PRESS RELEASES
Washington
County Public Library
205 Oak Hill Street
Abingdon, VA 24210
Contact:
Volunteers in the Library
One of the most integral parts of any library family is its
volunteers. They are the
lubricant that keeps the rest of this information machine running
smoothly. Without their help,
libraries could not provide many services as efficiently as they do.
Whether it’s making sure that the non-fiction books are in
numerical order or repairing books that have met their fate with a curious
toddler, volunteers help give much-needed order to a sometimes chaotic
mess of library materials. Their
donation of time and man- or woman-power is as much appreciated and needed
as that box of used novels that your neighbor just donated, or the yearly
monetary gift given by the life-long patron.
Currently, there are six
active volunteers at the Washington County Public Library (Main Branch in
Abingdon) ranging from high school students to retired senior citizens.
Together, Allie Locking, Patrick Graupmann, Eloise Couch, Page
Umberger, Dorothy Fuller, and Donna Pearl make up the WD-40 of this
outfit. They each donate an
average of two to four hours of their time each week.
Volunteers have varied responsibilities around the library such as
helping out the Children’s Department staff members in getting ready for
an upcoming program, making sure that all library materials are in order
and easy to find, helping the Friends of the Library set up for an event
(book sales and Sundays With Friends),
and repairing damaged reading materials.
Most volunteers are given a choice of duties that they would prefer
to tackle during their time at the library.
Some love Westerns, so they may choose to organize that section of
the library. Others may prefer
to work with children, so they will help out in that area.
All volunteers must go
through an initial interview process and fill out an application, just as
paid library employees. They
also must be at least 16 years old. Many
volunteers have past library experience, such as helping out in their high
school library or working in a library in the town they just moved from,
or they just have a love of books and reading.
Whatever their reasons for wanting to join the library team, most
volunteers remark that their work is very rewarding and satisfying.
As mentioned above, volunteers are members of the library
“family”. They are always
included in staff get-togethers and are never forgotten by those with whom
they work alongside.
Washington County Public Library Branches, located in Damascus,
Glade Spring, Hayters Gap, and Mendota, are also always on the lookout for
new “family members”. The
work experience, sense of giving and accomplishment, and memories that
you’ll gain from a volunteer position at your library will be one of the
most rewarding decisions that you’ll ever make.
If you, or someone you know living in or near these areas, are
thinking of volunteering, please don’t hesitate to give our new
volunteer contact person, Dorothy Worley, a call at the Main library at
(276)676-6233. She’ll be
more than happy to get you started on becoming a part of our library team!
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