Home Library Service Reading Friend

The Home Library Service delivers books to the homes of people who are housebound or unable to visit the library either because they are frail, of limited mobility, ill or have carer responsibilities.

A Home Library Service Reading Friend chooses library books based on the interests of the client and then visits them in their home to deliver them. The visit will also include stopping a while for a chat about books or anything else! Books that the client has finished reading will then be returned back to the library.

About the organisation 

With nine branch libraries and a mobile library, volunteers can get involved in a variety of activities at Portsmouth libraries. There's something for everyone, whatever your interests and the time you have available. We'll give you support and train you for the role you're interested in.

**Please check your Junk email folder in case any emails end up here, we will be touch with you within a few days by email. Friendly reminder that the charities/organisations emails may end up here too. **

Skills

1. Warm and engaging manner when visiting people’s homes.

2. Patient and sympathetic approach to vulnerable people with potentially complex needs.

3. Ability to travel to someone’s home with a bag of books.

4. Understanding of how to choose books for others by listening to their stated preferences.

5. Good communication and listening skills with the ability to build rapport through conversation.

6. Reliable and trustworthy.

7. A love of reading and the desire to share this with others.

8. An understanding of the need for confidentiality.

9. An understanding of health and safety and safeguarding (training will be provided).

10. Initiative and the ability to work without supervision.