us know, and we'll be in touch!

<a class="cta-btn cta-btn--available" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3eLuad4DukUDR6LaFFhPk0nBoUNXfl2SeLg0xeMe2vbWsIw/viewform">Contribute on our <strong>Communications Team</strong></a>
### <a name="engineering">Software Engineer</a>

Want to write code that empowers million of book lovers to discover books they'll love? Each year [scores of volunteers][11] help fix bugs on OpenLibrary.org and architect new features and programs that reach thousands of patrons. For instance, the [Reading Log][13] has been used more than a million times by readers to track their reading progress!

**Getting Started:** If you're interested in getting started, try [getting your developer environment set up](https://github.com/internetarchive/openlibrary#installation) and take a look at these [good first issues](https://github.com/internetarchive/openlibrary/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue+label%3A%22Good+First+Issue%22+label%3A%22Needs%3A+Help%22+-label%3A%22Needs%3A+Triage%22+-label%3A%22Needs%3A+Lead%22).

**Ask Questions** [Follow and join us on Github][14], [Gitter](https://gitter.im/theopenlibrary/Lobby), and our Slack; help improve the performance, reliability, and usefulness of the Open Library website; e.g. APIs, search engine, data models  (python, web.py, infogami, solr, postgres):

<a class="cta-btn cta-btn--available" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeU5Y4x6LNl2SW4NktRnZhFUDwhV6l9Xzr-IsqBow1KqNfdYw/viewform?usp=pp_url&entry.30454636=%F0%9F%92%BB+Software+Engineering+-+Contribute+code+to+high+impact+openlibrary.org+features">Contribute as a <strong>Software Engineer</strong></a>

### <a name="design">Designer & User Researcher</a>

Does OpenLibrary.org look like it's from the the 90's? Help us fix that! 

<a class="cta-btn cta-btn--available" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeU5Y4x6LNl2SW4NktRnZhFUDwhV6l9Xzr-IsqBow1KqNfdYw/viewform?usp=pp_url&entry.30454636=%F0%9F%8E%A8+Design+-+Using+figma/penpot+to+mockup+designs+and+flows">Contribute as a <strong>Designer</strong></a>

### <a name="translator">Translator</a>

Help Open Library better serve an international audience and increase availability and accessibility across the globe by contributing as a translator. To learn more, please read [our translator's wiki guide](https://github.com/internetarchive/openlibrary/blob/master/openlibrary/i18n/README.md) and check out [this github issue](https://github.com/internetarchive/openlibrary/issues/791).

Can you help us **translate to Nepali**? Please reach out! (Issue [#1040](https://github.com/internetarchive/openlibrary/issues/1040))

Help new patrons use Open Library by translating the website into another language:

<a class="cta-btn cta-btn--available" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeU5Y4x6LNl2SW4NktRnZhFUDwhV6l9Xzr-IsqBow1KqNfdYw/viewform?usp=pp_url&entry.30454636=%F0%9F%8C%90+Translator+-+Use+your+language+skills+to+make+Open+Library+more+accessible+to+international+audiences">Contribute as a <strong>Translator</strong></a>

  [1]: https://github.com/internetarchive/openlibrary
  [2]: https://archive.org/about
  [3]: https://openlibrary.org/sponsor
  [4]: https://archive.org/donate
  [6]: https://openlibrary.org/librarians
  [7]: https://openlibrary.org/about/lib
  [8]: https://openlibrary.org/librarians
  [9]: mailto:lisas@archive.org?&cc=mek@archive.org&subject=Open%20Library:%20Volunteering%20as%20a%20Librarian&body=I%27m%20interested%20in%20contributing%20to%20Open%20Library,%20please%20send%20me%20a%20slack%20invite!
  [10]: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe7m7OtSNWPV4wa4IxASAp0uDUrX7762feC9yiiM36lIe4_7g/viewform
  [11]: https://blog.openlibrary.org/2019/01/01/2018-a-year-of-victories/
  [12]: https://openlibrary.org/sponsorship
  [13]: https://blog.openlibrary.org/2017/12/27/a-holiday-gift-from-open-library-introducing-the-reading-log/
  [14]: https://github.com/internetarchive/openlibrary/issues
  [15]: https://github.com/internetarchive/openlibrary/issues/686
  [16]: mailto:jchamp@archive.org?&cc=drini@archive.org,mek@archive.org&subject=Open%20Library:%20Volunteering%20as%20a%20Frontend%20Engineer&body=I%27m%20interested%20in%20contributing%20to%20Open%20Library,%20please%20send%20me%20a%20slack%20invite!
  [17]: mailto:mek@archive.org?&cc=drini@archive.org&subject=Open%20Library:%20Volunteering%20as%20a%20Designer&body=I%27m%20interested%20in%20contributing%20to%20Open%20Library,%20please%20send%20me%20a%20slack%20invite!
  [18]: mailto:mek@archive.org?&cc=drini@archive.org&subject=Open%20Library:%20Volunteering%20in%20Beta&body=I%27m%20interested%20in%20contributing%20to%20Open%20Library,%20please%20send%20me%20a%20slack%20invite!
  [19]: mailto:mek@archive.org?&cc=drini@archive.org&subject=Open%20Library:%20Volunteering%20as%20a%20Backend%20Engineer&body=I%27m%20interested%20in%20contributing%20to%20Open%20Library,%20please%20send%20me%20a%20slack%20invite!
  [20]: mailto:mek@archive.org?&cc=lisas@archive.org&subject=Open%20Library:%20Volunteering%20as%20a%20Data%20Engineer&body=I%27m%20interested%20in%20contributing%20to%20Open%20Library,%20please%20send%20me%20a%20slack%20invite!
  [21]: mailto:mek@archive.org?&cc=drini@archive.org&subject=Open%20Library:%20Volunteering%20as%20a%20Translator&body=I%27m%20interested%20in%20contributing%20to%20Open%20Library,%20please%20send%20me%20a%20slack%20invite!
  [22]: mailto:brian@mcneil.ly?&cc=mek@archive.org&subject=Open%20Library:%20Volunteering%20as%20an%20Accessibility%20Champion&body=I%27m%20interested%20in%20contributing%20to%20Open%20Library,%20please%20send%20me%20a%20slack%20invite!
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title: Volunteering @ Open Library