What do MLS's want out of volunteering? Keeping up skill sets. Filling a gap in the resume. A professional reference.
Starting Point? Most libraries with volunteers have forms, policy manuals, etc. online. ALA's Managing Library Volunteers good basic manual--not extensive, but process. Could be 5-7 pages, good to have to pass along.
*Each volunteer application has a different set of questions. Children's, Teens, Adults.
Where Does the Work Come From? What Do They Do?
Core functions--shelving, staffing circ desk. Some small libraries rely on volunteers do do all shelving, circ, etc. Larger libraries generally use them for home delivery, book sale. Daily operations.
Special Projects--definite starting and ending point.
Friends -- They tend to be sovereign and are supported by the book sale volunteers.
*Department managers generally contact with projects they need help with. Occasionally, sending an email. Department head will train--for example, head of adult services trains in shelf-reading.
*Patron privacy-- There is no concern for them doing circulation work, shredding, taking about patrons. Depends on library. But legally, it is OK.
Community Service--Can be better than expected. Confidentiality, these people are embarrassed, sheepish. Mustn't be major offenses. Staff can know they're doing CS, just not why. Coordinator knows why. Ask "what are you serving for." It's public--so they can't not tell you. You can ask for paperwork. We determine which kind of crimes we allow--anything relating to children & theft is an automatic "no."
Recruiting--Video editing workstation available to patrons with Adobe Premier Elements. Time consuming for librarians to teach. A volunteer could set up times to meet them. No success yet. High school computer club or AV club is supposed to get back to him. Avg adult volunteer would likely not be a good choice.
Controversy-- Library Journal Charlotte Mecklenburg article about how they kept branches afloat by using volunteers here
Fair Labor Standards Act -- a public institution does not have to count volunteers as employees as long as they are doing a different kind of work. Cannot force employees to volunteer additional hours doing the exact same kind of work as well.
Liability -- Insurance will likely have a "volunteer rider" which should cover volunteers.
Amy Alessio & Dan Schnepf, Schaumburg
Teen Core -- Every meeting, does something different: crafts, AV, very loose organization--These are mostly middle schoolers.
*James Kennedy was filmed by the teen volunteers, shot and edited film in about 1.5 hours. Teens staff the study room to help the 4th-8th grade kids. James also teaches improv. Lots of hits.
Year of a Thousand Hours -- 1800volunteer.org. People can volunteer from home. Teens knit at home. Taught 12 of the girls to knit, grew from there. Knit cafe, every Monday night.
Teen Carnival -- Raises food for food pantry.
Student Advisory Trustees -- 2 teens sit on the trustee board.
High school – teens want to help the world. Move it back to local. Knitting project is one way of doing this.
Texting – It is complicated to be able to do it for free. Get permission from various service providers. Use phone calls, emails.
Food, gift cards, drawings, etc. to reward them.
Varying – Teens get bored. Have them work on collection development, learning, pulling information.
Make it matter – Help select magazines. Design programs. They can bomb, it's OK.
Allow a lot of leeway – They need to call in.
Staff – Every employee works with them. Keep expectations real.
Staff2 – Volunteers become employees. Some get their MLS, become librarians, pulls them in for the rest of their lives.
General Teen Volunteers
Diane Hnatkiewicz-Norris, Orland Park
Reaching Teens – PA announcements in library and schools up usage.
Junior High – Need to get out of the house. Junior pages has grown to 43 kids. They sign up to help with SRP, especially crafts with tons of set-up, clean-up. Chores must be delineated exactly or teens will get lost, chat.
General Teen Volunteers
*Sign-up – Takes a long time, but they learn new skills even as they sign up.
*Attendance – Records are kept.
***Readers & Leaders – Teens teach preschooler pre-reading skills using Every Child Ready to Read guidelines. Training involves moving eyes left to right, letter recognition, setting up and using different materials, documentation, assigning homework. 4-6 week programs in fall and spring. 12 teens, 12 pre-schoolers, fills up every time.
*Computer Lab Volunteers – Kids are able to do their homework, teen helps release print jobs, takes money, helps with documents. No training required.
***Teen Techies – Sharing skills/ideas in bartering system. Adult teaches guitar, volunteers teach Facebook, Twitter, uploading photos, etc. Put call out in newsletter. Friday nights, 6-7, drop-in. Training teaches patience, privacy, confidentiality, no cells, arrive on-time, call in sick, respect, don't exchange personal information,etc. People need one-on-one help. Adults can't give payment or gifts of any kind, though they are appreciative & kind. Register through e-vanced. Extending the hours.
***Book Buddies – Pairs teens with preschoolers and they simply read together, successful. Bilingual bookbuddies, teens teach younger kids another language.
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