Join Us in Preserving NYC’s History!

Are you passionate about history, community, or public service? We’d love to have you join our team of volunteers at the NYC Department of Records and Information Services — working to preserve and expand public access to historical and contemporary records about New York City through the Municipal Archives and Library.

Volunteers support a wide range of projects — from document transcription, gathering neighborhood stories from NYC communities, developing resources for K-12 students and educators, and assisting with public programs, among others.

Come be a part of preserving New York City’s story!

Note: If you are interested in more than one volunteer opportunity, please select Special Projects.

1. First Name *

2. Last Name *

I currently live outside the USA.

3. Street Name *

4. Country *

4. Apartment #

5. City *

6. State *

7. Zip Code *

8. Email *

9. Phone Number *

Select a Volunteer Opportunity (click the 'i' for more information on each position)

Education Neighborhood Stories Special Projects

Education: Weekly availability (Mon–Sun).

Select your available time ranges for each day

Monday

Available

First Schedule:

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End time must be after start time

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Tuesday

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Wednesday

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Thursday

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Friday

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Saturday

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Sunday

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Second Schedule:

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Is there anything else you would like to add about availability? (500 words max) 0 / 3000 characters

Do you have experience in the following fields? (Select choices)

Please specify

Describe experience or education you have relevant to the volunteer position? (500 words max) 0 / 3000 characters

Which project responsibilities are most interesting to you? (select choices)

Please specify

Special Projects: Weekly availability (Mon–Sun).

Select your available time ranges for each day

Monday

Available

First Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Second Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Tuesday

Available

First Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Second Schedule:

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End time must be after start time

Wednesday

Available

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End time must be after start time

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End time must be after start time

Thursday

Available

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End time must be after start time

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End time must be after start time

Friday

Available

First Schedule:

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End time must be after start time

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End time must be after start time

Saturday

Available

First Schedule:

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Second Schedule:

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End time must be after start time

Sunday

Available

First Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Second Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Is there anything else you would like to add about availability? (500 words max) 0 / 3000 characters

I am interested in:

Assisting with Public Programs and Special Events Transcription Projects Learning about all volunteer opportunities Other

Please specify

Please describe any applicable experience or skills that would be useful in a volunteer role (500 words max) 0 / 3000 characters

11. What NYC neighborhoods have you lived in? *

You can select multiple neighborhoods from the list below.

Would you prefer to join interviews by phone, Zoom, or in person? (Select one or more)

Phone Zoom In Person

Weekly availability schedule (Mon–Sun).

Select your available time ranges for each day

Sunday

Available

First Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Second Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Monday

Available

First Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Second Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Tuesday

Available

First Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Second Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Wednesday

Available

First Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Second Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Thursday

Available

First Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Second Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Friday

Available

First Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Second Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Saturday

Available

First Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Second Schedule:

From: To:

End time must be after start time

Is there anything else you would like to add about availability? (500 words max) 0 / 3000 characters

Our next cohort of interviewers will prioritize individuals with strong connections to local neighborhoods and communities. Please describe in detail your connections to specific communities and organizations. (500 words max) 0 / 3000 characters

Are you able to engage at least five potential interviewees amongst your contacts?

Yes No

How did you hear about the Neighborhood Stories project? (Select all that apply)

Social Media Friend or Family Community Organization Flyer or Poster Website LinkNYC Other

Please specify

Upload resume PDF (Optional) PDF only. Optional but recommended.

Are you fluent in languages other than English?

Yes No

Besides English, list the languages you are fluent in.

Volunteer Opportunities

Education

Passionate about New York City history? Have a talent for research and writing? Volunteer to develop resources for K-12 educators and students using the collections of the Municipal Archives and Library. Please complete the form below to learn more about becoming an educational volunteer. If you have any questions, please email us at: volunteercoordinator@records.nyc.gov.

Neighborhood Stories

The Neighborhood Stories project is a storytelling initiative by the NYC Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS), which aims to gather and permanently preserve the stories of New York City community members - connecting local history with the records of City government maintained in the collections of the Municipal Archives and Library. Please complete the form below if you would like to be interviewed as part of the Neighborhood Stories project. If you have questions about the interview process or the project in general, please email: stories@records.nyc.gov.

Special Projects

Help make the collections of the Municipal Archives and Library more accessible by converting handwritten, typed, and recorded documents into searchable digital text. From letters and ledgers to oral history-style interviews, their work preserves fragile materials and supports discovery by researchers, educators, students, and the public. By transcribing these records, volunteers uncover hidden stories and ensure New York City's history is available for generations to come.

Neighborhood Stories Role

Please select your preferred role for the Neighborhood Stories project:

Neighborhood Stories

For Neighborhood Stories Interviewers/Outreach:

We are seeking volunteers who are enthusiastic about both conducting interviews with fellow New Yorkers and engaging in community outreach to broaden participation in the project.

Please note: Due to strong interest and high volunteer retention, we recruit only a limited number of new volunteers for this role each year. If you have any questions about the project or would like to invite us to speak to a community group you’re a part of, please email: stories@records.nyc.gov.

For Neighborhood Stories Storytellers:

Please complete the form below if you would like to be interviewed as part of the Neighborhood Stories project. If you have questions about the interview process or the project in general, please email: stories@records.nyc.gov.