Skip to main content
Open University Students Association
Open University Students Association
Open University Students Association
  •  
  • Log in
  • Register
  • Home
  • About us
    • Who we are
      • Our strategy
      • Our priorities
      • Our history
    • How we're run
      • Your student leaders
      • Trustees
      • Staff team
      • Conference
      • FAQs
      • Honorary life members
      • Important documents
      • Data protection
    • Work for us
  • News
  • What's on
    • Events
    • Welcome Week
    • Elections
    • Yorkshire Peaks Challenge
    • Student discounts
  • Get involved
    • Volunteering
      • Register as a volunteer
      • Volunteer profile
      • Current opportunities
      • Volunteer Opportunities Catalogue
      • Finance hub for volunteers
      • OU graduation ceremonies
      • Library study volunteers
      • Volunteering FAQs
      • Volunteer Newsletter
    • OU Students Connect
    • Clubs and societies
      • Full list of clubs
      • Full list of societies
      • How to set up a club
      • How to set up a society
      • Meet our societies and clubs
      • First Club Leads
      • Second Club Leads
    • Support Groups
      • Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Students Group
      • Disabled Students Group
      • OU Pride
      • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion newsletter
    • Connect with students
    • University Challenge
      • How to apply
      • Meet the team 2024-2025
      • Our history on University Challenge
      • University Challenge news
    • The Hoot student magazine
  • Student voice
    • Your student leaders
    • Representation
      • Student Representatives
      • Senate and Student Senate Reference Group
      • Appointments Committee
      • Postgraduate Research Students
    • Raise an issue
      • Current issues
      • Passed issues
    • Our surveys
      • Annual Membership Survey
      • National Student Survey
    • Tutor Awards
    • Manifesto for Lifelong Learning
  • Support and advice
    • Student Advice and Representation
      • Individual Representation Service
      • Central Disciplinary Committee
      • Complaints
      • Academic appeals
      • Academic misconduct
      • Non-academic misconduct
      • FAQs
    • Support Groups
    • Wellbeing
      • Bullying and harassment
      • OU Wellbeing app
      • Shout 85258
      • TalkCampus
    • Menopause Support Hub
      • Courses and articles
      • Menopause at work
      • OU Menopause Hub
      • Resources
      • Share your tips
      • Wellbeing tips
    • Financial support
      • Open University Students Educational Trust (OUSET)
      • Fees and funding advice
      • Cost of living information
    • Free OU exam papers
  • Shop
  •  My Account
Register
  • Log in
Browse and apply for live volunteering opportunities you would like to get involved with.
  • Home /
  • Volunteering /
  • Browse opportunities /
  • Opportunity details

Opportunity details

Open SU

Open SU logo

Library Study Volunteer 2023

This opportunity takes place between 06 Sep 2023 and 06 Sep 2024 Applications closed on 21 Aug.

Ever wondered how you would complete your studies without use of the internet? For students studying in prison this is a reality, making it practically impossible to study for Level 3 or Postgraduate qualifications. This is where you can help!

Join our team of volunteers and you could make a real and lasting positive impact on an individual trying to improve their life through study. Library Study Volunteers take research requests (Level 2 or above) from students in secure environments and help find journals, articles, and other relevant documents online.

Our warehouse then prints the resources you’ve found and posts them directly to the student. All you’ll need is access to the internet to carry out this role, allowing you to volunteer anywhere.

You will need to be a current student studying at Level 2 or 3 in order to apply for this role, as this will ensure you have the required Library research access which means you must be currently studying and registered as a student with access to library services to do thisrole 

Language diversity is an important aspect of our community, and we aim to complete requests from students in a secure environment in their preferred language- we are particularly interested in applications from bilingual students.

Training

Please note you must attend and complete the role specific training sessions below in order that they occur:

Session 1:'Understanding Copyright' - You will be sent a link to a pre-recorded video that you must watch before attending two further online (live) and interactive training sessions. 

Session 2:‘How to research anything & Q&A’ hosted by the Library staff.

Wednesday 6 September 2023 at 7:30-8:30pm 

or

Tuesday 12 September 2023 at 12:30-1:30pm

Session 3: ‘The role of the Library Study Volunteer’ hosted by the OU Students Association and SISE team.

Tuesday 19th September 2023 at 7-8pm

This opportunity will close at 23:59 on Monday 21 August 2023

Benefits to self

Despite there being no direct contact with prisoners, our volunteers feel a great sense of pride and achievement in supporting students who study in prison and it is such a rewarding role.

Benefits to others

Since 2019, well over 400 requests have been fulfilled, and nearly 2,500 individual resources sent to students in prisons. This is a very important role, impacting those in secure environments.

Hours per week

2-4

Training available

Volunteers must complete: Session 1:Pre-recorded Video.  Session 2:(Live online) Wed 6 September 2023 at 7.30-8.30pm or Tues 12 Sep 12:30-1:30pm Session 3:(Live online) Tues 19 September 2023 7-8pm

Location

Online

DBS required

No
  • ActivityOnline

Employability skills

  • Collaboration - Core skills and competencies 0
  • Digital and information literacy - Core skills and competencies 0
  • Global citizenship - External awareness 0

Thank you for your interest in this role – you will receive an email with a link to the application form and instructions on how to apply.

In addition, please ensure you add oustudents-volunteer@open.ac.uk to your safe senders list as you will be receiving emails at various points during your volunteer term (as otherwise your messages may end up in your junk folder).

If you have any queries regarding the role or application process, please contact oustudents-volunteer@open.ac.uk and we will be happy to help.

Confirmation

Are you sure?

 
Registered with fundraising regulator logo
Investing in Volunteers trademark logo
responsible future accreditation logo
Data protection Privacy policy Cookie declaration
Terms of use Fundraising complaints procedure
Accessibility
Contact us Opting-out
Data protection Privacy policy Cookie declaration
Terms of use Fundraising complaints procedure
Accessibility
Contact us Opting-out

© Open SU (OU Students Association) 2025

Charity number: 1183837/SC049546
Company number: 12031028
Address: PO Box 397, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6BE
Email: su@open.ac.uk

Powered by MSL