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Volunteering

Most branches of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library use volunteer helpers. Volunteers supplement the work of paid staff, but never replace library employees. Volunteer tasks are rarely exciting, but they are useful and necessary.

If you are 14 or older with a valid library card, and are willing to make a commitment of three months, you may apply to become a volunteer.

Important Note - Criminal Reference Checks: All new volunteers must provide a Criminal Reference Check at their own expense (varies from $10 to $25 depending on where you live - check with your local police or OPP department for current fees and ID requirements).

The cost of the CRC will be refunded by the library after the completion of three consecutive months of volunteer service. Teen Advisory Group members will have the costs refunded after attending three TAG meetings or events.


What Volunteers Do at KFPL
High School Students and Community Service Requirement
KFPL Volunteer Policy
Who to Contact About Volunteering
Volunteer Application Form (requires Adobe Acrobat reader)
Volunteer Links

What Volunteers Do At KFPL

  • Shelf-straighteners and shelf-readers help ensure that patrons and staff can find books, tapes and CDs right where they're supposed to be.
  • Plant waterers help make the library a friendly and inviting environment by watering, pruning and feeding the library's indoor plants.
  • Shut-in drivers extend the library's collection to housebound patrons by delivering books and tapes once a month to elderly and infirm shut-ins.
  • Booksale volunteers give withdrawn and donated books a second chance to find a home by maintaining the Never-Ending Booksale shelves.
  • Gardeners water and weed the gardens and potted plants outside the five urban branches.
  • Craft preparation. These volunteers prepare materials for children's craft programs.
  • Puppet maintenance. These volunteers mend and repair the Library's collection of hand puppets.
  • Café volunteers sell beverages and baked goods at the Bookends Café, located at the Central Library.
  • Teen Advisory Group members (teens aged 12 to 18 years) meet monthly to recommend and review library materials for teens.

Shelf-Straightening

Volunteers tidy bookshelves and remove out-of-place items. shelf-straighteners do not rearrange misshelved materials, instead they leave them on book carts for library staff to reshelve. Volunteers in this position may choose to come in for as few or as many hours as they like.

Locations: Most branches.

Shelf-Reading

This can be more challenging than shelf-straightening. In addition to tidying books, shelf-readers rearrange the contents of individual shelves so that materials are in order. This task requires a grasp of the shelving categories, the Dewey Decimal System, and alphabetization. Shelf-Readers do not move out-of-place items from one shelf to another, but leave them on a cart for library staff to reshelve. Volunteers in this position may choose to come in for as few or as many hours as they like.

Locations: Most branches.

Plant Watering

Volunteers water or mist the library's indoor plants and remove dead leaves and stems. This task requires about an hour and a half each week at the Central branch, or a half hour at other branches. Occasionally we ask for extra hands to help repot rootbound plants. Donations of potted plants are always welcome!

Locations: Central, Turner, Calvin Park branches.

Shut-In Drivers

Volunteers deliver and pick up bags of books and audiotapes one day a month to housebound patrons, or "shut-ins". This task requires a car and moderate to heavy lifting, as well as a firm commitment to participate every month on a regular basis. Library staff choose the books and tapes, and also pack and unpack the bags for the volunteers.

Location: Currently at the Central Branch, but please let us know if you are interested in volunteering as a driver for a branch other than Central.

Friends Booksale

Volunteers from the Friends of the Library group process donated books and maintain the shelves for the Friends Booksale at the Central and Turner branches. Average time commitment is 1.5 hours per week. Proceeds from the sale are used to enhance library services. If you have a love for our Library and an appreciation for books, this may be something you would enjoy! For further information please contact the Friends of KFPL at 549-8888, ext. 1234 or friends@kfpl.ca.

Locations: Central and Turner branches.

Never-Ending Booksale

Volunteers replenish the shelves of the Never-Ending Booksale with donated and withdrawn materials passed on to them by library staff. They also date-stamp items as they add them to the sale shelves, and periodically remove unsold titles and package them for Goodwill and other charitable organizations. This task requires light lifting, a willingness to get one's hands dirty, and a commitment of approximately two hours every other week for a minimum of six months.

Locations: Calvin Park, Pittsburgh, Hartington, Sydenham and Storrington branches.

Puppet Maintenance

Volunteers mend and repair the library's collection of hand puppets. Help is also needed to make copies of existing puppets, and to create new puppets and flannel-board pieces based on the books used in children?s storytime programs. Excellent hand-sewing skills and creativity are required. These volunteers may set their own schedule, but a regular monthly commitment is necessary.

Location: Central branch only.

Craft Preparation

Volunteers help assemble materials for use in children's programs. Manual dexterity and a willingness to become covered in glue are a must. These volunteers do not participate in the children's program, only in the preparation of the materials to be used. This task requires a regular weekly commitment of one to two hours.

Locations: Most branches.

Gardening

Volunteers water and weed the gardens and potted plants outside the five urban branches. Extra help is needed in the spring to prepare the ground and to put in new plants, and at the end of the season to prepare the beds and planters for the winter. This task requires bending, light lifting and an eagerness to get grubby, as well as a regular weekly commitment of one to two hours. Gardeners always work during times when the branch is open to the public.

Locations: Central, Isabel Turner, Calvin Park, Pittsburgh and Kingscourt branches.

Bookends Cafe

Volunteers supplement the work of VOCEC (Voices Opportunities and Choices Employment Club) associates by selling coffee, juice and baked goods. There is no food preparation involved, aside from brewing coffee. Volunteers spend two to three hours once a week (or every other week) on a regular schedule between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. For further information, please contact Kelly at 540-6166 ext. 4102.

Location: Central.

Teen Advisory Group (TAG)

Teen Advisory Group members (teens aged 12 to 18 years) meet monthly to recommend and review library materials for teens. TAG volunteers also suggest ideas for library programmes for teens and help organize and promote teen programs.

KFPL's Volunteer Policy


The Volunteer Program at Kingston Frontenac Public Library creates opportunities for individuals to voluntarily extend their services to support the library without receiving any remuneration.

Principles Regarding the Use of Volunteers at Kingston Frontenac Public Library:
  1. The development of a Volunteer program must involve both the Kingston Frontenac Public Library Board and CUPE Local 2202.
  2. Individual volunteer projects will be reviewed and approved by the Union-Management Committee.
  3. Volunteers shall not replace bargaining unit staff due to sick leave, vacation, leaves-of-absence, or perform work of the bargaining unit unless mutually agree upon.
  4. The use of volunteers shall be suspended during a labour dispute, including during a strike, labour action, or lockout.
  5. Volunteers must be familiar with, and abide by the procedures of the Volunteer Program.

High School Students and the 40 Hours of Community Service


High school students may participate in both the Teen Advisory Groups and as regular volunteers.

Teen Advistory Group members must be between the ages of 12 to 18 years, and must commit to membership for one school year.

The regular volunteer stream at the Library welcomes high school volunteers over the age of 14. Such placements are subject to the needs of the particular branch, and often there is a waiting list. Once accepted as a library volunteer, a student must maintain a regular weekly commitment of one to three hours over a minimum period of three months. Willingness to follow directions and to work conscientiously with minimal supervision are both essential.

Who to Contact About Volunteering


If you are interested in volunteering at KFPL, or would like further information, please download the Volunteer Application Form or the Teen Advisory Group application form. You may also pick up the forms at your local branch.

Anne Hall, Volunteer Liaison Librarian
613-549-8888, ext. 1580
ahall@kfpl.ca

Kimberly Sutherland Mills, Teen Services Librarian
613-549-8888 ext. 1520
thatlibrarian@kfpl.ca (email or IM)

If leaving a message by voice or email, please include your full name and telephone number, as well as your complete mailing address.

Volunteer Links and Partnerships