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Educational Docent Volunteer Information
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The Wood Memorial Library and Museum’s dedicated, friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful volunteers are the life blood of the museum. Volunteers work at the circulation desk, serve as docents for our educational programs, assist in maintaining our archive of local historical collections, help program leaders with event hospitality and bake for Wood programs and events. This is the perfect opportunity for everyone – from high school students, Moms and Dads at home/work to retirees! We are happy to accommodate your schedule to have your support and expertise.
Purpose
Support the museums’ effort to enrich the lives of adults and children by providing literacy, historical, educational, and cultural resources, programs and events. Our special focus is the rich history of South Windsor and the Connecticut River Valley.
Qualifications
Interested individuals willing to pitch in with a happy heart!
Opportunities
Archive/Library Volunteers:
Library Desk Volunteers:
- Greet and help patrons checking out books
- Check in returned books
- Re-shelf books
- Shelf read to ensure books are in correct location
- Prepare new books to be shelved
- Maintain card catalog by filing new cards and pulling discarded cards
- Pull books for display based events
- Issue new patrons library cards
- Assist with program registration
- Answer phone
- Answer general questions about the library
Oral Historians
- Carry out interviews
- Help edit transcripts
- Assist in maintaining full records of interviewees
- Keep printed transcriptions up-to-date and in order
- Collect and maintain proper documentation
Archive Assistants
- Accession/record donations into collection
- Rehouse collections as needed
- Assist with inventory of collections
- Research history of people/locations of materials in collection
- Confirm that all museum pieces are entered into database
- Enter information into database (computer confidence required)
Program Volunteers
- Sign-up to work on individual events
Education Committee
Docents
- Attend training session to conduct tours of the library and other historical points of interest on Main Street – the historic district and God’s Acre ancient burying ground
- Commit to a specified schedule
Marketing/Press Release Assistants
- Assists in emailing and preparing releases to local newspapers and other media
- Average internet and e-mail experience required (completed at home or onsite at the Wood)
Requirements
All types of volunteers are needed. We ask that you attend a volunteer training session as scheduled and if required for your specific volunteer role. Every effort will be made to accommodate your area of interest and your scheduling availability.
Become a Wood volunteer! The Wood Memorial Library & Museum offers a variety of rewarding opportunities.
As a volunteer you will gain new skills and experience, meet a diverse patronage, and contribute to a fun and educational atmosphere. Whether you are greeting patrons at the front desk, engaging attendees at an event, working with our archivist, or helping in the library, volunteering is a great way to get involved and support The Wood’s mission. For more information about volunteering at The Wood, please fill out the online ‘Volunteer Form or fill out a volunteer card located at the front desk the next time you are visiting the library.