Press release: Give and gain – become a library volunteer

Tuesday 10 August 2010

Give something back to your community and at the same time take the opportunity to gain new skills, new friends and a recognised qualification.

That's the message from East Sussex County Council's Library Service as it highlights the wide variety of volunteering roles available in your local library.

The message was reinforced by Councillor Bob Tidy, Lead Member for Community Services who said volunteering in the Library Service is extremely rewarding.

“You can give something back to your community and gain a lot,” said Councillor Tidy. “Being a library volunteer could see you helping in the library or out and about in the community. It could see you promoting the mobile library service, helping people with IT issues in the library or supporting a reading group.

“You can earn a qualification for your volunteering – a CVQ or Community Volunteering Qualification which can count towards your college or university applications or act as a stepping stone to paid employment. The Library Service offers flexibility over time commitment, travel expenses when it is an essential part of the role, relevant training and a named staff contact.”

The Library Service offers a variety of roles (although it can't guarantee that each will be available in every area) including:

  • Home Library Service volunteer – taking library materials to people unable to get to a library easily
  • Mobile Library Champion – helping to promote the mobile library service in areas of the county without a library nearby
  • Local Studies Volunteer – indexing newspapers, photographs and postcards and related activities
  • Children's Services Volunteer – helping with the Summer Reading Challenge, rhyme and storytimes and the Homework Club (at Peacehaven Library)
  • Computer Buddy – helping people to learn the basics of using the computers in the library
  • Reading Group Volunteer – supporting new and existing reading groups
  • Practical or Occasional Volunteer – helping with occasional tasks including with surveys and events etc.

For more information ask in your local library, call the Equal Access Manager on 01273 335383 or visit our page Volunteering and libraries.

Reference: 2918

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