Volunteer Policy
The goal of the Atchison Public Library’s volunteer program is to mobilize volunteer resources to fulfill the mission, vision, and goals of the Library in order to meet community needs.
Overall Policy on Utilization of Volunteers
The achievement of Atchison Library’s goals is best served by active participation of the community. To this end, we accept and encourage involvement of volunteers at all levels and within all appropriate programs and activities. Staff, board members, and Friends of Atchison Library are encouraged to assist in the creation of meaningful and productive roles in which volunteers might serve, and to assist in recruitment of volunteers from the community. Management of volunteers will be implemented through a team approach.
Purpose of Volunteer Policy
The purpose of these policies is to provide overall guidance and direction to staff and volunteers engaged in volunteer efforts of any kind.
Needs Assessment
A staff needs assessment can be circulated among staff at any time. The purpose of the needs assessment is to find out how volunteers can help staff with routine tasks or special projects by surveying staff members on what tasks or programs are not getting adequate attention and need extra attention.
Definition of “Volunteer”
A volunteer is anyone who, without compensation or expectation of compensation, performs a task at the direction of and on behalf of the Library. A volunteer must be officially accepted and enrolled prior to the performance of task(s). Unless specifically stated, volunteers are not considered employees of Atchison Library, but are part of the Library team.
Types of Volunteers
Volunteer Applications
All volunteers starting work after the approval of this policy shall fill out and submit a volunteer application form. A copy of this form shall be given to the volunteer and a copy kept on file. Personal information is for emergency and contact purposes.
Service at the Discretion of Atchison Library
The Atchison Library accepts the service of all volunteers with the understanding that such service is at the sole discretion of the library director. Volunteers agree that we may at anytime, for whatever reason, decide to end the volunteer relationship. The volunteer may at anytime, for any reason, decide to sever the volunteer relationship with the Library. Notice of such a decision on the part of either party should be communicated as soon as possible.
Court ordered community service workers who are absent from work for a month without any communication of a satisfactory reason shall have their volunteer relationship terminated. The time sheets shall be returned to the Court Services Office with an unsatisfactory rating.
Scope of Volunteer Involvement
Volunteers may be utilized in all programs and activities of the Library and serve at all levels of skill and decision making. However, volunteers will not be used to displace paid staff from their positions.
Volunteer Job Areas
Some Benefits of Volunteering
Confidentiality
Volunteers are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all privileged information to which they are exposed to as are paid staff members.
Dress Code
As representatives of the Library, volunteers, like paid employees, are responsible for presenting a good image to the patrons and the community. Volunteers should dress appropriately, clean and neat, for the conditions and performance of their duties.
Overall Policy on Utilization of Volunteers
The achievement of Atchison Library’s goals is best served by active participation of the community. To this end, we accept and encourage involvement of volunteers at all levels and within all appropriate programs and activities. Staff, board members, and Friends of Atchison Library are encouraged to assist in the creation of meaningful and productive roles in which volunteers might serve, and to assist in recruitment of volunteers from the community. Management of volunteers will be implemented through a team approach.
Purpose of Volunteer Policy
The purpose of these policies is to provide overall guidance and direction to staff and volunteers engaged in volunteer efforts of any kind.
Needs Assessment
A staff needs assessment can be circulated among staff at any time. The purpose of the needs assessment is to find out how volunteers can help staff with routine tasks or special projects by surveying staff members on what tasks or programs are not getting adequate attention and need extra attention.
Definition of “Volunteer”
A volunteer is anyone who, without compensation or expectation of compensation, performs a task at the direction of and on behalf of the Library. A volunteer must be officially accepted and enrolled prior to the performance of task(s). Unless specifically stated, volunteers are not considered employees of Atchison Library, but are part of the Library team.
Types of Volunteers
- General Volunteers: Adults who volunteer for at least one or two hours a week on a regular basis.
- Short-term Volunteers: Adults who work on a specific project and/or who work occasionally or irregularly.
- Youth Service Volunteers: Young adults who volunteer and work to help fulfill RSVP requirements (for AHS) and/or other club, school, and group community service hours.
- Court Ordered Community Service: These are volunteers who are working to fulfill community service requirements as ordered by the district or juvenile courts. Due to safety and security concerns for staff and patrons, no violent and/or sexual crime offenders will be accepted.
- Adult volunteers are 18 yrs. of age or older.
- Youth volunteers may start at age 14 yrs. old.
Volunteer Applications
All volunteers starting work after the approval of this policy shall fill out and submit a volunteer application form. A copy of this form shall be given to the volunteer and a copy kept on file. Personal information is for emergency and contact purposes.
Service at the Discretion of Atchison Library
The Atchison Library accepts the service of all volunteers with the understanding that such service is at the sole discretion of the library director. Volunteers agree that we may at anytime, for whatever reason, decide to end the volunteer relationship. The volunteer may at anytime, for any reason, decide to sever the volunteer relationship with the Library. Notice of such a decision on the part of either party should be communicated as soon as possible.
Court ordered community service workers who are absent from work for a month without any communication of a satisfactory reason shall have their volunteer relationship terminated. The time sheets shall be returned to the Court Services Office with an unsatisfactory rating.
Scope of Volunteer Involvement
Volunteers may be utilized in all programs and activities of the Library and serve at all levels of skill and decision making. However, volunteers will not be used to displace paid staff from their positions.
Volunteer Job Areas
- Shelving
- Shelf reading
- Clerical assistance
- Programming assistance
- Outreach materials delivery assistance
- Materials cleaning
- General cleaning
- Miscellaneous
Some Benefits of Volunteering
- Volunteering in a friendly, comfortable environment
- Working with great people
- Community involvement and meeting a community need
- Work experience and job references
- Public acknowledgement
- Learning new skills
- Opportunity to express creativity
- Time away from everyday life routines and demands
- Positive sense of accomplishment
Confidentiality
Volunteers are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all privileged information to which they are exposed to as are paid staff members.
Dress Code
As representatives of the Library, volunteers, like paid employees, are responsible for presenting a good image to the patrons and the community. Volunteers should dress appropriately, clean and neat, for the conditions and performance of their duties.
Approved by the Atchison Library Board of Trustees on March 28, 2011
