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July 6, 2010

Helping at the library: From shelving books to conducting story-time sessions volunteers do lots to take the load off local librarians

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com
By DEBRA RECH, For The Press | Posted: Monday, July 5, 2010

Former Cumberland County Freeholder Chuck Griffiths, 66, of Vineland, has volunteered at the Vineland Library for more than a year. He maintains the World Wars sections of the library as part of its Adopt-A-Shelf program.

At age 16, Margaret DeMarco of Bridgeton used to volunteer and shelve books at the Vineland Library. Now at 67, DeMarco is still volunteering and fixes things at the Bridgeton Library.

"The librarians don't need to be changing light bulbs," DeMarco said. "We need their expertise. There are too few librarians for them to do handiwork also, so I do it for them. Chairs break, upholstery gets ripped, closets need to be cleaned out and organized. I even polish furniture. Whatever needs to be done, I do it gladly."

Whether they're shelving books or helping teach a class for the public, library volunteers serve an important purpose. Deb Poillon, director of the Cape May County Library, said volunteers are vital, especially in the summer when there are more people in town There is no special training required of volunteers, except an initial interview.

"Volunteers can do a lot of things to help the library staff," Poillon said. "It's wonderful that they come in and help out, a valuable thing because it gives the library staff the opportunity to do more things like maybe adding a craft to a story time. All you have to do to volunteer is fill out a form and we do a background check. No special training is involved and we let the volunteers tell us what they are interested in doing at the library."

DeMarco started volunteering at the Bridgeton Library right after she retired from her job as a tax auditor in 2008. Her job at the library is unique for a volunteer, as she uses her talent for fixing things to help the library staff.

"No one should work in a broken down environment," DeMarco said. "So I am the one who does it for them. I've always been involved with the library. Sometimes we may feel with the Internet you don't need the library anymore but that isn't true, especially for people who don't have computers at home."

DeMarco volunteers once a week but often takes projects home to complete.

"I just love my job there," DeMarco said. "It's fun and nice to see people come in and appreciate what the library has to offer."

Anita Lupcho, communications coordinator for the Vineland Library, is also a volunteer. She brings her dog in for Puppy Tales, a program where children read to trained therapy dogs at the library once a month. She started in 2003 when Puppy Tales began.

"I read about therapy dogs and the progress children can make reading to them and decided to get involved," Lupcho said. "I enjoy it. Not only am I doing something I love, working with dogs, but working with children. The kids are having a ball and don't even realize it's an educational program."

Lupcho, who is also volunteer coordinator at the library, said volunteering has changed in the 17 years she has been with the library. People used to come in and just file things with card catalogs. Now, with computers, that job is no longer needed.

"People also work more so don't have as much time to volunteer," Lupcho said. "It seems like if we offer something less time-consuming and on their own terms, then people want to volunteer. "

Chuck Griffiths, 66, of Vineland, also volunteers. He began last year at the Vineland Library shelving books through the "Adopt-A-Shelf" program. Volunteers choose a shelf they want to help organize according to the Dewey Decimal System. Griffiths, a retired teacher and former Vineland councilman and freeholder, said he chose the shelf for World War I and II.

"I just make sure the books are put back in proper order and I now see why the librarians may get frustrated if they are shelved incorrectly," Griffiths said with a laugh. "I do maybe 400 books and it takes about an hour or so. I was always involved as a councilman and liaison for the library, so the library has always meant a lot to me publicly. "

Margaret Moore, 82 of the Cedarville section of Lawrence Township, shelves books at the Bridgeton Library twice a week. She is a retired social worker who says she just loves books and started volunteering several years ago.

"I love the people who come into the library," Moore said. "I shelve books in the young adults and children's sections, so I get to see the library staff interact with the kids. No training was needed for what I do, so long as I can remember my alphabet, I'm OK."

Barbara Brown, 63, of Cape May, is a retired social worker who has volunteered for the Cape May County Library system for several years. She started at the Lower Township branch in Villas helping in the children's section and now volunteers in the Cape May Court House branch also in the children's section, where she supports the librarians with story time. She has also shelved books for the libraries.

Because Brown lends a hand, the librarians are able to add a craft to the story time. Brown started volunteering by working with the children's summer reading program in Lower Township. She then helped with story time in Lower and now does it with the same librarian but at the Court House branch.

"When I moved to Cape May full time a few years ago, I was looking for a way to spend my time and get involved and the library system was the first that was receptive to having volunteers," Brown said. "I enjoy story time because we also sing and dance. I really enjoy working with the children and the parents too as they become really involved. Plus the library staff is very supportive and appreciative of all the volunteers do so I know I am making a difference."

Contact Debra Rech:

609-463-6719

DRech@pressofac.com

Posted by tumulty at July 6, 2010 10:24 AM

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