Volunteer!

CLAYTON LIBRARY FRIENDS

Volunteer

Volunteers are always needed to support the assorted services offered at The Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus and Clayton Library Friends projects. Volunteer opportunities range from short-term to long-term projects, from working on a scheduled shift to working on an “as needed” basis, and from working with the public to working “behind the scenes”. In other words, there is something for everyone!

Clayton Library Friends Volunteer Opportunities

The Clayton Library Friends organization supports The Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus through acquisitions, volunteering, and programming support. The following opportunities are managed directly by the Clayton Library Friends. For more information about them, email volunteers@claytonlibraryfriends.org. New opportunities will be posted to the CLF website as needs arise.

Book Sale Assistant

Book Sale Assistants work with the donated duplicate books temporarily stored at the Clayton House and prepare them for inventory and inclusion in the library’s unit book sale.

Duties include:

Sort duplicate books by state or geographic area on shelves
Use a computer to enter book information into pre-set tables in a Word document
Determine basic price for books

Training will be provided. Helpful skills include good visual acuity and attention to detail, as well as familiarity with entering information into a Word table. Some bending, stooping, and light lifting may be required. This activity involves working on a computer and in the stacks at the Clayton House. Scheduling is flexible but subject to days/times that the Clayton House is open. A commitment of 8 hours per month is requested.

Scanning Assistant

Scanning Assistants work alongside library visitors to help them scan, digitize, and restore old family photos, 35mm slides, and other genealogy documents, using the library’s in-house scanning equipment.

Duties include:

Assist visitors with selecting the best type of scanning equipment to suit their scanning needs.
Assist visitors with using photo scanning equipment and color restoration software to help preserve family photos and memorabilia.
Assist visitors with transferring digital images from scanning equipment to personal storage devices.

Training will be provided. Helpful skills include good computer navigation skills and customer assistance skills. Scheduling is flexible but shifts typically take place on designated Saturdays (currently 3 rd Saturdays of the month) as well as on other select days when groups are visiting the library.

Research Assistant

Research Assistants are part of the Clayton Library Friends Research Team, which receives requests from clients (CLF members and non-members) to conduct introductory-level, fee-based family history research on the client’s behalf, using resources available at the Clayton Library or online. All proceeds from the research fees benefit the Clayton Library Friends.

Duties include:

Perform genealogy research at the Clayton Library or online
Prepare reports of findings for clients
Communicate with the client and Volunteer Coordinator as needed

Training will be provided. Helpful skills include a general background in genealogical research, knowledge of using online catalogs and databases, familiarity with Microsoft Word, and effective communication skills. Research Team members are assigned to clients on a rotating basis and then have several weeks to complete the research request.

Outreach Assistant

Outreach Assistants help to represent Clayton Library Friends at various community events.

Duties include:

Staff tables at outreach events to answer questions about genealogy and about the Clayton Library Friends.
Disseminate brochures and promotional materials at these events to help advertise Clayton Library Friends programs and services

Training will be provided. Commitment can be one-time or ongoing.

Desk Assistant

Desk Assistants provide customer service to library visitors at the Clayton House welcome desk and the Main Building microprint desk.

Duties include:

Greeting Visitors
Assisting Visitors with Research Collections
Other Projects As Assigned

Training will be provided. Helpful skills include good interpersonal skills, basic computer skills,

familiarity with microfilm readers and copiers, and general experience in genealogical research.

Volunteers typically cover one 2-hour shift each week. However, scheduling is flexible.

At this time, we are recruiting for Saturday shifts only.

Periodicals Assistant

Periodicals Assistants help with organizing and labeling Clayton Library’s bound and unbound periodical collections, to make these collections more visible and accessible to library patrons.

This would be a good activity for someone who wants to become more familiar with genealogy periodicals, or who enjoys organizing.

Duties include:

Inspect, label, organize, and shift periodicals
Work with periodicals on specific projects identified by the Periodicals Supervisor

Training will be provided. Helpful skills include good visual acuity and attention to detail. Some bending, stooping, and light lifting may be required. This activity involves working with periodicals in the stacks or in the compact shelving in the staff workroom. Scheduling is very flexible.

Book Mending Assistant

Book Mending Assistants help with mending and repairing books, periodicals and other print resources that have been damaged from age, use, and/or misuse.

Duties include:

Learn various mending techniques: tipping pages, making boxes, spine/hinge repair, etc.
Assess books for damage/repair and choose appropriate materials/technique(s).
Mend items that are periodically placed on the staff workroom’s Book Mending Shelf.
Identify items from the public stacks that need mending/repair (items with torn spines, loose pages, ragged labels, etc.) and notify Mending Supervisor of these items.

Training will be provided. Helpful skills include good visual acuity/manual dexterity and attention to detail. Some bending, stooping, and light lifting may be required. This activity involves working with books in the staff workroom and in the public stacks. Scheduling is very flexible.