Volunteers strengthen library
Earlier this month, nine prospective volunteers attended a Tuesday afternoon orientation session at Vernon Area Public Library. The group included homemakers, retirees, a healthcare worker and a young adult. Their reasons for volunteering ranged from "needing more stimulation than playing bridge" to liking the smell of libraries. They all had two things in common: a bit of spare time and a love of libraries.
At Vernon Area Library the staff of 90-some employees, many of them part-time, are supported by a network of volunteers who provide thousands of hours of service each year. But this wasn't always the case. In 2013 when Kathleen Hayes began in the newly created position of coordinator of volunteers, the library had just four adult volunteers. Fast forward to today when Hayes has recruited nearly 100 willing individuals. In 2015, 87 volunteers contributed 3,000 hours of work.
In addition to a group orientation session, Hayes meets one-on-one with each new volunteer to learn about their strengths and interests. She then matches them with tasks that help make the patron experience better. Vernon Area Library volunteers may gather materials for senior center visits, lend a hand at events or keep heavily browsed shelves orderly. These jobs add up, allowing the library to do more in the service of patrons than it otherwise could.
When Hayes arrived at the library in October 2013 from her native Minnesota she was already steeped in volunteerism. Her memories of service stretch back to childhood, when she would accompany her mother as she went door-to-door in their neighborhood to raise funds for organizations like the March of Dimes. The experience instilled in Hayes a passion for serving others. In high school, she was a candy-striper in St. Paul's hospitals. As a parent, she volunteered at her children's schools. "You get more than you give," Hayes said.
Hayes continued to keep volunteerism in her scope at paid jobs, at a Minnesota library system and a rehabilitation facility. At Vernon Area Library, she was given the latitude to build an infrastructure based on volunteer best practices and the library's unique culture. She inquired with managers about tasks they lacked time to do or that did not make the most of their expertise. In less than three years, Hayes has established a robust volunteer program that is so well organized she'll be a presenter in August at the Illinois Conference on Volunteer Administration in Chicago.
On a Monday in June, three volunteers arrived as soon as the library opened its doors at 9 o'clock. Kathy Firfer is a retired human resources professional with four children and 11 grandchildren. For the past year she has been giving a couple hours a week to Vernon Area Library. Firfer's job is to "shelf-read" adult nonfiction, which means she carefully scans to make sure every book is in the right place, spine out, and that no books have fallen behind the shelving unit. It's meticulous work and she takes pride in it, calling the range in her purview "my section." Firfer credits Hayes with being very astute, picking up on Firfer's strengths to find the right job for her. "The library is the greatest place to volunteer. I'm thanked by staff and patrons for what I do," Firfer said.
Ken Skolnik, 91, is a retired retail salesman whose first career was as a concert violinist with orchestras in New Orleans and Indianapolis. Like Firfer, he's been volunteering for about a year at the library. Previously he'd given his time to Highland Park Hospital - work he enjoyed but that became too physically demanding. Still you'd never guess Skolnik is north of 90 when you see him carefully organizing the library's collection of music CDs. Skolnik likes the activity and having a place to go each week. "The people are very nice, staff always thanks me, but volunteering here does more good for me than I do for the library," Skolnik said.
Before arriving in the United States three years ago, Swati Avsarkar helped run a free legal center in India. With a master's of law degree, she was well-suited to the work. When her husband's job brought the family to Chicagoland and they settled in Buffalo Grove, Avsarkar quickly became familiar with Vernon Library. With the goal of getting out of the house while her young son is in school, she contributes about four hours each week to the library, where she shelf-reads in juvenile nonfiction and cleans CDs. She also volunteers at programs, which she likes since she gets to learn. "Volunteering is definitely fun. Staff and patrons appreciate volunteers from the heart," said Avsarkar.
The Vernon Area Public Library District serves a population of 42,900 within a 29-square-mile area that includes Lincolnshire, Prairie View and parts of Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Riverwoods, Vernon Hills and unincorporated Vernon and Ela townships. For more information about the library and its services, visit http://www.vapld.info.