HIT: GEN/ELEM-Parent Volunteers

[Holly Smith <ac2091@WAYNE.EDU>]

I am basically new to LM_NET and have never posted a "HIT" before, so
hopefully I've used the proper protocal...

First of all, I want to THANK ALL OF YOU who responded to my concerns
regarding parent volunteers in the media center. Overall, most of you
agreed on the following:

-Volunteers are a valuable resource if dealt with fairly and
professionally

-There are a variety of "non-professional-type" jobs that volunteers can
participate in such as stamping newly materials, shelving, circulation,
etc...

-Almost all of you mentioned that volunteers should not be assisting when
their student is present and younger siblings should not be loitering
around (I agree, the MC is not a day care center :)

Below are some other unique and interesting suggestions that were given
which may be of use to those of you in the same position:

"If the position was there before, you should try to find
out what was done by your predecessor.  Tread carefully.  What
is wonderful for some people is awful for others.

Perhaps you could make a form with a list of duties and
ask your potential volunteers to indicate which duties they would
feel comfortable doing.  That might help in assigning them.
If you can avoid scheduling them on the same day their child
comes to the library, that would be a good idea.
Often they hang around their child  or viceversa and are not
too productive."  -Eleanor Jordan

"I set up a specific area of the library -- a desk behind the circ desk
that I labeled volunteer, and I put the jobs to be done there.  There
was a pile of book repair, discard procedure, letters to cut out for b
board,
etc. Volunteers would work only from this pile.  Worked out fine for me,
as
I will put jobs there that I sometimes CREATE in order to keep everybody
happy.  And don't get me wrong, the created jobs were worthy, not busy
work, just something I would never had time for without them." -Betty
Picone

"You might want to start making a list of everything that you
have to do during a week or day, and then classifying it into
two categories:  professional duty, non-professional duty.

For example:
cataloging=professional
checking out books=non-professional
reshelving=non-professional (possibly)
choosing materials=professional" -Sara Wolf

"Call an after school meeting of your volunteers ASAP.  Find out how many
of them are
Returning from last year or the year before.  Ask these people what they
were
Doing before.  Get them to show you how their jobs were done before.
Listen
carefully, you will be surprised what you will learn.  Provide
refreshments
for those not directly involved in the demonstrations and encourage
them to chat among themselves and fill in an availability list with name,
telephone number, available times, and previous library experience.  After
observing how things have been done you will be in a better position to
determine
how you want the procedures done."  -Dorothy Tissair

"Those that come on a consistent basis get to do the following:

    - put mylar jackets on books
    - repair torn pages, etc.
    - check out books to the students on the computer
    - input material on the computer (after you have done the cataloging)
    - bulletin boards
    - helping children at the computers (I let the kids use the computers
during checkout time for
various programs)
    - helping children select books (while I would prefer to do this, it
is impossible to help 10
      children at one time)
    - sometimes I let them read to the kids if I have something
      pressing to do but I don't do this often as I also like to make sure
the kids link
      to book to our topic, what we read before, what we will be reading
next,
      etc.     - they also get to check out extra books for their own
children (they
      love this)"  -Vicki Sweet

"Try to find someone to coordinate all the volunteers. Our volunteers
are part of the PTA. The PTA sends out an interest survey in June and
again  in Sept to determine what area parents want to help in (lunch
program,
bake sale, library, etc). There is a library volunteer coordinator (a PTA
member) who gathers up the names of those who expressed an interest on
the form. She calls and arranges the schedule, trying to avoid placing
parents in  a time slot where their child is in the library (our
principal is adamant
about not having the parent and the student in the library the same
time,,, she says it
could distract the child... BTW, we are a FIXED schedule). The coordinator
trains the
volunteers in the  basics, what is expected, the library's layout, how to
know what books
go  where, etc.

One of the rules is no younger children. If there is a daycare problem,
volunteers are asked to call a substitute. (we have a list of 3-4
library volunteer subs, usually moms who have done it for a few years, and
have
maybe gone back to work PT, but still want to be involved)."   -Suzanne
Weinheimer

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE GREAT INPUT! It's an honor to be in such a
giving profession :)

Holly K. Smith
Media Specialist
Avondale School District
Oakland County, MI
ac2091@wayne.edu

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