All Northwest Georgia Regional Library System Libraries gladly accept volunteers. Volunteers must be over the age of 14. Volunteer duties vary widely depending on the library being volunteered at, the time of year volunteering, and the volunteer’s preferences.
Example volunteer duties:
- Assisting with Summer Reading Registration
- Helping with crafts and events during Summer Reading
- Shelving books
- Organizing the books on the shelf
- Preparing for story times, events, and movies
- Helping at movie events
- Creating displays for various areas
Volunteer Policy
A volunteer is anyone, 14 years or older, who assists on a regular basis with the activities at the Northwest GA Regional Library System without financial compensation. A volunteer group is a recognized organization that intends to volunteer at the library as a group without financial compensation and whose members are 14 years or older. Because of the logistics of utilizing large groups, arrangements must be made in advance with the on-site supervisor, library manager, or his or her designee.
The library, library director, or designee reserves the right to decline the service of any volunteer.
The library uses volunteers to supplement the efforts of staff in providing quality service, to encourage people to become familiar with the library and its services and to support library fundraising activities. Volunteers supplement and do not replace the work of staff.
Nothing in this policy creates a contract between the volunteer and the library or the Library Board. Either the volunteer or the library can terminate their association at any time, for any reason, without any cause being stated.
The library cannot provide any medical, health, accident, or worker’s compensation benefits for any volunteer.
Prior to volunteering, applicants must meet with the library director or his/her designee and complete an application for volunteer work. The library may check background, criminal history, and references and reserves the right to decline anyone as a volunteer without cause or statement of reason. Service in the children’s library area may require fingerprinting.
Examples of volunteer work include shelving books, crafting, helping to prepare for programs, maintenance of periodicals, and public relations activities. The hours of volunteer service are determined by the supervisory staff member in discussion with the volunteer. Volunteers must arrive when scheduled or call the library if they will be absent. Except with prior approval, volunteer work must be completed within normal library hours. Volunteers must follow all library policies and procedures. Volunteers may not work in any capacity that includes access to patron records or cash handling.
Recruitment of volunteers is the responsibility of the library director or his/her designee. Volunteers work directly with library staff to receive training and complete projects. All volunteers will be assigned one primary staff member to guide them in their work; however, staff members may offer guidance to any of the volunteers. (Adopted October 30, 2012; amended August 23, 2022 and February 21, 2023)
If you’re ready to help support the library with your time, please drop by the library to pick up an application.