volunteer hit list

[Colleen Goodwin <goodwinc@acsu.buffalo.edu>]

Thank you all for your responses to my request for information for a
volunteer procedure manual.  I received 5 quality hits.  The following is a
summary of what I have learned at a citation for an excellent web site I
found on the topic:

What you need to know about volunteers:
    get to know your volunteers
    always verbally thank your volunteers
    have your volunteer's children that attend the school visit them in the
SLMC
    allow volunteers library privileges
    give them jobs that interest them
    have a volunteer manual, if you don't have one make one
    If you are in a union environment, you would need to check contract
regulations.
    Have a schedule (that works with yours) so that when people call to
volunteer, you can tell them when it is convenient to come in.
    Have a list (a running list that you can add to) ready to let them know
the
type of work that you need help with-shelving, covering books, storytime,
bulletin boards, etc.. (You might also ask what type of volunteer work they
had in mind).
    If you have volunteers work on a bulletin board or book display, take
their
picture and post it on or near the display with a thank-you note. You can
also take pictures of volunteers at work for an end of year thank-you party
or volunteer banquet if your school has one.

Possible Responsibilities:
    Their main responsibility is to check books in and out
and shelve.  There are other jobs as well, as time and
talent allow: processing new books, keeping magazines
in order, typing,  copying, etc.
    The volunteers are allowed to be in charge of the
library when I am away with the understanding that
they will never be asked to teach a lesson or
supervise a whole class.  Those volunteers who are
qualified to do so are paid as subs.

Job Description:
volunteer coordinator (one SLMS has a town coordinator)
responsible for initial placements and training

Training
group training - takes less time for the SLMS
make shelving books part of training
Good training and supervision are a must.
The volunteers are allowed to be in charge of the
library when I am away with the understanding that
they will never be asked to teach a lesson or
supervise a whole class.  Those volunteers who are
qualified to do so are paid as subs.

One SLMS has fired a volunteer in the past, she had administrative support
Library program couldn't be maintained without volunteers

This web site is excellent if you need further information on implementing
or changing an existing volunteer program.

Gill, Susanne L. Using Volunteers Effectively in a School Library Media
Center.
     27 Jan. 2002. <http://www.slgill.com/vol.htm>.

Thanks again for all of your help,
Colleen Goodwin
DLIS student at SUNY at Buffalo
goodwinc@acsu.buffalo.edu

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