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Volunteers contribute
their unique talents, skills, and knowledge to
staff and customers thus connecting people and
building community.
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The ideal Volunteer-staff
relationship is characterized by mutual trust,
respect, and recognition of the professionalism
and competency of each person.
Staff delegate meaningful
work to volunteers and keep volunteers involved
in work suited to the volunteer’s skills
and ability. In return, volunteers honor their
commitment regarding their work and their schedule.
Staff listen to volunteers’
ideas and respect each volunteer as a person.
Volunteers respect staff as people and accept
training and supervision from staff.
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Volunteers can be
of any age depending on the needs of the library
and the abilities and skills of the volunteer.
The suggested minimum age for young people working
independently in the library is 12 years old.
Before beginning his or her service, volunteers
are interviewed by the Volunteer Liaison at the
library and accepted into the program.
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Volunteers are assigned
specific tasks by Volunteer Liaisons from a list
of volunteer job descriptions. The Library matches
volunteer interests and skills to positions available.
A volunteer’s availability is also taken
into consideration. Branches may not always have
positions available and conversely, there may
not always be volunteers for needed tasks.
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After being accepted
as a volunteer, the following are provided:
name tag
introduction to staff
tour of work location
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The training of each
volunteer will include:
training manual or handout
meeting with Volunteer Liaison to discuss tasks
skills training
copy of job description
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All volunteers observe
the same code of ethics as the salaried staff
of the Library. Library customer information - written,
verbal, or visual - is considered confidential.
Information pertaining directly or indirectly
to any staff member, customer or another volunteer
shall not be repeated or discussed inside or outside
the Library. (Policies and Procedures manual,
section A.7, p. 30)
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Volunteer
Services:
maintain hours of service and other records.
provide support to Liaisons and volunteers.
coordinate the annual volunteer luncheon.
budget for system-wide recognition events and
trainings.
Volunteer
Liaisons:
communicate regularly with volunteers, local staff,
and supervisors.
recruit new volunteers to fill vacancies and to
provide new
opportunities.
keep careful and accurate records, including volunteer
applications.
conduct orientation and training for local volunteers.
attend Volunteer Liaison meetings 4 times per year.
submit commendations for individuals or groups
of volunteers.
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Homebound Volunteer
Volunteer visits
life care center residents and brings items from
the Library. The Library staff provides training
and support to the volunteer. Time donated
varies.
Reading Buddies
Teen volunteers are
matched with younger children. They take turns
reading to each other at the Library for short
periods of time. This program is primarily active
during the summer months.
Home Borrowers Service
Volunteer brings
materials from the Library to a person who cannot
leave his or her home due to illness, disability,
or lack of transportation. A match is made between
the volunteer and the receiver of the service
based on geographic considerations and common
interests. This service, on average, requires
an hour two or three times a month.
Clerical Support
Volunteer aids staff
by collating and stapling materials, cutting out
library articles from newspapers for use in the
library, and assisting with materials preparation
for programs. Time spent in the library varies
greatly.
Book Discussion
Leader
Volunteer consults
with staff to choose materials to read. She or
he arranges for copies of the books for discussion,
and leads the group in the discussion. Leadership
of the group may rotate among the members and
total volunteer hours involve all facets of the
process from arranging for the books to doing
the evaluation of the session.
Book Reviewer
Volunteer reads a
library book of his or her choice, completes a
book mark size review form and leaves the review
in the book for others to read and enjoy. The
time spent reading the book as well as the time
writing the review is credited to the volunteer.
English Conversation
Group Leader
Volunteer meets with
a group of six to twelve immigrant adults to develop
their English conversation skills. Groups usually
meet for one and a half hours each week for three
or four months at a time.
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All locations of
the Ocean County Library have a Volunteer Liaison
who would be happy to share more details of the
programs in this booklet or other volunteer opportunities
with you. Please call or stop in at any location
and ask!
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Recognition is one
way our Library says "Thank You" to
volunteers and helps increase the success of the
program. Volunteers receive no monetary reimbursement
for their services, so appreciation of their time
and effort needs to be demonstrated in other ways.
The following recognitions
are provided by Volunteer Services:
anniversary letters of appreciation are sent every
year
personalized book plates are given for every 50
hours of service
a volunteer key tag is sent to the volunteer after
6 months of service
volunteer socials are held for adults twice a
year
for every 100 hours of adult volunteer time, volunteers
are invited to a
luncheon
for 200 hours, magnifying bookmark
for 300 hours, a tote bag
for 400 hours, a notebook and pen
for 500 hours, a specially commissioned lapel
pin
for 10 years, a personalized plaque
when teen volunteers reach 100 hours of volunteer
time, they are
given a gift certificate
Some branches also
hold local celebrations for their volunteers using
system funds.
Ocean County Library
also has program for pre-teens and teens called
Services and Achievement in the Library (S.A.I.L.).
There are three components - summer S.A.I.L. volunteers,
Reading Buddies, and S.A.I.L. Guides. This program
has its own recognitions, including t-shirts and
celebrations.
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1. Helping others.
2. Improving the community.
3. Learning new skills.
4. Staying active and involved.
5. Being needed.
6. Doing satisfying work.
7. Using natural gifts and talents.
8. Being a role model for others.
9. Giving back what you have gotten.
10. Showing that you care.
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These
are just a sampling of positions available. Call
the Volunteer Liaison at your library for more information!
Please keep in mind
that not all positions are available at all locations!
System
wide Volunteer Services
Marilyn Bass, Volunteer Coordinator x5535
Gwen Lareau, Home Borrowers Service Coordinator x5530
732-349-6200
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MEET
NEW PEOPLE
LEARN NEW SKILLS
HELP BRING THE LIBRARY INTO THE COMMUNITY
M. Bass, Volunteer Coordinator
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