Event Volunteer

Would you like to help the Internet Archive out with some of our events?

We host around 12 events a year and are looking for ushers to help welcome and seat guests and collect their admission tickets.

After everyone is seated, you and a guest, are more then welcome to stay for the event for free! After volunteering with us for 6 events - you get a Internet Archive sweatshirt.

If you are interested, please contact

About the Internet Archive

The Internet Archive is a non-profit that was founded to build an Internet library. Its purposes include offering permanent access for researchers, historians, scholars, people with disabilities, and the general public to historical collections, which exist in digital format. Founded in 1996 and located in San Francisco, the Archive has been receiving data donations from Alexa Internet and others. In late 1999, the organization started to grow to include more well-rounded collections. Now the Internet Archive includes texts, audio, moving images, and software, as well as archived web pages in our collections, and provides specialized services for adaptive reading and information access for the blind and other persons with disabilities.

Under the direction of the Director of Administration, the Volunteer VHS/CD burner is responsible for:

• putting tapes into vcrs, putting dvds into dvd burners and operating the machines in a gentle and organized way
• verifying that the right video and audio are going to the right pieces of equipment
• checking video and audio quality, and solving simple problems (cleaning tape?, unplugged cable?)
• running the consumer-type dvd recorder & vcrs to copy tapes onto dvd per the documented methods
• making sure the equipment and media are handled in a gentle & preserving way
• keeping track of which media (tapes, dvds etc.) are where they are in the workflow
• taking instructions from technically minded people and understanding (and integrating) them in a direct & also conceptual manner.

• Learn the approved method
• Master all methods of Quality Assurance involved in the process in order to assure the creation of an accurate product
• Learn the various problems one can run across while working on collections, in order to bring them to the attention of the supervisor
• Treat the equipment with utmost respect and care during the process

• Bachelors degree
• Knowledge of customer service principles and practices
• Knowledge of relevant computer applications
• Knowledge of administrative procedures
• Basic IT knowledge

• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills - verbal and written
• Listening skills
• Problem analysis and problem-solving
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Customer service orientation
• Adaptability
• Initiative
• Stress tolerance

• This volunteer position is for a min of 3 months, 10 hours a week
• The Internet Archive is open Monday - Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

• Learning from and collaborating with one of the best non-profits in San Francisco
• Networking and exposure to non-profit professional work
• Being part of a positive, mission-oriented non-profit
• A great letter of recommendation/reference (upon completion of fulfilled duties)
• Helping build a digital library
• Free staff lunch on Friday's
• Blue Bottle Coffee
• Beverage fridge
• Fresh fruit brought in everyday
• Snack drawer

Volunteer Scanning Positions

Internet Archive is a non-profit organization working with 80+world-class universities and libraries to create the world's largest digital open-source library.

The Internet Archive is looking for interns to work with us! We are offering really exciting opportunities at our Presidio location.

Help us upload books and work on other interesting projects at the internet archive!

We need your help! If you can give us some of your time, we can give you a chance to help bring digital knowledge to others both near and far! Come join us! We can offer college credit in exchange for your volunteering. Volunteer Scanner Positions

Basic knowledge of computers, digital files helpful. Pleasant, low-stress work environment. A love of books is a plus.

Gain experience in the following fields of endeavor: building an open source digital library, digital photography, and digital scanning software, preservation, presentation and production of digital books. Digitizing special collection books from different centuries. Understanding copyrights and public domain materials.

Commitment: Assistance is needed Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Position involves a commitment of a minimum 3 hours and up, at least one day a week, as well as a minimum commitment length of one month.

For those interested in bolstering their credentials, we offer a four-hour, one day a week, six-week internship. Applicable fields of endeavor include digital photography, digital media, Non-Profit, Library Science, Computer Science. We will train you on Scribe 2 software.

Interrelations: The volunteer Scanner will interact with the Coordinator, the professional scanning staff and other volunteers.

Physical/Special Requirements: