Volunteer Home
Mark your calendars for the 2024 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books!
Saturday April 20 and Sunday April 21.
Welcome to the hub for all information related to volunteering for the LA Times Festival of Books. We're so grateful to you for giving your time to this time-honored event celebrating all things books! It couldn't happen without you!
Online sign-up is closed. Check back in early January for the 2024 sign-up form. If you are a first-time volunteer, click here to get on the mailing list to be notified when the form is open. Veteran volunteers will automatically receive a message to register the first week of January.
Scroll down for news and updates.
*Confirmations are sent every few days. Please email latfobvolunteers@gmail.com if you do not receive a confirmation within one week of signing up.
**Bookmark this page for easy access to news and information about volunteering for the event.
Shifts available:
Saturday
A: 9 - 12:30
B: 11:30 - 3:30
C: 2:30 - 6:00
Sunday
D: 9 - 12:30
E: 11:30 - 3:00
F: 2:00 - 5:00
What is the Festival of Books and why should I volunteer?
The Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: Bring together the people who create books and the people who love to read them. The Festival was an immediate success and has become Southern California's major literary event.
The Festival is attended by over 150,000 people each year and features more than a hundred ticketed author events, children’s storytelling, poetry readings, book signings and more than 400 exhibitor booths. The Festival’s success has been due in part to the generous participation of volunteers who welcomed attendees, assisted with registration, staffed author events, supervised book signings and much more.
Time Commitment: Volunteers sign up for one or more 3-4 hour shifts on one or both days.
Benefits: Volunteers will receive free parking, shuttle service from the parking lot and lunch.
Required Attire:
We will provide t-shirts for volunteers to wear and keep after the event.
Bottoms should be khaki, gray, black, or denim* pants, shorts or leggings.
*Denim should have no (or minimal) holes.
Comfortable shoes
Hats and sunscreen are recommended.
Water bottles: USC in its commitment to sustainability has asked that we not distribute single-use water bottles. Please bring a refillable water bottle.
Roles include:
Bookworms/Area Captains - lead other volunteers in an area/panel room
Information Booth - help answer questions
Lines & Tickets - assist guests waiting for panel rooms/events
Room ushers - assist guests in getting in an out of panel rooms/events
Crossword puzzle/What are you reading? Walls - manage guests solving giant crossword puzzles or "graffiti walls"
Author Escort - escort authors/panelists to and from their speaking engagements
Book signings - help manage lines at signing areas
Children's Area/LA Times en Espanol - help our guests engage in a variety of activities
Questions about volunteering? E-mail: latfobvolunteers@gmail.com
News & Updates:
Check the calendar for information on trainings.
