The Buckland Public Library Volunteer Program is designed to expand and enhance public service to the community. Volunteers generally provide support services to paid staff; work on special projects; or deliver library materials to the homebound. Volunteers are expected to act in accordance with library policies and to reflect positive customer service attitudes to all library patrons.

SELECTION OF VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are selected based on their qualifications in relation to the needs of the library at any given time, and based on their ability to commit to a consistent schedule of volunteer hours. Selection of in-house volunteers is the responsibility of the Director, in consultation with the Board of Trustees.

Prospective volunteers are requested to fill out an application form and will be interviewed by one of the above individuals. If there are no suitable volunteer opportunities, application forms will be kept on file for a period of one year. Applicants will be called if a project is identified which matches their interests or qualifications.

IN-HOUSE VOLUNTEERS

• Roles and Responsibilities
  The library depends on its volunteers for a wide variety of tasks which otherwise need to be assigned to library staff. We therefore ask volunteers to be reliable in their commitment to the library and to notify the library in advance if they are unable to work their regularly schedule time slot. In turn, volunteers will be notified immediately on any given day when the library opens late or closes early for any reason.

Individuals are asked to wear a name badge that identifies them as a volunteer while they are working at the library.

Volunteers are asked to keep an accurate record of the hours they work each week, for the use of the Director.

• Training and Supervision
  The Library Director and Volunteer Coordinator coordinate the in-house volunteer program. Volunteers will receive specific training in their assigned duties from the library staff member who directly supervises their work. All reasonable care will be taken to ensure the safety of volunteers.
• Work Schedules
  Volunteers shall only work during hours when adequate supervision is available. Typically, a volunteer works a 2-3 hour time slot each week. Individual work schedules and specific time commitments will be mutually arranged in advance by the volunteer and the Director.

HOMEBOUND DELIVERY PROGRAM

• Roles & Responsibilities
  The mission of the homebound delivery program is to provide books and other library materials to patrons of the Buckland Public Library who are unable to come to the library, whether on a temporary or a permanent basis.

Persons needing delivery are referred to the Director, who will arrange a suitable match between the homebound patron and the volunteer, who will facilitate borrowing and delivery of library materials to the homebound. (Individual schedules and specific delivery times will be mutually arranged by thevolunteer and the homebound patron.)

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Persons who seek volunteer assignments at the Buckland Public Library to meet a requirement set by an outside agency for the performance of community service shall be subject to the above selection process and all other provisions of this policy.

LEAVING VOLUNTEER SERVICE
A volunteer selected for work on a special project will discontinue service when that project is completed or terminated, unless other arrangements have been made.

Whenever possible, the library will make an effort to reassign the volunteer. However, if no other mutually suitable volunteer position exists at the time, the volunteer will be asked to discontinue service and his or her application will be kept on file for one year, subject to review should a suitable position become available during that time.

In the event that a volunteer is unable to adequately perform the duties assigned to him or her, and no other appropriate positions are available, the volunteer may be removed from service.