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Home library service/Reading Friends volunteers

Home library service /Reading Friends volunteers choose and deliver library materials to one or more library customers at home who have mobility difficulties or caring responsibilities that prevent them regularly visiting a library.

Tasks

  • Choosing library materials for the customer, taking into account their personal preferences.
  • Delivering the materials to the customer’s home, at a mutually agreed time and frequency, usually once a month minimum.
  • Returning materials to the library.
  • Reserve items for customers either in the library or via the website.
  • Chat to your customer about books and other reading materials, using resources from the Reading Agency’s Reading Friends if required.
  • Contact (by phone)  every 2 weeks to check in and maintain regular contact with the housebound customer.

Skills and experience

  • Friendly and patient manner.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Ability to choose books and audio materials according to another’s preferences.
  • Reliable and punctual timekeeping.
  • Some experience working with the public an advantage.

Other information

  • If you use your car while volunteering for us, we pay mileage. Travel expenses of mileage costs at 45p a mile for travel away from your normal volunteering base will be refunded via a Volunteer Claim Form with receipts. Your car insurance needs to cover your volunteering activity.
  • Telephone expenses will also be refunded via a Volunteer Claim Form (if you do not have a free calls package). An itemised bill is required for this.
  • A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required for this role.
  • Library Volunteer badge given.
  • You will have a named library contact and opportunities to meet with other library volunteers.
  • The minimum age for role is 18 years.