[kids-lib] In the News: Designing a Volunteer Program Focused on Literacy

[Katie Anderson]

Hello! Designing a Volunteer Program Focused on Literacy<http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1152889.files/12Volunteers_design.pdf> is a one-page memo (more like a research brief) by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. While it is not explicitly about volunteers in libraries, most of the lessons learned and recommendations are things we should be thinking about too.

*         Are volunteers freeing up the time of highly skilled staff members, allowing [children and teens to receive literacy support from the most qualified people]?

*         Are volunteers' interest and skills well-matched with their responsibilities? [Many library volunteers are retired teachers who are also highly skilled to conduct early literacy storytimes and other literacy-based programs, are you using them to their full potential? On the other hand, just because someone was an elementary school teacher doesn't mean they are qualified to conduct storytimes for children younger than 6 years old so what processes do you have in place to evaluate volunteers' skills for matching them with the most appropriate activities?]

*         Are volunteers' roles explicitly linked in some way to children's literacy learning? [i.e. do volunteers contribute directly to achieving your library's literacy outcomes for children and teens or do volunteers free up library staff so staff have more time to work on achieving outcomes?]

*         Are volunteers receiving ongoing support and supervision?

Here is the URL you can copy and paste into your browser if the hyperlink doesn't work: http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1152889.files/12Volunteers_design.pdf

Katie Anderson, Library Development Services
* Youth Services Consultant * Oregon Center for the Book Coordinator *
Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301
katie.anderson at state.or.us<mailto:katie.anderson at state.or.us>, 503-378-2528

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