On Volunteers and Library Volunteerism

I received a questionnaire on volunteerism in the library and for the library. Sharing with you my answers.

• What does volunteerism mean to you?

      Volunteerism is one’s participation in people empowerment, community building and             the upholding of social justice.

• What are the benefits that you see: 

• if a library professional engages in volunteerism? (self being involved in volunteerism); and 

The LIS professional, when involved in volunteer work, grows and develops personally and professionally. He/she contributes to community building and becomes a part of a bigger mission other than himself or herself. It makes the ego smaller and the heart expands. Values like mutual trust, respect, empathy and compassion are nurtured within the person and promoted and shared to others.

• if the community that the library serves engages in volunteerism in the library? 

When a community supports its library, the library becomes a stronger institution of freedom, social justice and human rights.

• What are the challenges that you see:

• if a library professional engages in volunteerism? (self being involved in volunteerism); and 

Volunteerism is internal. It comes from a desire to heed the call of a universal good. It comes from a need to be a part of the wider community. It is also a call of duty. If a person is unaware of this desire or need, he/she will not volunteer. 

• if the community that the library serves engages in volunteerism in the library? 

There are willing volunteers in a community and one challenge is to inform or educate them about the library’s role in the community, in nation building and why it is an essential institution that upholds freedom, social justice and human rights.

How does the community perceive the library? Their perception, experience and knowledge of a library will reflect the kind of volunteer work they wish to do for the library. I have met many library volunteers who love books and reading, but they do not particularly see or understand the role of the library. Libraries are venues where people practice good citizenship. There are library volunteers I have met who volunteers in book donations. That’s it. They have to be informed that their love for books and reading do not begin nor end with book donations. 

I think, libraries who have identified a strong sense of volunteerism in their communities can create, plan and implement a library volunteer program that will further the growth of the library, the community and their own personal and professional lives as well. 

• Have you experienced being a volunteer? Are you volunteering right now? Tell us your story.

Yes. My work and involvement in PBBY is volunteer work.

• Have you experienced setting up a Library Volunteer Program in your Library? Are you running a Volunteer Program right now? Tell us your story.

      No. But, I provide our Community, Action and Service Coordinator of descriptions of               services and library programs that our students can sign-up as volunteers such as, the

       Early Reader’s Project, Classroom Library Set-up, Pop-Up Library, Book Drive and

      Book Reviewers Corner. This one has evolved into a website that was designed and made        by one of our grade 11 students. 

   I blogged about it here: https://lovealibrarian.blogspot.com/2018/03/teen-tech-week- 2018-student-made-book.html

• We hope that you can share ideas/advice on how to keep the spirit of volunteerism alive in the library field. Any suggestion?

          The librarian and library staff need to be volunteers, first of all, and be advocates of                  volunteerism.