Volunteer Opportunity Details:

This position is part of the award-winning Friends Used Books Stores "all-volunteer professional" team. We do raise funds for the Library and for Friends' community activities but our primary purpose is to serve as a dynamic community gathering place. As such, we consider training as one of the most important jobs we do. For that special person with a true love of both books and people, this is a great opportunity.

This position reports to our Shop Managers. Our 125+ volunteers are a highly diverse, international group, with a shared love of books, so this is a wonderful way to meet lots of interesting people.

We have developed a complete training regimen and checklist, which we update as we all learn together and as Shop operations adapt to customer and organizational needs. More specifically, our Trainers:

• Understand our Shop mission, operations and teamwork culture sufficiently to be able to train others knowledgeably and answer questions comfortably.

• Pay attention to detail, read all blog posts and keep up-to-date on Book Shop polices and procedures.

• Using each Volunteer’s personal Training Checklist and the Shop’s training guidelines, provide orientation, training and support for volunteers as assigned.

• “Tour” the Volunteer Handbook with new trainees.

• Discern when a Trainee is not connecting with the material and adapt methods.

• Provide constructive feedback to Trainees, Shop Managers and the Volunteer Coordinator.

• Be firm that Trainees learn the proper way to do the job and willing to “pass” or “fail” a Trainee as to all or any portion of the Checklist.

• Participate in development and maintenance of Shop training materials.

• Identify, check into and follow-up on any training issues.

• Good computer skills – willing to communicate promptly by phone, blog, e-mail, or in-person to ensure Trainee progress is adequately recorded.

Requirements:

This is a fascinating, fun, team-supported opportunity. A high level of cultural literacy, especially re history, literature, and current events a plus. Expect to work about 3-6 hours on-site per week. Team support provided for times you must be away.

See agency listing for general candidate requirements. In addition, this job requires:

Have learned the job well yourself.
The inclination and time to train.
Patience
Approachability
Adaptability: willing to see when the Trainee is not connecting with the material and adapt your methods.
Good computer skills a must (we will train to our specifics)
Fast learner
Sense of humor
Must have a high level of cultural literacy, especially re history, literature, and current events.

This opportunity is sponsored by: Friends of Ferguson Library Used Book Shops

We need volunteers who are free at these times Evenings Weekends Weekdays Weekly This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers Adults (26-54) Individual Adults (55+) Young Adults (18-25)

Contact Person: Barbara Leffler, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) View all agency contacts

Address:

One Public Library Plaza Stamford, CT 06904 (See a map)

Directions:

Ferguson Main Library: Corner of Broad St. and Bedford, St, downtown Stamford. Harry Bennett Branch of Ferguson Library: Located off High Ridge Rd. on Turn-of-River Rd., North Stamford.   Nearest Bus Stop: Bedford St. & Broad St., 1 minute walk

Web Site: http://www.friendsoffergusonlibrary.org

Last updated on July 24, 2009