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  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Volunteer Coordinator 765-743-2261 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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.

Areas: Friends of the Library - Reference Services - 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
• Arrive on time and stay until the end of your shift
• 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

Reference/Information

Reference Aide 1 (applicant should have at least 3 years of college and be comfortable with general online searching and searching the library's catalog)

• Work assigned 3 hour shift, usually once a week (afternoon and evening shifts available) after training
• Assist reference staff by:
  • Helping patrons locate materials in the adult non-fiction and young adult collections using the library catalog
  • Assisting patrons with locating online resources
  • Staffing the second floor information desk to maintain a presence on the second floor, especially in the evenings
  • Answering directional questions about library facilities
  • Pulling holds from the second floor collections
  • Shelving adult and teen magazines
  • Using library computer software to perform basic additions and deletions to the collection as well as processing books for removal
  • Occasionally answering the telephone

Circulation Services

Self-check Circulation Aide

• Demonstrate the self-check stations
• Assist patrons with the self-check stations
• Pull DVDs from the behind the circ desk
• This is especially needed around storytimes and the beginning of the semester

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

Teen Gaming Assistant

• Set up Wii and PS2 games on Friday afternoons from 2 - 4
• Assist people with the games
• Record the number of participants on the library's calendar

Adult & Young Adult Services Aide 1

• Work assigned shift, usually 2 hours at a time once a week
• Assist the reference department with
  Removing weeded books from the collection by crossing out library marks
• 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
  Assist librarians in preparing for programs by
  • 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