The Tompkins County Public Library’s volunteer program is pausing for assessment and updates. The current volunteer coordinator is moving on to other opportunities and during the transition period, TCPL said it will assess the program. During this time, volunteer work at the library and new volunteer orientation will stop. TCPL will seek input from active volunteers about what they like best about volunteering at the library and how they would like to see the program grow.
“As soon as the coordinator gave notice two weeks ago, we began notifying active volunteers. Volunteers are an essential part of our operations, and we love connecting with people who give their time to serve at the library. We want to make the most of this transition time to assess for growth and expansion. We know volunteering at the library is important to our community and we want this amazing program to be even more meaningful and engaging than it already is,” said Library Director Leslie Tabor.
Typical volunteer activities include assisting with returned materials workflows and program support. Volunteers may also help library staff maintain physical collections. The library’s flower beds are also maintained by volunteers.
“It’s energizing to see volunteers give their time and energy to the library. We’re eager to come back from this pause and welcome our volunteers back with even more opportunities for service and to make better use of their valuable time at the library,” Tabor said.
What makes a great library volunteer? “A desire to interact with the public and promote the mission of the library are two essential characteristics of great library volunteers,” Tabor said. “We need people who are welcoming and like working with others. Libraries have also found that volunteers with experience teaching skills to others can be especially helpful in support programs. Patience and flexibility are also necessary in a busy public library, serving people of all ages and experiences, with lots of activities going on simultaneously. It would be amazing to expand volunteering to include social media engagement, graphic design, video production, more robust technology classes, and beyond.”
If you are interested in volunteering, the program pause is a great time to update your resume and think about what library services would be a good fit for your strengths. The most up-to-date information about TCPL can be found online at www.tcpl.org and via the library’s monthly newsletter.
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