Why I Volunteer: A Conversation with NHBF Volunteer Kathleen Ames
Kathleen Ames of Bow, NH, signed on to volunteer at the 2024 Festival, and has since joined the NHBF Volunteer Subcommittee, where she helps co-chairs Kate Schoedinger and Sam Henrichon prepare for the October 2025 event. Ames, a dedicated volunteer with other organizations, including the Concord VNA and the Friends Program, shares what drew her to NHBF.
What inspired you to become a volunteer for the 2024 festival?
I volunteered for the 2024 festival because my friend, NHBF co-founder Sarah Crow, was talking about it at one of our book club meetings early in 2024. I told her I would be interested in volunteering, and then as the date drew closer, she reached out and said they needed volunteers for the panel discussions. So, I signed up for the entire day, and it was amazing.
What did you like best about the experience?
I really enjoyed listening to the authors talk about their writing process, how they worked on plot points, the love they had for their characters, and just moving the story along. I was surprised at the amount of note-taking by some audience members, and how thought provoking some of their questions were.
“My experience was so positive! It was great to see so many people, of every age, engaging in the discussion of books. Reading is usually considered a solitary activity, but the festival shows that reading is really a great social experience.”
—Kathleen Ames
What would you tell others about volunteering at the festival?
I would tell anyone who’s interested to sign up! It is such an easy way to meet other book lovers. My experience was so positive! It was great to see so many people, of every age, engaging in the discussion of books. Reading is usually considered a solitary activity, but the festival shows that reading is really a great social experience.
Do you have a book recommendation to share?
I recently read Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, Love & Saffron by Kim Fay, and Jephte’s Daughter by Naomi Ragen. I loved them all for different reasons, and in different ways. I would recommend them all.
—Interview by Elaine Loft
Interested in volunteering for the 2025 NH Book Festival? There are still many volunteer position currently open.
Like most book festivals, the NH Book Festival runs on volunteer power. In fact, the NH Book Festival is entirely volunteer run.
Whether you have only a couple of free hours, a full day, or more to volunteer, we’d love to see you at the festival!
We’re especially seeking volunteers to help set up and take down the festival’s street fair, and to help out during author panels, but we have other open slots too.
Last year the festival welcomed almost 90 volunteers, and we’re excited that many have said they’ll be back to volunteer at the 2025 festival. We hope you’ll join them, and us, at the festival!
