Members of one of our Guest-Facing Teams. In these roles—whether as a Greeter, supporting Line Control, assisting with Book Signings, or working at the Information Table or in the Bibliothèque Lounge— play a direct role in shaping each guest’s experience at the Festival.

To support you in that role, we ask all guest-facing volunteers to participate in our Guest Experience Training—a one-hour session designed to prepare you with the tools, context, and confidence to successfully navigate your guest-facing role at the Festival.

This is more than a training—it’s your introduction to the spirit of the Festival, and an opportunity to elevate your own volunteer experience from the very start.

As our Executive Director, Megan Mulry, often emphasizes, “The quality of our guest experience is just as important as the quality of our programming.” You play a key role in bringing that vision to life, and this session is designed to support you in doing that with clarity and confidence.

Through interactive activities, you’ll gain practical tools to handle common situations, connect with attendees, and create positive, memorable moments. You’ll also meet fellow volunteers and begin building the relationships that make this experience so rewarding.

This training is generously offered by SFILF board member Juliet Erickson, an executive coach, communication specialist, and author who works with leaders, entrepreneurs, and public figures around the world. A founding partner of Rogen International, she has advised high-profile clients, including the London Olympic Bid Team. She is the author of several books on persuasion, negotiation, and communication, and is a sought-after speaker worldwide.

We’re offering three sessions to make participation as accessible as possible—two in person and one virtual.

Guest Experience Training RSVP You’ll receive a confirmation email with details based on the session you choose.

A recording of the virtual call will be posted on the Training and Resources page.

Join us on April 25th from 10:00 a.m. - Noon to celebrate the incredible community that makes it all possible. Pick up your shirt and badge, reconnect and mingle with friends, meet the SFILF staff, and ask any last-minute questions.

OPEN HOUSE. You do not need to receive an invitation.

Email us for the address.

Click here to view the 2026 Volunteer Orientation Video

Accommodation

For those traveling to Santa Fe, the Sage Hotel is offering a 15–20% discount on rooms from May 14–18. You can book your reservation for two different room sizes using this link: The Sage Hotel - Literary Festival Discount.

Volunteer Reception

Invitations for the April 25 Volunteer Reception were sent via Paperless Post. Please check your spam filter if you have not seen it. If you still cannot find the invitation, let me know and we will resend it. We appreciate your RSVP so we can plan accordingly for this event, which is a great opportunity to meet the staff and your fellow team members. (If you just registered within the past week, your invitation may not yet have been sent. Updated invitations will go out tomorrow.)

Volunteer Kick-Off Call

I will host a Volunteer Kick-Off Call on Wednesday, April 15, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This session will provide an overview of the Festival and the volunteer program. We encourage all new volunteers, or those returning after a few years, to attend. More detailed, team-specific meetings will follow in early May.

Here are the Google Meet details:
Volunteer Kick-Off Call

Wednesday, April 15 · 5:00 – 6:15pm

Time zone: America/Denver

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wxx-qazi-iew

Or dial: ?(US) +1 956-704-1367? PIN: ?342 095 646?#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/wxx-qazi-iew?pin=3802476677381

Volunteer shift registration is now opening in waves for all registered volunteers. Before selecting shifts, please review the resources below to help you choose roles that are a good fit and arrive prepared for the Festival.

START HERE

Before selecting shifts, please review the following resources:

1. Know Before You Go
These pages explain how the Festival operates and should be your first stop for questions.

They include information about:
• Schedule, maps, and venue details
• Parking, food, and amenities
• Accessibility, safety, and guest services

Watch the Know Before You Go overview video, then review the pages.

2. Volunteer Pages

Be sure to review:

• Volunteer Guide – role descriptions and expectations
• Attending as a Volunteer – parking, meals, attire, and ticket benefits

We recommend bookmarking the Registered Volunteer Pages for easy reference.

3. Select Your Shifts

Once you have reviewed the information above:

• Go to the Volunteer Portal
• Use the portal to view available shifts and build your schedule

You may access the portal directly, but reviewing the role descriptions first will help ensure you select shifts that are a good fit.

If you need help using the system, watch the video:
How to Register for Shifts and Manage Your Profile

Volunteer Tickets

After selecting your shifts, please submit your ticket requests.

Please note:
• Some sessions may have limited availability
• Tickets will be distributed at volunteer check-in with your shirt and badge
• Main Stage sessions will also be streamed in the Volunteer Lounge

Training & Meetings

Some roles require additional training.

• Training will be brief and primarily online
• Most teams will have a short team meeting before the Festival
• Check the volunteer pages calendar for updates

Need Help?

If you have questions, please contact:

volunteers@sfinternationallitfest.org

Claire Zahner is also supporting volunteer coordination and may assist with questions related to scheduling or training.