Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteers are the lifeblood of every successful community. Without volunteers there would be very few food banks or youth sports programs, even less community theaters and sparsely run public libraries. Even politicians would have a hard time campaigning for elections without volunteers.
At the library, volunteers are crucial, not only to the everyday running of the library but behind the scenes as well. Library volunteers provide assistance with device maintenance and guidance, re-shelves, shift and organize sections, help with book and disc repairs, prep items for circulation, book cleaning and repairs, lead and assist with programming, fund raise, provide baked goods for events, and many, many more tasks too numerous to name. Volunteers are the heart of the community and make visiting your public library a more personable, rewarding experience.
This is especially true for Fort Bragg Library. The Friends of the Fort Bragg Library are our lifeblood. In order to celebrate those wonderful individuals who volunteer at Fort Bragg Library we’ve set up a this feature entitled Volunteer Spotlight. Through Volunteer Spotlight, you will get to know our library volunteers; why they volunteer for the library, what they do as volunteers, and, we hope, you will have an insight into what makes your local library the ideal volunteer experience. (Hint: It’s the people!)
Salute to our volunteers because
“Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.” Gladys B Stern
Volunteer Spotlight on…Judy Whitlock
As a retired R.N., Judy knows the how the hustle and bustle of a busy place can wear on the stamina of the staff. Judy spent many years helping at the circulation desk and now works behind the scenes processing our Friday holds. Judy is a familiar face around Fort Bragg volunteering for various organizations, one of which is Soroptimist International of Noyo Sunrise (co-sponsors of the annual Quilt Walk and Quilt Show).
Here, in her own words, she tells us about her experience as a volunteer with Fort Bragg Library:
FFBL: How long have you been volunteering for Fort Bragg Library? What year did you start?
JW: I started in 2007 (11 years)
FFBL: How did you learn about Fort Bragg Library and what prompted you to get involved?
JW: I’ve known and loved the library since I was a child. I remember when the old Fort Bragg Library burned down. After I retired from nursing, I found myself in need of “people contact” and the library seemed like a great place to meet people.
FFBL: In what ways are you involved as a volunteer with Fort Bragg Library?
JW: For several years I worked at the circulation desk, covering staff lunches. After taking a few months off from volunteering, I returned to the library to help process the Friday holds.
FFBL: What keeps you coming back to volunteer?
JW: Mental stimulation and talking with staff and patrons
FFBL: What do you enjoy most about your volunteer experience?
JW: Contact with people.
FFBLL: What hobbies or spare time activities do you enjoy?
JW: Quilting, reading, gardening, and spending time with my grandchildren and adult children.
Thank you, Judy, for all your hard work and dedication! Fort Bragg Library salutes you!
Volunteer Spotlight on…Joe and Kathy Averill
When railroader, Joe, and library associate, Kathy, retired from the LA scene and moved to the idyllic Northern California coast, they thought their days of hard work were over. Little did they know what was in store for them volunteering for the Fort Bragg Library! Gone are the easy days of slow paced shelf-reading and chats with patrons. When they arrive for their volunteer hours each week they hit the ground running and we keep them busy with pull lists, shelving, book drop check-ins, major section shifting and anything else we need to throw at them. Fort Bragg Library is blessed to have two such wonderful volunteers.
Here, in their own words, they tell us about their experience volunteering with Fort Bragg Library:
FFBL: How long have you been volunteering for Fort Bragg Library? What year did you start?
J/K: 6 years…Started in 2008
FFBL: How did you learn about Fort Bragg Library and what prompted you to get involved?
J/K: We came into the library to get library cards and the next thing we knew we were shelving books
FFBL: In what ways are you involved as a volunteer with Fort Bragg Library?
J/K: We generally spend time on the request pull lists, book drop, shelving, shelf reading, and anything else the library needs
FFBL: What keep you coming back to volunteer each year?
J/K: Good company and conversation and getting to see the new library materials
FFBL: What do you enjoy most about your volunteer experience?
J/K: We live outside of Fort Bragg and enjoy coming to town and meeting some of the residents, especially staff and other volunteers
FFBL: What have you learned or how have you been personally affected from your experience with Fort Bragg Library?
J/K: When we first came here in a period whn the library was incredibly understaffed, we were amazed at how vital volunteers were to the overall operation of the library. We expected to be involved in no-brainer tasks like clean-up and moving boxes but found that a full array of help was needed and that some training would be necessary.
FFBL: Do you have an inspirational story you can briefly tell about your volunteer experience? Please share with us!
J/K: To us, the most inspiring event associated with the library was the astoundingly overwhelming vote in favor of the library tax (Measure A) which showed us how important the library is to residents of our county.
FFBL: Do you have any advice for individuals considering volunteering with Fort Bragg Library?
J/K: Come prepared to work – we have never come in and found that there was nothing to do
Thank you, Kathy and Joe, for all your hard work and dedication! Fort Bragg Library salutes you!
Volunteer Spotlight on…Mary Sue Rhoads
Mary Sue, a retired elementary school teacher, has been volunteering for the Fort Bragg Library for over 6 years. She’s well known around town for the various organizations she volunteers for and is often seen here at the library chatting up a former student who’s visiting the library. Mary Sue is dependable, efficient and extremely helpful. We all wish we could clone her.
Here, in her own words, she tells us about her experience as a volunteer with Fort Bragg Library:
FFBL: How long have you been volunteering for Fort Bragg Library? What year did you start?
MS: 6 years…Started in 2008
FFBL: How did you learn about Fort Bragg Library and what prompted you to get involved?
MS: My children and I have used the library since it was on Main Street. After retirement, I wanted to volunteer at a low energy position. Pulling and shelving books is my speed.
FFBL: In what ways are you involved as a volunteer with Fort Bragg Library?
MS: I work Tuesdays and Thursdays, (and an occasional Saturday) 9-11, pulling and shelving books, as well as a bit of shelf reading.
FFBL: What keeps you coming back to volunteer?
MS: The staff. And the need for the non-computer related tasks that need to be completed.
FFBL: What do you enjoy most about your volunteer experience?
MS: Meeting people; being among the first to check out new material
FFBL: What have you learned or how have you been personally affected from your experience with Fort Bragg Library?
MS: I have learned that working with patrons is not my choice. I have recently learned to get the pull list books ready to go in the bins to go to other libraries.
FFBLL: What hobbies or spare time activities do you enjoy?
MS: Friends, family, non-profit organizations – Delta Kappa Gamma, Native Daughters, Soroptimist Noyo Sunrise, First Presbyterian Church.
Thank you, Mary Sue, for all your hard work and dedication! Fort Bragg Library salutes you!
Volunteer Spotlight on…Lesley Reid
First up in our Volunteer Spotlight is Volunteer/Intern, Lesley Reid. Lesley was an integral part of our volunteer base for several years and was elemental in helping train staff members who were coming on board after the passage of Measure A and in training new volunteers in various library procedures and fundamentals. Recently, Lesley got the opportunity to expand her education in another location and, sadly, has left the Fort Bragg Library volunteer family (but she is continuing her volunteer work with the Ukiah Library). She will be direly missed at Fort Bragg Library but we wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Thanks for all the experiences, Lesley!
Here, in her own words, Lesley tells us about her experience as a volunteer with Fort Bragg Library:
FFBL: How long have you been volunteering for Fort Bragg Library? What year did you start?
LR: 3 ½ years…Started in August 2010
FFBL: How did you learn about Fort Bragg Library and what prompted you to get involved?
LR: I came to the Library as a patron when I was a young child and developed a love of books and reading. This has followed me throughout my life and now, as an adult, I wanted to give back to the Library that gave me this passion for books and reading.
FFBL: In what ways are you involved as a volunteer with Fort Bragg Library?
LR: For the past 2 years I have been putting in about 12 hours a week at this library. This 12 hours is spent doing a variety of tasks like shelving, checking books in and out, processing requested items, processing new items, working at the circulation desk and much more.
FFBL: What keep you coming back to volunteer each year?
LR: The people and the love I have for what I do here.
FFBL: What do you enjoy most about your volunteer experience?
LR: Learning new things almost every time I come in.
FFBL: What have you learned or how have you been personally affected from your experience with Fort Bragg Library?
LR: I have learned that working full-time in a library is the career I was meant to do. This volunteer experience has changed my life in so many positive ways that I can’t list all of them here.
FFBL: Do you have an inspirational story you can briefly tell about your volunteer experience? Please share with us!
LR: Before I came to the library I had no clue what I wanted in life. After just 4 short months I knew this was my destiny in life, to work in a library. I started an online degree program just a year after starting here that would give me an A.S. degree in Library/Information Technology. Now, 2½ years later, I have completed my degree and it’s all thanks to the Fort Bragg Public Library. They gave me a chance and changed my life. I have to say goodbye to this library for my time has come to move on but my time here will always be forefront in my mind in a positive way.
FFBL: Do you have any advice for individuals considering volunteering with Fort Bragg Library?
LR: Do it!!! You have nothing to lose and so much to gain.
FFBL: Hobbies/spare time activities?
LR: Reading
Volunteer Spotlight image borrowed from http://www.daytonaplayhouse.org/images/VolunteerSpotlight.png