Get Involved | Uru mai ki te kaupapa
There are lots of ways to get involved–big and small!
Currently, we’d love volunteers to help us with book suggestions, content reading, book reviews and working with local libraries.
The books in our resource are gathered via reader submissions and research. Know of a book you think would be great in the resource? Submit books here!
Content Reading
Out on the Shelves strives to provide accurate information about the books in our reading resource. This allows our users to find and determine which books are suitable for them.
Some information (bibliographic) is easy to find. However, other information (such as appropriateness, identities represented, and potential content warnings) often requires someone reads the book and report back.
How content reading works: after registering, volunteers are provided lists of books that require content reading. They then pick out books they have access to and are comfortable reading. Once they have read each book, they report back and our database is updated.
If you are interested in becoming a content reader for Out on the Shelves: fill out this form
Help get your local library involved
We’ve been in touch with libraries all over Aotearoa, but there’s a chance they missed our e-mail. We’d love for more school and community libraries to host events or take part in our annual display competition.
How it works: Visit your local library and ask to speak to a librarian, if you feel safe doing so (lots of libraries let you book time online with a librarian). Let them know about Out on the Shelves (we can send you a blurb of what to say) and tell them some of the ways they could get involved during campaign week. They can order free bookmarks, promote their rainbow book collections as part of our display competition, and/or host an event. If you have the time and energy, you can offer to volunteer and help out.
The more libraries, schools and other institutions know about Out on the Shelves, the more our presence will grow in those places—bringing more rainbow books to young people across the country.
