November 18th, 2014

Junior Volunteers @ RLPL!Katherine Elchert, Youth Services Manager

Junior Volunteers: From the Rice Lake Public Library’s website:Be a Jr. Volunteer at the Library! Junior Volunteers help us create craft samples, find DVDs and books, clean the gerbil cage, sanitize toys, and help with programs!

Kids 3rd grade and up are welcome to sign up for volunteering in the Youth Department for 1 hour a week. We typically have a fall session (September-December), spring session (January-May), and summer (June-August). Pick up an application at the youth desk today!

JV vs. adult volunteers?Remember to consider JV’s special needs & abilities especially as opposed to teen / adult volunteers.

What’s in it for the kids?

✤ Builds relationships with interested adults.

✤ Exposes new children to the library; keeps them returning on a weekly basis!

✤ Learning experience: discover various aspects of libraries / librarianship, see library as more than book repository, new skills.

✤ Gain sense of of self-respect / ownership of their community library.

✤ It’s fun!

What’s in it for the library?

✤ Builds rapport with library patrons (both JV + their families). Creates buy in from larger community too!

✤ Helps relieve us of time consuming but necessary tasks (theoretically?) JV stat hours are recorded for review by library board.

✤ Provides librarians a base from which to draw input on material selection, program creation and marketing ideas.

How to start!

✤ Get support / buy in from other library staff (both admin & librarians alike).

✤ Define your program. Things to consider: age levels, hour limits, parent involvement, tasks, scheduling, supervision, rewards.

✤ Schedule orientation / make applications available. When applications are returned, create sign in sheet & official JV schedule.

✤ Ideas for marketing: posters (in library & throughout community), bookmarks, social media, community newspapers, school fairs, local groups (Girl Scouts, 4H, etc), word of mouth is key!

What worked…. and what didn’t!

Learn from our mistakes!

✤ To JV: it should be the kid’s choice! Think critically about parent involvement: how much is too much?

✤ Limit # of JV during period of time.

✤ Have additional tasks at the ready!

✤ Patience is a virtue (for both JVs and librarians!)

Copy our successes!

✤ JV Orientation - annually in the Fall - program on calendar / increases patron awareness - can train multiple JV at once! - fun social time for JVs

✤ Create & post your JV tasks!

✤ Devise a JV station: sign in sheet, schedule & name tags.

Any questions?Katherine Elchert, Youth Services Manager

katherineelchert@ricelakegov.org (715) 234-4861 x17

Rice Lake Public Library2 E. Marshall St. Rice Lake, WI 54868