Volunteering at Decorah Public Library

We welcome and value the support of community members who wish to volunteer at DPL. Volunteer opportunities are designed to engage people of all ages in meaningful tasks that support the library’s mission and daily operations. Currently, we do not accommodate mandated community service. To get started, please complete the application below. All applicants are subject to a background check appropriate to the role. Questions about volunteer opportunities can be directed to tgunderson@decorahlibrary.org

Volunteer Opportunities

Adopt-a-Shelf Reader (ages 13+)

Purpose of Volunteer job:

Increase access to materials by maintaining items in correct order on the shelves.

Time commitment:

1 hr/week on a regular basis anytime the library is open.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Select a specific area of the collection and take responsibility for just this area

Review items on shelves for order by alphabet or Dewey Decimal

Pull grubby looking or damaged items for selector review

Maintains DVDs and Blu-ray movies in alphabetical order

Skills/abilities/qualifications required:

Ability to arrange items in numerical and alphabetical order

Physical ability to push, bend, stretch, reach, lift, and read book spines

Strong organizational skills – an aptitude for detail

Ability to work independently

Ability to work congenially with staff, the public, other volunteers and convey a
positive, friendly attitude

Ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions, policies, and
procedures

Ability to receive instruction from library staff and the cooperation to abide by
library policies and regulations

Clean Team

Purpose of Volunteer job:

Help maintain a clean and welcoming space for library users to access and use available resources.

Time commitment:

Minimum of 1 hr/week for a 3-month period.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Select a section of bookshelves to keep dust-free

Remove and replace items on shelf in accurate order after dusting

Straighten the items on the shelf to specifics taught during training

Skills/abilities/qualifications required:

Physical ability to push, bend, stretch, reach, lift, and read book spines

Ability to work independently

Ability to work congenially with staff, the public, and other volunteers and convey a positive, friendly attitude

Ability to receive instruction from library staff and cooperate to abide by library policies and regulations.

Library user Book Reviewer

Purpose of Volunteer job:

Allows community members to engage with the Library remotely and at their own convenience while serving to generate interest among fellow library users by sharing your opinions of Decorah Public Library materials.

Time commitment:

Minimum of 1 completed review per month for a 3-month period.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Select and read any title for review in the DPL collection (physical or Libby)

Fill out a DPL Review form

Skills/abilities/qualifications required:

Ability to work independently

Good written communication skills

Ability to receive instruction from library staff and cooperate to abide by library policies and regulations.

Community-minded

Volunteer Corp

Purpose of Volunteer job:

To be an On-Call Volunteer, who is contacted on an as-needed basis for events such as special community events or programs for children, teens, and adults.

Time commitment:

An active Volunteer Corp member must volunteer a minimum of two times per year. The Corps are processed through the volunteer orientation but are contacted on an as-needed basis. Say yes to as many times as you like, but also have the freedom to say no as an option.

Duties and responsibilities:

Evening or weekend library event greeters

Event door checker

Program assistant with set-up and tear down

On-site craft assistant.

Pre-event craft assembler

Assemble and staple flyers

Outreach assistant for community events

Pull items from the shelf for librarian review

Skills/abilities/qualifications required:

Ability to work well with others in a respectful manner.

Positive attitude.

Good written and oral communication skills.

Ability to follow directions and abide by library policies and regulations.

Community-minded.

Getting Started

Volunteer Application

First Name *

Last Name *

Mailing Address *

Address Line 1 -Street Address or PO Box

Address Line 2 -Street Address or PO Box

City

State

Zip / Postal Code

Phone Number *

Email Address *

Confirm Email

How and when are the best times to contact you? *

Are you interested and qualified to volunteer through Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)? *

No, I am under 55
Yes, I am 55+ and want to know more
Yes, I am already an RSVP volunteer

What days are you available to volunteer? *

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

How often would you like to volunteer? *

One or two times per week
One or two times per month
On occasion for special programs or projects
Anytime as needed

What position(s) are you interested in applying for? *

Adopt-a-Shelf Reader
Clean Team
Library User Book Reviewer
Volunteer Corp

Do you have any computer skills? *

Yes, I'm a beginning user
Yes, I'm comfortable with most computer programs
Yes, I'm a highly skilled computer user
No

Why do you want to volunteer at Decorah Public Library? *

NOTE: We do not accommodate mandated community service.

Are you fluent in any languages other than English? *

Do you have other special skills? Please describe:

Please list your current or most recent employer, your position, and your start/end date *

Please provide a personal reference including name, email and phone number *

Do you have any other comments or information that will help us match your interest and skills with volunteer opportunities at the library?

Security *

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