Make a Difference in Columbus Literacy
The Excellence Library is powered by the generosity and commitment of community members like you. Whether you can give an hour a week, a box of books, or a financial contribution, your support directly strengthens free literacy programming for children, adults, and seniors across the Columbus metropolitan area. Every form of involvement creates measurable impact in our community.
Become a Reading Tutor
Our reading tutors are the backbone of every program we offer. Volunteers commit to a minimum of two hours per week for at least one academic semester (September through December or January through May). Before working with participants, all volunteers complete our comprehensive 12-hour training certification covering reading pedagogy fundamentals, age-appropriate engagement strategies, cultural sensitivity principles, and Ohio child safeguarding protocols.
No prior teaching experience is required. We provide all training, materials, and ongoing mentorship from our program coordinators. Volunteers range from college students earning service-learning credit to retired professionals sharing a lifetime of knowledge. Currently, we have particular need for bilingual volunteers fluent in Spanish, Somali, or Nepali to support our ESL program.
Other Volunteer Roles:
- • Bookmobile Assistant: Help set up, organize books, and assist patrons at neighborhood stops
- • Event Support: Assist with Family Literacy Festivals, author visits, and community reading events
- • Technology Mentor: Guide seniors through digital skills workshops
- • Book Sorter: Process, categorize, and shelve donated books at our reading room
Volunteer Requirements
- ✓ Must be 18 years or older
- ✓ Background check required (provided at no cost)
- ✓ 12-hour training certification (two Saturdays)
- ✓ Minimum commitment: 2 hours/week, one semester
- ✓ References: two professional or personal references
- ✓ Reliable transportation to assigned program location
Training sessions are held on the first and second Saturdays of September, January, and June. Community service hours documentation is provided for students.
What We Accept
Drop-off hours: Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM at our State Street reading room. For donations exceeding three boxes, please call ahead to schedule: (614) 555-0218.
Donate Books
Book donations fuel our bookmobile collection and reading room shelves. We accept gently used books in good condition across all genres and age groups. Donated books are sorted by our volunteer team, cataloged by reading level, and distributed through our programs and bookmobile routes. Books that do not meet our condition standards are recycled responsibly through our partnership with Recycled Reads Columbus.
We are currently seeking donations of bilingual children’s books (Spanish-English and Somali-English), high-interest low-reading-level titles for adult ESL learners, large print editions for our senior programs, and graphic novels for our teen collection. All book donations are tax-deductible; we provide a receipt upon request.
Financial Contributions
As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN: 31-2839401), all financial contributions to The Excellence Library are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law. Eighty-four percent of every dollar goes directly to program delivery.
Sponsor a Reader
Covers the cost of books, materials, and snacks for one child in our After-School Reading Club for an entire semester. Sponsors receive quarterly progress updates.
Sponsor a Bookmobile Stop
Funds the annual operating cost of one neighborhood bookmobile stop, including fuel, book replenishment, and volunteer coordination. Your organization’s name is displayed at the stop.
Name a Reading Room
Major donors and corporate partners can name a reading room or program space. Includes permanent recognition plaque, annual impact report, and invitation to all Excellence Library events.
Corporate Literacy Partnerships
We work with Columbus-area businesses to design customized literacy partnerships that align with corporate social responsibility goals. Partnership benefits include employee volunteer coordination, branded program materials, and measurable community impact reporting for ESG disclosures.
Employee Volunteer Days
We organize structured volunteer experiences for corporate teams: book sorting and shelving, reading room painting and setup, bookmobile community outreach events, and team reading sessions with program participants.
Matching Gift Programs
Many employers match charitable contributions. We provide the documentation needed for matching gift requests, and our development team can work with your HR or CSR department to streamline the process for all employees.
Ready to Get Started?
Fill out the form below to express interest in volunteering, donating, or enrolling in a program. Our volunteer coordinator will follow up within three business days.