The King County Library System, like libraries across the country, will celebrate National Library Week, April 3-9, and National Volunteer Week, April 17-23.
Both events offer a chance to honor hard-working KCLS staff, and to express gratitude for the dedication of over 500 KCLS volunteers.
For Library Week, Governor Jay Inslee signed a state proclamation calling libraries “cornerstones of democracy.” The Governor urged all Washingtonians to join him in observing National Library Week by visiting their local libraries and expressing appreciation for staff.
Volunteers also make a huge difference in program and service delivery, offering their time and building meaningful connections between their communities and the Library System.
“Volunteers are gold,” said KCLS Librarian Peter C., who works with volunteers for online sessions of Talk Time, a program that generates conversations between English-language learners. The weekly class he staffs averages about 30 people. But thanks to volunteers, he said, patrons can break into smaller Zoom rooms, increasing opportunities to practice their conversational English language skills. Volunteers include native Hindi, Chinese and Spanish speakers.
Talk Time is just one of many library services that rely on volunteer tutors and mentors for people of all ages. They provide growth opportunities from homework help and literacy skills to small-business counseling. Friends of the Library are important advocates who also raise money for local programming through book sales. City-appointed Library Advisory Boards (LABs) enhance communication between communities and their local library.
Volunteers also stretch taxpayers’ dollars by helping the Library System provide services beyond what is possible in the annual budget. In 2021, 516 volunteers contributed a total 16,712 hours to support KCLS programs and services, which tallied nearly 5,000 student visits. This included Study Zone Plus (SZP), KCLS’ after-school homework help program. This past year, 320 SZP volunteers put in 11,081 hours. Plaza Communitaria, an adult literacy program that helps Spanish speakers complete a primary or secondary diploma, succeeded with the help of volunteers who contributed 566 hours.
Study Zone volunteer Meenu A. said fellow students often asked for help with math. She enjoyed sharing her knowledge and “seeing the look of comprehension on their faces.”
Volunteering for KCLS, she said, “gave me a great opportunity to go beyond my school and teach others in the community. It brought me out of my comfort zone and gave me more confidence talking to new people.”
Emma S., said she also chose to volunteer as a way to connect with and help her community.
“Being able to give students individual help when schools often do not have that ability, really supports their educational experience,” she said. “Transitioning to virtual tutoring (due to COVID-19) has made a huge impact on the students and volunteers.”
Teen volunteers became especially active during the pandemic, and continue to contribute their time and interests to KCLS. They have formed Teen Advisory Groups (TAG), working with local librarians to create online programs of interest to tweens and teens. Teens also volunteer through a Teen Volunteer Book Reviewer Program launched last year.
“Teen Advisory Groups, creating escape rooms and other online volunteerism meets teens where they are,” said Rachel M., KCLS’ teen services coordinator. “They can take advantage of opportunities that work with their lives, their schedules and any barriers they have, like transportation, since not all teens drive.”
Shilten K. enthuses about her volunteer involvement with TAGs and the teen book reviewer program.
“I believe libraries are safe and comfortable places for many, and the pure joy of hanging out with books is immeasurable for those who enjoy reading,” Shilten said. “Volunteering for KCLS brings out our support to the community that gives back to us, the way libraries do to those who visit them.”
As Meena A. said, “Volunteering at KCLS has a plethora of benefits–you can get volunteer hours all the while you are learning communication, leadership and responsibility. It is a great way to take on a leadership role and get hands-on practice for even bigger roles that you will take on in the future. I encourage everyone to give volunteering at KCLS a try!”
