Volunteer Opportunities at the West Lafayette Public Library

Volunteering at the library is an interesting and responsible way to support your community. Volunteers are needed in many capacities. Shifts are usually 2 hours in length. Contact Nancy Hartman with questions after reading the job descriptions below.

Not all positions are available at all times. Applicants are expected to interview with the supervisor of the area before being accepted for a volunteer position. Applications are available at the first floor information desk. Background check may be required. Training is provided.

Coming soon! More volunteer opportunities for teens.

Areas: Friends of the Library - Circulation Services - Outreach Services - Tech Services - Adult & Young Adult Services - Programming - Childrens' Services - Computer Services - Maintenance

Friends of the Library

Friends of the Library Shop Clerk (good for college students and others who want time to study/read while they volunteer)

Work assigned shift, usually 2 hours at a time once a week
Open and staff Friend's shop
Close and lock shop
Uncover "teaser" table and set up for business
Sell books and other materials
- Write accurate receipts
- Take cash and checks
- Give accurate change

Book Sale Help

Assist with set-up and or take-down
Book sales occur twice a year
Assist by straightening tables during the sale

Circulation Services

Circulation Aide 1

Work assigned shift, usually 2 hours at a time once a week
Assist the circulation staff by:
- Shelving DVDs in the correct place, pulling the slips as you put the DVDs on the shelf
- Shelving the DVD slips in the bins, in the correct location
- Shelving new books
- Ripping CDs into the music database
- Copying and folding library brochures
- Entering library card numbers on bookmarks and application cards
- Calling patrons with arrived holds

Circulation Aide 2

Must have volunteered at the library in circulation for at least 6 months, have a demonstrated record of accuracy and be recommended by the circulation staff
Work assigned shift, usually 2 hours at a time once or twice a week
Assist the circulation staff by:
- Checking in returned materials and place on the correct carts
- Checking out materials to patrons
- All other circulation aide duties

Shelving Aide

Work assigned shift, usually 1 or 2 hours at a time once a week, this position has a more flexible time assignment than public service aides
Shelve returned materials in a specific area
Sort books and AV carts for others to shelve

Outreach Services

Outreach Aide for Senior Facilities

The volunteer for senior outreach assists in book selections for three senior facilities in the city of West Lafayette. Book selections occur on Tuesdays and the visits to the senior facilities occur on Wednesday mornings and afternoons. Book selections take about 2 hours and each facility visit takes about 2 hours.

Ability to lift up to 40 lbs
Ability to select appropriate books for individual patrons
Knowledge of various adult genres - fiction, non-fiction, mysteries, Christian, romance, western, and science fiction
Computer skills to look up requested items in the library catalog
Ability to work with updating and creating Excel data bases
Be available on Tuesday for book selection at a set time
Be available on Wednesday for the delivery of books at a set time
Congenial and patient personality to interact with the senior patrons
Have own transportation to meet at the senior facilities

Outreach Aide for Children's Daycare Facilities

The volunteer for daycare facilities assists in the book selections for three daycare centers in the city of West Lafayette. Book selections occur on Thursdays and the visits to the daycare centers occur on Friday mornings (9:00 -11:30 a.m.). Books selections take about 2 hours and each center visit takes about 2 ½ hours. We normally take up to 300 books to a daycare.

Familiarity with children's books for preschool children (ages 5 and younger)
Ability to select age appropriate books for children and teacher requests
Computer skills to look up requested subject areas in the library catalog
Past experience working with preschool children
Ability to lift up to 40 lbs
Congenial and patient personality to interact with teachers and preschool children
Have own transportation to meet at the daycare facilities

Tech Services

Tech Services Aide

Work assigned shift, usually 1 or 2 hours at a time once a week, this position has a more flexible time assignment than public service aides
Repair books
Check books for condition when newer copies are available
Process uncataloged paperbacks
Sort and file library application cards
Check AV material for problems (i.e. viewing, listening, cleaning)
Ability to learn library computer software to perform basic additions and deletions to the collection

Translator

Flexible shifts
Translate titles from Korean, Hindi, Chinese or other languages into English for catalogers (you will only work with titles in the language of your choice)
Suggest subject headings for the non-fiction titles
Shelf read the books in your language for correct placement

Adult & Young Adult Services

Adult & Young Adult Services Aide 1

Work assigned shift, usually 2 hours at a time once a week
Assist the reference department with
Shelving magazines and reordering the magazines
Arranging books in storage
Making themed displays, including artwork, graphics and selecting books for the display
Set up meeting rooms for library programs, especially 1st Monday of each month

Adult & Young Adult Services Aide 2

Must have volunteered at the library in reference for at least 6 months (or equivalent experience), have a demonstrated record of accuracy and be recommended by the reference staff
Work assigned shift at the information desk, usually 2 hours at a time once a week
Answer directional questions
Assist patrons in locating books and other materials
Use library computer software to perform basic additions and deletions to the collection
Other duties of Reference Aide 1

Shelf Reader

Work assigned shift, flexible times are available, generally 1 - 2 hours once a week
Go to assigned area and check the shelves for correct placement of books or other materials
Help find "missing" books
Dust shelves as needed

Programming

Adult & Young Adult Programming Aide 1

Work at prearranged times when programs are being presented
Set up rooms, set out refreshments, make popcorn
Greet people coming to the program and make them welcome
Help with clean up, rearranging the room if needed

Adult & Young Adult Programming Aide 2

Must have volunteered at the library in programming for at least 6 months, have a demonstrated record of dependability and helpfulness, and be recommended by the reference staff. Arts and cultural background is helpful.
Work at prearranged times when programs are being presented
Help arrange and or provide programs
Other duties of programming aide

Children's Services

Children's Youth Aide 1 (ages 14 to 18)

Work assigned shift in summer, usually 2 hours at a time once a week
Assist librarians with summer reading by aiding patron registration and distribution of prizes at the appropriate times

Children's Youth Aide 2 (ages 14 to 18)

Must have volunteered at the library in children's for at least 2 months, have a demonstrated record of accuracy and be recommended by the children's staff
Work assigned shift, usually 2 hours at a time once a week

Preparing crafts
Setting up tables and chairs
Putting tables and chairs away
Cleaning up after programs

Children's Aide (over 18)

Work assigned shift, usually 2 hours at a time once a week
Assist librarians in planning programs
Assist librarians in presenting programs
Help patrons find materials

Computer Services

Computer Tutor (great for college students, should be over 18)

Work assigned shift, usually 2 hours at a time once a week
Must demonstrate competence with library computers and installed computer programs
Assist patrons with computer use on an on-call basis; this can be done while you are studying as long as you don't mind being interrupted

Computer Training Aide 1

Assist at assigned computer classes at scheduled times, generally once a week for two and one half hours for 4 to 6 weeks
Help set up classroom and put computers away when class is over
Must demonstrate competence with library computers and installed computer programs
Must demonstrate friendly attitude
Use library's laptops, data projector and other equipment to assist instruction
Provide assistance to individual students during class

Computer Training Instructor

Should volunteer as a Computer Training Aide for at least one set of classes before requesting to teach unassisted and be recommended by the Computer and Reference Librarian
Teach assigned computer classes at scheduled times, generally once a week for two and one half hours for 4 to 6 weeks
Must demonstrate competence with library computers and installed computer programs
Must demonstrate teaching ability and friendly attitude
Use library's laptops, data projector and other equipment to prepare and provide instruction

Maintenance

Plant Person

Once a week for about 2 hours, flexible times to provide tender loving care for our indoor plants
Water, prune, fertilize and repot the library's indoor plants as needed

Indoor odd jobs (requires climbing on ladders, must be over 18)

Change light bulbs
Dust hard to reach areas
Assemble recycling into blue bins on Mondays
Clean computer keyboards, mice and tables

Outdoor maintenance (might be a good family volunteer opportunity)

Spring, summer and fall, as needed
Weed flower beds
Deadhead flowers
Divide perennials when appropriate and replant
Lightly prune shrubs