Position Overview and Impact: Are you interested in local history? Do you enjoy genealogy? Do you like helping others in their research projects? The Orange Public Library & History Center offers you the opportunity to staff our History Center.
Key Responsibilities:
- Tasks include answering history related questions (in person and on the phone), shelving and arranging used materials, aiding in genealogy research, and handling of historic materials.
- Maintain Visitor log
- Help patrons retrieve local history material, oversee the use of materials and ensure materials are not removed from the Center
- Assist patrons with making copies
- Aid in providing patrons with necessary forms for the Local History Center\
- Shelve used materials
- Directs patrons to specific areas of the Library including appropriate collections and desks (reference, customer service, children’s, etc.
Qualifications:
- The ideal volunteer would have experience with databases.
- Be skilled and comfortable working with computers
- Have good customer service and communication skills, patience, enthusiasm for working with others, and be willing and able to follow directions.
- Must have good attention to details and be able to follow and enforce library policies related to the Local History Center
- Able to commit to and keep scheduled hours.
- Have a desire to help the library and members of the Orange community.
- Willingness and compassion for working with library patrons that come from diverse backgrounds and various walks of life.
Training and Support Provided: An orientation to the library will be given by library staff, covering library resources. The library will provide ongoing support and access to staff as needed for problem-solving.
Benefits of Volunteering:
- The opportunity to learn about Orange Local History
- Chance to meet new people and help others
- Learn about the workings of a Library and the opportunity to develop working relationships with library staff.
- The library staff would be happy to write letters of recommendation for exceptional volunteer service.
Time Commitment: The ideal volunteer will commit to a minimum of one scheduled 2 hour shift per week. The Local History Center is currently open M, T, TH from 12-6pm; W from 3-9pm, SA from 2-6pm. We hope to be able to extend the hours of the Center with the help of volunteers.
Length of Commitment: Minimum 6 month commitment and 30 hours is requested
Requirements: All volunteers 16 and older are required to be drug screened and fingerprinted before they can volunteer at the Orange Public Library. This process is paid for by the City of Orange. Please note that City policy does not allow the library to accept court-referred volunteers.
Responsible To: Local History Librarian
