volunteers galore! ila 2014

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Inma Leonard Homewood Public LibraryDee Delaney Homewood Public Library

Sharon Bouchie Friends of the Homewood Public Library

Think outside the box❧ Volunteers came in all shapes & forms

❧ What would you like to accomplish?

❧ Become an integral part of your community

❧ Get families involved with the library

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Vocational Achievement for Smooth Transition- VAST Kids

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VAST Kids ❧ High School based

program for special education students (18-22 years old) that promotes

❧ Student Independence ❧ Vocational

Competencies

❧ Life SkillsPhotograph courtesy of HFHS website

Collaboration❧ In 2000, HF High School started its own

vocational program with 6 job sites- HPL was an original site.

❧ Partnership between Homewood Flossmoor High School & Homewood Public Library.

❧ 14 years later they have 25 sites, 2 full time teachers, 4 classroom aids, and 5 job coaches. This year the program has 28 students.

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❧ High School

❧ Assess students skills

❧ Review skill expectations

❧ Trained job coaches

❧ Flexibility

❧ Public Library

❧ Welcoming environment

❧ Support schools curriculum

❧ Flexibility

Success

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Management

❧ Management is a team approach between the High School teacher, administrative staff, and youth staff.

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High School❧ Teachers assess

students skills

❧ Job coaches assist students navigate day to day tasks @ job sites

Job Coaches

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HPL- Admin❧ Mrs. Dennison

coordinates with the HS times & schedules

❧ Youth Department organizes projects and supervise students

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Recognition

❧ HPL Youth & Admin organizes annual celebration with VAST Kids, HS staff, and parents.

HPL-Youth ❧ Youth Staff creates a schedule and prioritize

accordingly.

❧ On hands management is provided by youth staff- Sarah Gearhart & Nichol Bautista.

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Week to Week❧ VAST Kids come to the library four days a

week for 2 hours each day. ❧ Different students come on different days.❧ Jobs are assigned depending on the skill set.

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Projects❧ Lots, and lots!❧ Cleaning youth toys, puzzles, train table set❧ Cleaning youth DVD’s & audio books❧ Setting up for programs- LEGO ❧ Wrapping book packages for Friends of the

Library themed sales (Holidays, back to school, etc)

❧ Preparing materials for craft projects❧ Creating & setting displays

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Projects- Lego Club

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Lego Club

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DVD Clean UP

DVD Clean Up

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Displays & Book Sales

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Benefits❧ Great

partnership

❧ Dedicated & trained volunteers

❧ Hands on

experience

Contact InformationDee Delaney ~ Homewood Public Library

deed@homewoodlibrary.net

Deb Dennison~ Homewood Public Librarydebd@homewoodlibrary.net

Sarah Gearhart~ Homewood Public Librarysarahg@homewoodlibrary.net

Mary LaBoatz~ Homewood Flossmoor High Schoolmlabotz@hf233.org

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Jr. Friends of the Homewood Library

Unique Friends❧ Most libraries have a Friends of the Library

group.

❧ And some have a Junior Friends group…

❧ Our is unique because it truly is a Family Friends group.

❧ We have no age limit❧ Everyone is welcome

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Beginnings❧ Desire to provide younger children

opportunities to volunteer

❧ Jr. Friends of the Homewood Library started in 2008

❧ Financially supported by the Friends of the Homewood Library (FOHL)

MissionJunior Friend’s mission is to

❧ Promote community service and volunteerism among our youngest patrons and families

❧ Support the Friends of the Homewood Public Library

❧ Strengthen relationships between staff & community members

Mission in Action

Community Service❧ Key component of the Junior Friends mission

❧ Bridge between library & the community

❧ Complete community projects

Membership❧ Jr. Friends is membership based

❧ Over 700 members in the last 6 years

❧ Membership is $2.00 a year

❧ Registration year round~ Kick Off~Summer Reading

Collaboration❧ FOHL Liaison

❧ Parent Coordinators

❧ Youth Librarian Liaison

❧ Coordinate monthly projects, schedule meetings, secure materials, create PR, and run the meeting

Monthly Meetings❧ Monthly meetings from Sept. to May

❧ Fridays 5-6:30 PM

❧ Jr. Friends under 8 years of age must be accompanied by a parent/adult during the meeting

❧ Complete project, have dinner, play games

Annual Projects❧ Blankets for seniors

❧ Blood drive Thank You bags

❧ Homeless Shelter~ back to school backpacks & supplies

❧ Dog toys for Humane Society shelter

Annual Projects❧ Valentine Day’s Cards for Veterans

❧ National Library Week

❧ Holiday gifts for board members & staff

❧ Respond Now Food Drive

National Library Week- Butterfly Decorations 2011

Annually Jr. Friends create decorations for National Library Week.

Patrons were given butterfly magnets when checking out materials.

National Library Week 2011

Thank You Bags for Firemen

Jr. Friends created Thank You bags for local firemen

Valentine’s Day Cards

Over 250 cards are made annually and sent nationwide

Blankets for Seniors

Jr. Friends created lap blankets for local community seniors

Blankets for Seniors

Fall Decorations 2013

In preparation for an off-site visit to a local senior residence Jr. Friends created “Treat bags” and Fall Decorations for residents

Thank You Bags 2013

Jr. Friends create “Thank You” bags for Friends of the

Homewood Library

volunteers and for any special

community program.

Respond Now Food Drive

In 2011 Jr. Friends conducted their first food drive to help a local food shelter.

The effort brought together the library, the school district, and the Jr. Friends.

Respond Now Food Drive

Board Members & Staff Holiday Gifts

Each year Jr. Friends create holiday gifts for board members and library staff.

Animal Shelter Toys

On the Road Projects❧ First volunteer efforts on the road….

❧ Reading Buddies for McClellan Elementary

On the Road Projects❧ Freedom Village Senior Resident play &

games

Benefits to the Library❧ Stronger collaboration between FOHL,

parents, librarians, and community

❧ Community needs addressed via volunteer efforts

❧ Unique volunteer opportunities for young children

❧ Increased attendance to Youth Programs

Challenges❧ Recruiting parent volunteers

❧ Finding creative & affordable projects

❧ Engaging children of different ages & abilities

❧ Balancing staff time

Questions

Contact InformationDee Delaney ~ Homewood Public Library

Deed@homewoodlibrary.net

Inma Leonard ~ Homewood Public Libraryinmal@homewoodlibrary.net

Sharon Bouchie ~ Jr. Friends FOHLsbouchie@gmail.com