The Georgetown Public Library has volunteer opportunities for adults, teens (13-17), and anyone 17 or older who wishes to do community service. Below are descriptions of all three programs.

ADULT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM INFORMATION

Volunteering gives you an opportunity to change people's lives, including your own. Volunteering can help save you from being bored, it gives you a place to be where you can have a good time and keep busy.  If you'd like to support a cause but can't afford to donate money, you can donate your time instead. Volunteering can provide you with a sense of responsibility because people really depend on you. And it can help you develop a new understanding of people who are different from you.

Volunteering isn't like a job.  Instead of having the choices made for you, you can pick. You can choose what really interests you and who is most deserving of your time. After you've decided what interests you, decide how much time you want to spend and what fits into your schedule.

If you are interested in becoming a Georgetown Public Library Volunteer here is some information you may want to consider.

Volunteering at the library can be a very pleasant and rewarding experience. Yet, it is not for everyone. The tasks that we ask the volunteers to perform are not always brain-stimulating or social. We have several positions that require people to work in a solitary environment. Some tasks require deep concentration and the ability to organize a great many items.

Many volunteers look forward to the social interaction that may take place between other volunteers and with the library staff. However, there will be times when the staff is too busy to interact with volunteers, such as when special programs are taking place or when the circulation desk is short-handed. Even the time of year or the time of day can affect how much social interaction will occur.   

Many of the volunteer positions in the library have job duties that require filing and finding books or putting other materials in proper order. A thorough knowledge of alphabetical filing rules and the Dewey Decimal System is essential to perform these duties. Also, you must be able to push and pull heavy carts, stoop, bend, and reach above your head. Shelving books is physically demanding.

Consider all of these things as you decide whether you are interested in becoming a Georgetown Public Library volunteer. If you do decide that the library is for you, we will be very happy to get you settled in and volunteering.  For more information please contact Kathleen Bowling at the Georgetown Public Library (930-3551) or you may stop by the library and fill out a volunteer application whenever the library is open.

To download application forms, click here.

 

TEEN VOLUNTEER PROGRAM INFORMATION

Teens age 13-17 may volunteer at the Georgetown Public Library. Rosa Garcia, Children's Services Coordinator supervises teen volunteers and most often they will be working in the Children's Room.

June and July, during the Summer Reading Program, is the time of greatest need for volunteers. During that time volunteers will

            Register children for the program

            Keep Reading Club records

            Distribute incentives

            Shelve library materials in proper order

            Keep public and desk areas neat

            Perform clerical projects such as filing and typing

            Refer reference questions to library staff

            Perform other duties as assigned

At other times of the year, volunteers may

            Shelve materials in the children's room

            Help Ms. Rosa with special projects, depending on your interests and abilities

Requirements for becoming a teen volunteer:

1.  Completion of the Teen Volunteer Registration form and the Parental Permission Slip.

2.   A personal interview with Ms. Rosa to determine your interests and commitment.

3.   A willingness to work two hours each week for the time period agreed upon. During the summer, volunteers are expected to work each week in June and July.

You may contact Ms. Rosa at 512-930-3623 or rxg@georgetowntx.org.  To download application forms, click here.

 

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

The Georgetown Public Library has been approved by the Georgetown Municipal Court for community service hours. To perform community service at the Georgetown Public Library you must be at least 17 years of age, unless permission is given by Kathleen Bowling. Your paperwork must be filled out completely, be legible, and be signed before you will be considered for community service. Ms. Bowling needs the name of your parole officer or teen court official and their phone number. In some instances she may call these people for information, or they may contact her for information. If you misrepresent yourself in any way you will be dismissed immediately.

If you are planning to ask for permission to do your community service at the Georgetown Public Library, you must supply certain information before you will be considered. Questions will include:

• What did you do to receive community service?
• How many hours do you have to do?
• When do you need to have the hours finished?

Below are the hours in which people may do community service at the library. They are not flexible, so if you work a full-time job or attend school you may want to reconsider applying at the library.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Saturday
5-8pm	5-8pm	5-8pm	5-8pm	10am-5pm

Some community service tasks at the library require the ability to lift boxes. Others require you to be able to use a computer. Many tasks require filing and finding books or putting other materials in proper order. Many items are filed by call number, then alphabetically by author's last name. A thorough knowledge of alphabetical filing rules and the Dewey Decimal System is essential to perform these duties. Before you begin your community service you will be given a test covering the Dewey Decimal System.

Does the Library have conduct and dress codes? Absolutely! All community service volunteers must observe the following:

Dress

No short-shorts, shorts above the knee, or cut-offs.

No torn, ragged, or dirty clothes.

No hats or caps.

No sandals, shower shoes, or flip-flops.

No T-shirts, muscle shirts, or any clothing with offensive, vulgar, racist, sexist, obscene, or suggestive words, slogans, depictions, or pictures, including grotesque creatures.

No tank tops or midriff-exposing shirts.

No spaghetti straps.

No provocative clothing designed, styled, or worn to provoke emotion or to disrupt or distract.

No chewing gum.

No saggy pants.  If you can't keep them up, wear a belt.

Conduct

Be on time.

No electronic devices such as games, Mp3 or CD players.

Do not argue with Ms. Bowling or her staff.

Do not read newspapers, magazines, periodicals, or books while working.

No food or drinks are allowed in the public areas of the library.

Do not talk to visitors while working.

Do not engage in excessive or loud talk or conversation.

Racist, sexist, obscene, or profane language or gestures are prohibited. 

Do not enter and leave the library excessively.

Do not disrupt the atmosphere of the library.

Cellular phones or beepers must be turned off.

 

For more information contact Kathleen Bowling, 512-930-3551, at the Georgetown Public Library.  To download application forms, click here.