Avon Free Public Library Volunteer Policy

Volunteers are a welcome addition to the Avon Library community and generally provide support services to staff or work on special projects. Volunteers are recognized by the public as representatives of the Library and the town of Avon and shall be guided by the same work and behavior codes as employees.  

Structure of Volunteers Within the Library

Volunteers shall serve during the hours when adequate supervision is available.  Adult volunteers are asked to assist an average of two hours a week for at least eight weeks, with the exception of community service and Children’s department, where independent schedules may be maintained. The library reserves the right to facilitate schedules and terminate the service of any volunteer, including, but not limited to volunteers within the Adopt-A-Shelf, Children’s, Adult, or Circulation departments, Friends of the Library, and Homebound programs. All volunteers will be provided with adequate training to meet the needs of their respective areas/departments of service. 

Those interested in volunteering will be asked to fill out an application, complete with emergency contact information, which will be kept on file for one year.  Volunteers will not be accepted if there is no suitable service match when skills, interests, location, schedule and transportation are considered.  Background checks will be conducted on volunteers for Homebound Delivery. Volunteer hours are meant to compliment the existing staff structure and are not intended to replace paid employees of the library. In addition, volunteers may be asked to wear an identification badge associating them with the library or library sponsored event.

In the event that a volunteer is not able to adequately perform the duties assigned to him or her, the library will make an effort to reassign the volunteer if another suitable position exists at the time.

Volunteers will be responsible for reporting changes in availability or interest to the Volunteer Coordinator.  The Volunteer Coordinator will be responsible for new volunteer orientations, assignment of tasks, coordination of projects between departments, recording volunteer hours, annual recognition ceremonies, and if necessary, the termination of a volunteer’s service.

Volunteer duties may include, but are not limited to:  clerical tasks, including phone and computer work, shelving books and materials, transporting books, preparing the library for programs, assisting with craft projects, shelf reading, shifting library materials, maintaining the bulletin board, cleaning, merchandizing, outdoor work on the library grounds, off site programming and outreach, mailings, historical and preservation assistance, and miscellaneous special projects.