HELP OUT: Festival of Books

The San Diego Union-Tribune's 7th Annual Festival of Books will take place on August 19, 2023. The Festival of Books, hosted on the University of San Diego campus, is a free event for book lovers of all ages. Attendees enjoy workshops, activities, photo booths, live entertainment, discussions with award-winning authors and more!

The event also fundraises for the San Diego Council on Literacy which unites the community to support literacy through advocacy, partnerships, resources and coordinated efforts. They represent a network of 30 affiliated literacy program partners that annually provide services to 170,000 residents of all ages, at no cost.

HandsOn San Diego will be managing volunteers for the Festival of Books. Volunteers are needed to support the Festival of Books behind-the-scenes to ensure the event runs smoothly. Volunteers will serve as author escorts, assist with book signing lines, provide support in author session rooms, answer questions at the info booth, help out at the poetry, children's, or entertainment stages, and help with wayfinding. Descriptions of each of these roles can be found in the shifts below. Before or after your shift, you'll be welcome to enjoy the festival. 

Opportunity Requirements & Important Notes

• Attire: Each volunteer will be given a teal t-shirt to wear during their shift. Please wear comfortable closed-toe shoes. Most roles will take place outdoors so dressing in layers and wearing a hat is recommended. 

• Bring: A reusable water bottle. Additional water, lunch, and snacks will be provided. The lunch order was placed on August 7, 2023 so unfortunately we cannot guarantee dietary restrictions will be accommodated for volunteers who sign up past this date.

• Physical Requirements: Volunteers will be standing during most or all of their shift. Some roles may require significant amounts of walking. Accommodations may be able to be made for individuals with physical limitations. If accommodations are needed, contact the Opportunity Coordinator prior to the event to make sure you receive a role that works for your physical ability.

• ​Training: All Panel Escorts are required to attend the volunteer orientation over Zoom on Monday Aug. 7 from 6:00pm - 7:00pm. All other volunteers are encouraged to join as well. A recording will be sent out for anyone who couldn't make it.

• Note: There will be a panel room with Spanish programming. Please notify the Opportunity Coordinator if you speak Spanish. Currently our greatest need for volunteers is with the afternoon shifts. 

About HandsOn San Diego

HandsOn San Diego's mission is to strengthen communities through volunteer action. We believe that when individuals are actively engaged, communities are stronger.