In this season of giving thanks, we at your library are truly grateful for the many volunteers who help us throughout the year, doing many jobs such as decorating new Christmas trees, mailing materials to other libraries, cleaning and repairing books and assisting with crafts and other special programs—all those finishing touches that would be more difficult to do with paid staff alone.

Volunteering is the ultimate win-win situation. Many studies have shown that volunteering not only helps the organizations you support, but actually improves your own physical and mental health (see habitat.org/stories/benefits-of-volunteering).

The library offers flexible hours for volunteering, a nice space to work in and friendly colleagues—there’s something for most ages and abilities. Currently, the library’s most pressing need is for “adopt a shelf” volunteers. In this program volunteers pick an area of most interest to them (for example, woodworking or mysteries) and come in regularly to make sure materials in that area are shelved in order and look neat. Related to this, if you have a sharp eye plus the skill and strength to shelve and re-shelve materials, is our ongoing repair project to help identify and replace worn and faded spine labels. The library also uses volunteers to pull materials others have placed on hold for additional processing by staff.

Volunteers also help stretch scarce dollars and extend the life of library materials by cleaning children’s books and audiobook and movie cases.

During the summer, volunteers help sign up children for summer reading, explain the program to them and hand out prizes as readers complete their goals.

Several artistically-skilled volunteers assist in crafting classes in the library, the Art Walk and other special events. As the library gets closer to building a new Creation Station in the former DVD area, we will likely need many more volunteers with crafting and mechanical skills soon—please keep an eye on this space as exciting changes are coming!

Besides volunteering for the library itself, you can also help our auxiliary and partner organizations: the Friends of the Library (which has volunteers who put on quarterly book sales and help with other library events) or the ¡INGLÉS! program, which helps Spanish-speakers improve their skills in English.

Volunteer applications for the library, the Friends of the Library and ¡INGLÉS! are all available at the reference desk on the second floor. New adult volunteers for all three organizations must also sign a consent form for a background check. After applicants return the forms, they’ll be interviewed to ensure a there’s a fit between their skills and interests and the organization’s needs at that time. New library volunteers get an orientation to the library plus all training needed for their particular job, and are asked to commit to their volunteer position for six months. If you’re interested, please call or stop by the library and talk to our Volunteer Coordinator, Linda, at 237-4935 x118.

Susan Stanton, Cataloging Manager and Linda Helzer, Volunteer Coordinator

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