You already know that the South Dakota Festival of Books is the best place to hear from your favorite authors and discover new books. But did you know that you can help make the Festival happen?

The 2024 Festival, Sept. 20-22 in Brookings, would not be possible without the involvement of enthusiastic volunteers who work side-by-side with staff and presenters in several roles, from welcoming attendees to chauffeuring authors. If you’d like to help, check out the variety of volunteer roles available, choose those that interest you, and sign up to make this year’s event unforgettable!

Info/Welcome Booth volunteers answer questions for Festival attendees. Volunteers will communicate locations of events and respond to general Festival inquiries (e.g., times of events; locations of venues, first aid, restrooms, food, and parking). Volunteers might also assist SDHC staff with Volunteer Check-In or other needs at the SDHC Information Booth.

Session Facilitators are responsible for introducing authors at the beginning of sessions. Using a provided script, volunteers will give a brief author introduction and thank Festival sponsors. Facilitators will also place table tents identifying presenting authors on the podium or table, ensure that sessions start and end on time, and record session attendance. On occasion, and only when discussed ahead of time, facilitators might moderate panel discussions by asking provided questions.

Session Support Staff are responsible for greeting and seating Festivalgoers. Support staff will keep track of session attendance and confirm with the facilitator. In the event a facilitator fails to show up, the support staff will serve as facilitator. Support staff may assist with running A/V equipment (or finding an A/V tech or venue staff member to help) and preventing interruptions (for example, audience members coming in early for the following session) once the program begins.

Venue Captains are responsible for facilitating the flow of people within a venue and accommodating the needs of facilitators and session support staff by calling or running to the SDHC Information Booth. They should check each session room in their venue prior to the start of each session, to see that volunteers are present and to ask whether they need anything.

Book-Signing Coordinators are responsible for assisting authors and Festivalgoers during the mass book signings. Authors might require their books to be opened to a specific page and/or the recipient’s name to be printed on a Post-it note. Festivalgoers might also need help finding specific authors.

Author Check-In volunteers will greet authors upon arrival, provide them with Festival materials, and answer questions. The check-in is located in the Red Room Red Room at the Comfort Suites University (down the hall from the hotel front desk).

Author Transportation volunteers will drive authors from the Sioux Falls Regional Airport to hotels in Sioux Falls and Brookings, from hotels or Festival venues to local schools or other venues for visits, and from Brookings back to the Sioux Falls Regional Airport. Drivers will be reimbursed mileage if requested ($0.67/mile).

Which volunteer jobs interest you? Please visit our signup page and check all that apply. For more information, contact Stacy Chidaushe at stacy@sdhumanities.org or 605-688-5286.

We appreciate your support and look forward to working with you at the 2024 Festival of Books!