Public library looking for volunteers
People who are looking for a way to serve their community through volunteer work now have an opportunity to volunteer at the Russellville Public Library.
Librarian Deborah Barnett said she is needing volunteers over the age of 18 who would be willing to help one day per week for four or five hours at a time.
“In the early 1900s, an advertisement ran in the Platte County, Wyo., newspaper asking for library volunteers,” Barnett said. “The ad read, ‘Must be able to get along with western people, ride and drive, as well as pack a horse, follow a trail, shoot straight, run an automobile and be able to rough it whenever necessary.’
“Some things don’t change, and while you no longer have to know how to shoot or ride a horse, you still have to be able to get along with people, rough it whenever necessary and now you also need experience with computers.”
Barnett said because the Russellville Public Library is the closet thing the area has to a job center, it makes volunteer work even that much more important.
“I have lots of office work that I have to do, and Ashley [Cummins] stays pretty busy at the front desk, so we’re sometimes too tied up to be able to adequately assist people who come in and need help with the computers,” Barnett said.
“Having someone who was willing to come in once a week for several hours would allow the people who need help searching for jobs to have proper assistance.”
In addition to helping with the computers, volunteers would also be needed for checking shelves, checking out books and performing other tasks as needed.
“While we have been generously supported financially by the city, our state funding for the last three years has been prorated, which makes it difficult to hire someone to help out here at the library,” Barnett said. “We really depend on these volunteers to help us provide the best service we can to the people of the community.”
The library has also recently received a grant that allowed for 40 new books for young people ages 10 to 18 to be purchased. Some of the titles purchased included Pretty Little Liars, Radiant Shadows, Witch & Wizard, Girls Acting Catty and the Breakup Bible.
“Having these new titles and having the computers that are used for job searching, we stay pretty busy,” Barnett said. “We would appreciate any help someone is willing to give.”
The Russellville Public Library is located at 110 Lawrence St. East. Those interested in volunteering can stop by Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. or on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Potential volunteers can also call 256-332-1535 and ask for Deborah Barnett or Ashley Cummins.
