Chance to volunteer and make positive difference
Libraries across North Yorkshire are recruiting volunteers to help with a variety of duties. In return, they can offer people the chance to make a positive difference in their local community and the opportunity to learn new skills. At present there are nine community-managed libraries operating in the county, with a further 20 planned as part of a reconfiguration of the service due to come into effect next year. Many communities have management groups in place, with some already having a plan agreed to take over the running of their library in the spring with support from the library service and the council’s Stronger Communities team. If the proposed community libraries do not recruit enough volunteers, then the library would have to close. Alex England, a volunteer at Eastfield library, said: “I went to the library all the time when I was little and Eastfield is my childhood library. I grew up reading books there and it would be such a shame to see any library close when people could keep them open by lending a hand. I’ve had a great experience volunteering. It’s an amazing feeling. ” All libraries, including those that will continue to be run by the County Council, need volunteer involvement to maintain their current opening hours. There are a number of different roles to suit a variety of interests, from helping to organise books and resources to running story time sessions for children. Libraries also need people who can help to run the home library service, offer IT support and be part of the management groups that will oversee the running of community libraries. Wendi New, a volunteer at Northallerton library, said “You might get an opportunity that you wouldn’t have foreseen. You never know what might happen. Some people just think about it as time you’ve got to give up, but really you should focus on how good you’ll feel when you’ve done it. I get so much more out of it than I put in.” To find out more about how to help, call into your local library or go to www.northyorks.gov.uk/libraryvolunteers