| Introduction
In 2002 Library staff at
Mackay West State School decided to formalise a commitment to the concept
of skilling students who were prepared to volunteer their time and
services as administrative support and service providers in the library.
Students already had a prior knowledge of the concept of volunteer work in
the Library because of the work previously done by a parent . Initially
the Library Monitor Program aimed to get an effective support mechanism in
place
We have developed a
program to give us a framework for implementing a comprehensive volunteer
training program, which supports the School’s technology plan and our
school’s philosophy of empowering students and providing inclusive
leadership options. It includes a weekly list of tasks from turning on all
computers, returning resources to shelving, demonstrating how to use the
digital cameras, photocopying and taking messages. We make a formal
written application compulsory and students can download this document
from the school web page. Our program covers 5 main areas of concern -
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Providing
support for Library Administration |
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Increasing
ICT skills |
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Providing
alternative forms of leadership |
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Development
of personal skills |
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Forming
strategic alliances with other school and public libraries |
A clear understanding of
the roles that we fulfill enables us to assist our community more
effectively and provide opportunities to our students. We have also taken
the important step of establishing a strategic partnership with the
Children’s Librarian from our local City Library. This has numerous
repercussions, but one of the most important being the connection between
what our school library and the ‘’Real world’’. We have been able
to give students a very broad view of what a Library does and its
connectedness within their local community. Students’ familiarity with
their city library is of invaluable use to them as they approach high
school. It has been estimated that over 30%of public library users are in
fact primary and secondary school users. A strategic partnership with
Mackay State High School, of which we are the main feeder school, is also
being developed Thus it is clearly obvious that school and public
libraries have complementary educational significance. Strategic
partnerships between them can only deliver improved outcomes for students.
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Aims
of our Program
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To
provide a vision of how a volunteer service can operate in a student
community. |
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To
provide alternative and inclusive forms of leadership in a school
community. |
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To
model for younger students different leadership possibilities to
which they can aspire. |
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To
encourage a tradition of service from Year 7 students in their final
year of Primary schooling (the concept of giving something back). |
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To
develop and improve computer skills across the board and in
accordance with the School’s Technology plan. |
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To
encourage active citizenship where the rights and responsibilities
of students in a democratic society are facilitated in the classroom
and beyond. |
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To
demonstrate to students the concept of 'Connectedness to
the world' to the extent that the task has value and meaning
beyond the classroom, exhibiting a connection to the larger school
community. |
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To
establish strategic links with Mackay State High School for which we
are the main feeder school with a view to continuing this program in
a high school setting. |
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To
provide the opportunity for work experience and skills acquisition. |
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To
provide social opportunities which are fun and enjoyable as rewards. |
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To
assist in the development of self esteem. |
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To
broaden the perception of the functions of a Library. |
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To
use Peer mentoring to assist in the training of new Monitors. |
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To
foster the sense of a group identity. When differences and group
identities are positively developed and recognised while at the same
time a sense of community is created. |
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Survey
 Recently
I surveyed our student assistants for some feedback.
These
are a selection of the results.
1.
Reasons for joining the program
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To
assist in the library |
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To
learn new skills (especially computer related) |
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To
meet new people (and to have fun) |
2.
What do you enjoy most about the program?
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Using
equipment such as computers, scanner and photocopier |
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Helping
fellow students and teachers |
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Job
sharing |
|
Our
special events such as displays, end of term pizza parties and the
surprise birthday party. |
3.
Skills acquired through the program
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Computer
skills (including using the Circulation computer) |
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Phone
etiquette and message taking skills |
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Library
system skills (including learning the Dewey system, shelving books
and locating resources for staff and students) |
Claire Bedford, the
Children's Services Librarian from the Gordon
White Library, recently visited our
Book Week Display. She was very complimentary about our Student
Library Assistants. What impressed her were their excellent manners,
their pride in their school and library, their communication skills and
their knowledge of their Library.
Evaluation
I feel strongly that
through our careful planning and implementation strategies, we have a
volunteer scheme that works.. I have documented the cases of poor
achievers and students with low self-esteem who have grown visibly and
learned the principles of community service and information management and
retrieval. At the same time they have picked up computer literacy skills
that have enhanced their own cognitive development.
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Library
Monitors' Charter
The library
provides the central information and literature service for the school
where all students are offered equal opportunities to seek and grow on
their own terms. It is also a major resource support centre for teachers.
The library monitors assist the teacher/librarian in service delivery,
provide feedback on services and represent their peers.
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Duty
Schedule |
1.
A monitor must undertake a minimum of one duty per week.
2.
Monitors who have other engagements must arrange with another monitor to
do their duty
3.
Friends are NOT permitted behind the Circulation desk
4.
A maximum of 15 volunteers will be accepted for training.
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Circulation
services |
1.
A roster for Monitors is at the Circulation desk.
2.
The Monitor rostered to process at the desk will perform the following
tasks in order:
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Borrow
out items; |
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Return
items deposited in the returns box; |
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Place
returned items in the appropriate fiction and non-fiction trolley
areas. |
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Place
on shelves |
3.
When monitors are in the library with their class they are not to perform
duties unless they have their teacher’s permission.
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Photocopying |
When
a student wishes to make a colour photocopy, Library staff will be
consulted.
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Supervision |
Monitors
will observe the students using the library and report to staff cases of
poor behaviour
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Shelving
and shelf checking |
Particular
attention will be paid to shelf order. When shelving, the surrounding
books will be checked for order. When sections of shelves are messy, they
will be tidied
|
Selection
of new Resources |
Monitors
will:
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Assist
with the selection of new resources |
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Provide
feedback on reading preferences and interests from students |
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Book
Club |
1.
When Book Club pamphlets arrive, Monitors will separate the bundles and
distribute to staff and students
2.
Return orders will be distributed to staff/students
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Book
Fair |
Monitors
must be prepared to assist in all aspects of our annual Book Fair. This
includes
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Preparing
brochures and delivering to classes |
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Assisting
with displays |
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Working
extra duties during the duration of the Fair |
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Key
School Personnel |
Monitors
must be able to identify key personnel in the school office.
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Mrs
Newberry (Business Services Manager) |
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Mrs
Adams (Administration Officer) |
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Mrs
Muller (Administration Officer) |
Monitors'
Rights and Obligations
1.
Monitors will be eligible to receive a reference upon request depending on
quality of service.
2.
Monitors will receive the full support of staff in the broad education
fields.
3.
Monitors must provide positive examples of good behaviour, especially in
the Library
Evaluation
1.
Monitors will be actively encouraged to provide feedback about the
program to improve its effectiveness.
2.
New monitors will be trained according to the Mackay West State School
Library Monitors Program to establish the skills necessary for the job.
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Conclusion
Student volunteers had
worked in the Library on an adhoc basis for some time. However, an
article by Karen Dyer, entitled "Library volunteer and service
providers: a prototype for creating a ‘grace space’ gave me the
impetus to formalise a program which had many of the features which she
spoke about. We provided a benevolent environment where students earned a
comfort zone in which they could grow and academically prosper while, at
the same time, serving their community. We had to be aware of some of the
problems sometimes associated with a volunteer program. While we were
happy to extend some privileges to our student volunteers we were also
acutely cognisant of the fact that we could not allow any abuse of these
same privileges.
When we began developing
the Student Library Monitor Scheme, the intention had been simply to get
an effective system working. Constant modifications to the system were
made in our initial year and we always sought student opinion to make the
process user friendly. We found that because there were variations in the
quality of students this necessitated modifications to the Student Library
Monitor Scheme. We also found that some students needed more supervision
than others.
Professional literature
supports the concept of an adaptable rather than a rigid training scheme.
"The training environment: Training is concerned with change and it
is only in an organisation that shows itself able to consider new ideas
and to adapt to change that a comprehensive training program will be
successful. The training officer should work consciously to create a kind
of 'learning climate' within the organisation. This means that the library
system will be more able to adjust to changes caused by outside pressures
... And that the staff will be willing to try new ideas and to consider
suggestions for change coming from all levels within and outside the
organisation."
I feel strongly that as a
result of our careful planning and implementation strategies, we have a
volunteer scheme that works. I have documented the case history of our
Monitors and witnessed the development of a sense of self-esteem. They
have also learned the principles of community service, information
management and retrieval. At the same time they have picked up computer
literacy skills and through partnerships with other Libraries they have
been able to see the ‘’big picture’’ of their work experience
Training schemes, whether
for volunteers or professionals, must be constantly evolving and adapting.
Change is an important element for those of associated with Information
and Communication Technology. As the Chinese proverb says, it is not the
destination but the journey that counts.
Let me finish with a
quote, 'The success of a volunteer program depends on an invisible but
tangible spirit of co-operation and value in human beings working together
for the good of the library program. Motivated volunteers have a vested
interest in their workplace and a sense of accomplishment. Moreover, they
will feel a sense of ownership, pride, and most importantly, job
satisfaction.' (McHenry 1988). |
