Volunteer Opportunities
Administration
This includes Finance: cashing up the previous week’s takings, ensuring there is a valid float, checking and organising bank runs.
General: Examples are: data collection, paper sheet updates and restocking.
Book Collection Development
The role of the book collection development group is to look after the library stock by devising policies and making decisions about acquisitions, disposals, and promoting the collection to the public.
Building Maintenance
As a public building which is also nearly 120 years old, as well as a functioning library, maintenance is a key concern. That includes everything from overseeing regular building maintenance and upkeep (cleaning the gutters, regular checking of the alarm and safety systems) up to managing larger-scale renovations and changes.
Housekeeping
Our Library is a public space, and needs to meet good standards of cleanliness and tidiness. Some of these are covered in shifts, but we also have volunteers who come in purely for housekeeping duties.
Events
In addition to the usual weekly shifts, the library runs a series of events ranging from low-key (poetry readings or book-sales on Saturdays) to large-scale events alongside the Heritage Open Days and the Walkley Festival. The events group run these events, and their duties range from advertising, to baking cakes, to moving furniture and putting out chairs.
Gardening
A few volunteers from Walkley Green Gardening group currently maintain, weed and plant our library garden when time allows, during late Spring and Summer. Occasional special Gardening days are arranged when needed.
Communications, including publicity, social media, and the website
Our social media team create content for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the website. They are also responsible for adding content that our library staff and events create, as well as updating the diary on the website.
Session Lead
Our Session Leads are long-term volunteers who agree to take on additional responsibility for running each shift. They’re a good first contact if you have any queries or need advice. The commitment is usually a minimum of one full shift a fortnight.
VLA – Volunteer Library Assistant
VLAs are the volunteers who work with books and borrowers, either behind the counter or out in the library. Depending on the day and time, shifts vary from two and half to five hours, and the minimum commitment is usually one shift a month.
Trustees
The Trustees are responsible for the overall running of the Library as a charitable enterprise and ensure that the Library is doing what it was set up to do. Duties include financial management and oversight, accountability to the Charity Commission and short and long term planning.