NESMITH LIBRARY
Volunteer Policy
The Board of Trustees of the Nesmith Library supports the use of
volunteers in the library as an adjunct to the need for fully staffing the
library. Volunteers will provide
support to the staff and will help provide an outlet for citizens wishing to
help the community. Volunteers are
not meant as replacements for appropriately trained and paid staff, nor as
compensation for inadequate staffing patterns, nor for failure to fill vacant
posts, nor for cutbacks in library funding.
The range of responsibilities for volunteers is limited in scope and
assigned hours.
Volunteers are covered by the town of Windham’s insurance policies for
all activities performed on behalf of the Library.
A list of tasks is available for volunteers.
Each volunteer position has a job description.
In accordance with insurance policies, volunteers must provide references
and authorize reference checks so that the Library may properly screen those
wishing to work at the library. Volunteers
working directly with children need a background check.
An application for volunteer positions requesting information on task
preferences, available times and other pertinent data must be completed.
The Library Director and the Volunteer Coordinator will interview
potential volunteers and evaluate their capabilities for available positions,
their level of commitment and their ability to work well with the staff and the
public.
Volunteers are expected to fulfill a commitment according to the hours
mutually agreed upon for their services.
All volunteers will work under the supervision of the paid staff and the
Volunteer Coordinator under the authority of the Library Director.
The volunteer Coordinator will serve as liaison between the volunteers
and staff.
Volunteers must be at least 14 years old. Some tasks require physical
labor and volunteers must consider their health status when choosing these
tasks.
Volunteers will participate in a training session, prior to assuming any
responsibilities.
Volunteers are expected to work in a coop0erative and professional manner
with staff members and the public, and must follow all library procedures.
Failure to satisfactorily perform assigned tasks, demonstration of a lack of
commitment, and/or inability to work in concert with the staff and the public
are cause for termination. Volunteers
shall have the right to end the relationship with the Library at any time,
though appropriate notice is desired.
The Library Director and the volunteer Coordinator will periodically
evaluate the effectiveness of the volunteer program to ensure that the Library
is receiving full benefit from it.
Adopted on the 11th day of February, 1998 by the Nesmith Library Board of Trustees