Volunteer Program

Volunteering at the library can be a very rewarding experience. At the Guymon Public Library and Arts Center you will have the opportunity to:

• Work in a friendly, well-liked library
• Learn new skills and exercise old skills
• Meet new and interesting people
• Gain a feeling of accomplishment
• Learn more about the library and its many resources
• Make a real difference!

Volunteer applications are always accepted and will be maintained for at least 6 months. However, volunteer applicants are not guaranteed placement. It is up to the discretion of the library whether or not to contact, accept, and place a volunteer applicant. The Guymon Public Library does not accept volunteers who have been convicted of violent, theft related, or sexual crimes. The Guymon Public Library also does not accept volunteers who are seeking to fulfill court imposed community service hours.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How long does the application process take?

• Once you select your volunteer opportunity, you can expect to hear back from a library staff member within 72 hours to visit over the phone and schedule an in-person interview.

Does the library system allow court-appointed community service volunteers?

• Not at this time.

Can I volunteer for the book sale?

• Yes! 

Can I earn service hours by volunteering at the library?

• Yes!

How can volunteer hours be verified?

• You can request a letter or email from your supervising librarian

How many hours can I volunteer each week?

• Usually 2 – 4 hours a week is our limit, except for special circumstances that are agreed upon in advance.

How old do I have to be to volunteer?

• Library volunteers must be at least 14 years of age.
• Teen volunteers are 14 – 18 years old

What do I have to do if I miss a scheduled volunteer shift?

• Please call your supervising library staff member, and if that person is not available, leave a message with another staff member.

What is the dress code for volunteers?

• Business casual for adults or if you’re volunteering to help with messy crafts, you may wear a t-shirt and jeans. Clothing should be clean and without holes or tears. Good grooming and personal hygiene are required.
• Teen volunteers may wear shorts in addition to the guidelines above, but they must be mid-thigh or longer

What can I expect to gain as a volunteer?

• Teen volunteers can gain job training and work experience, skills including self-motivation and initiative, and enjoy camaraderie with like-minded teens.
• All volunteers will support and increase the Guymon Public Library’s ability to provide services to our communities.

What if my question isn’t listed?

• Please contact us. We can be reached by emailing adult.librarian.gpl@gmail.com or by phone at 580-338-7330

Guymon Public Library (GPL) volunteers are a valued part of library resources. Volunteers are given the opportunity to have experiences that enrich their lives. In return, volunteers offer time and talents that provide the library with advocacy and enhanced service to our community. In accordance with the GPL mission, volunteers have responsibilities and expectations for conduct and behavior including, but not limited to, appropriate use of public services.

Volunteer Responsibilities

Volunteers do not receive financial compensation for their service contributions to GPL. Volunteers do not receive workers compensation. Volunteers are expected to abide by the same standards as employees of GPL as follows:

Demonstrate GPL Core values by:

Protecting the confidentiality of GPL patrons, staff, and other volunteers.

Working appropriately with all populations, including vulnerable 

populations as defined in the procedures.

Supporting the decisions made by the GPL.

Communicating appropriately with library supervisor to address areas of 

concern, support needed, feedback, or changes in volunteer status.

Being reliable, punctual, accountable, trustworthy.

Participating in training as assigned.

Abide by the GPL Conduct Expectations (link to Policies and Governance)

Types of Volunteers

Individual volunteers – Teens/Adults who wish to volunteer free will or those needing community service points. Teen volunteers are 14-18 years old.

Group volunteers – Include two or more project volunteers from the same organization.

Occasional/Episodic/Project Volunteers – help with certain events or projects as needed (i.e. book sale, Summer Reading Program, events).

Volunteer Advocates – promote and support the library and programs at community events and organizations (i.e. county fair, elder fair, etc.)

Opportunities will be offered to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, veteran status, or physical or mental disability based on ability to perform a task on behalf of the library. Volunteering is at the sole discretion of the library

Scheduling

You will be scheduled to volunteer according to the library’s needs, but typical shifts for all volunteers are 2 – 4 hours per day and no more than 2 – 3 times per week.

You will not be scheduled to volunteer without an employee present in the building, and you will not be left alone with a customer or in a program without an employee present.

Perform your assigned tasks in a timely manner and according to the schedule agreed upon by you and your GPL employee supervisor. If you expect to be absent, please, notify your GPL employee supervisor as soon as possible. Continued absenteeism may result in ending your service as a volunteer. 

Training, Agreements, and Procedures

You are expected to be aware of, acknowledge, and uphold library and City of Guymon policies which include, but are not limited to, the following:

• City of Guymon’s Sexual Harassment/Anti-discrimination/Retaliation Policy
• City of Guymon’s Workplace Violence/Weapons Policy

Support

You will receive support, coaching, and feedback as well as on-site orientation and in-person training.

You will be included in any appropriate communications relevant to your volunteer assignment, both informally and formally.

You should communicate any issues or concerns about volunteering with your direct supervisor or the Library Director.

GPL employees will ensure you are aware of all emergency procedures, including evacuation protocol and the meeting place after evacuation.

Any safety or behavioral incidents involving volunteers will be documented by GPL employees and the Director will be notified.

Steps to Volunteer

Placement as a volunteer begins after each step below has been completed:

1. Choose an appropriate opportunity.
2. Complete your volunteer application/profile.
3. Give approval for background check (18+).
4. Interview by a GPL employee.
5. Background check results received.
6. Placed with an opportunity.
7. Receive notification of placement.
8. Being training and completion of any signed agreements.

As part of the application process, past behavioral incidents will be taken into account to ensure you are eligible to volunteer. Ineligibility would be due to a violation of GPL Conduct Expectations or GPL policies or a conviction involving drugs, weapons, violence, sexual assault, theft, fraud, or exposure.

Volunteer Records

Your volunteer profile which includes your contact information, emergency contact information, approval status including background check results, your opportunity placement, dates and hours you volunteer, and other notes as appropriate (any coaching or disciplinary actions taken), will be stored in our volunteer files. Volunteer information is confidential.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Computer Tech

If you are an expert at navigating computers, you could provide a great service to the Library. If you have media skills to share, we could use you! These volunteers will be available to assist the public with the Internet or computers. If possible, they might also help with instructional classes that teach setting up email accounts, writing resumes, using an e-reader, or surfing the web. Patience and good speaking skills are required. Teaching experience is a plus.

Book Cleaner: As anyone who uses any library can tell you, book covers become soiled after a relatively short time. Cleaning the covers is an ongoing task which requires the careful attention of the person doing it. Cleaning the books is a very satisfying activity. It allows the volunteer to work on his or her own at their chosen pace and to explore the books as they are wiped clean. Although one might think the cleaning is rather simple, it is an important and time consuming job to maintain the appearance of each book so that it will appeal to the user.

Shelf Reader: Do you enjoy detail work? Do you have a good knowledge of numbers? Are you patient? Are you a library user? The characteristics mentioned above are those necessary to become a shelf reader at GPL. A shelf reader is a person who is assigned to check the call numbers of material on the shelves to make sure everything is in its proper place. This is a very important job because if items are misplaced, patrons will be unable to find them. Careful “reading” of the call numbers and knowledge of numerical sequence are required to make sure that the items are arranged correctly by the Dewey Decimal system.

Stack Organizer: If you love making order out of chaos and have the patience to do the same things over and over each day, you will enjoy being a stack organizer. The organizers will straighten the books and other materials on the shelves as needed. In addition, they will strive to keep the library tidy and free of debris.

Maintenance Assistant: The responsibilities of the Library Maintenance team are varied. Included are dusting bookshelves, cleaning windows, raking leaves and removing trimmings, careful vacuuming, watering plants, collecting trash and recycling and cleaning outside the library.

Special Projects Floater: If you would like to volunteer but are unavailable on a regular basis, perhaps you should consider becoming a Special Projects Floater. Candidates must be available at a day’s notice and willing to spend as little as an hour or as many as three or four hours at each task. They should be fast learners with good language skills and careful with details.

Community Program Assistance: Promote the library at our table at community events.

After-School Homework Helper (ages 16+)

Citizenship Exam Coach (ages 18+)

English Conversation Group Leaders (ages 18+)

High School Tutor (ages 18+)

Resume Coach (ages 16+)

STAR 

STAR (Story Telling and Reading) volunteers share their love of books by reading with children at the library two hours a week.

For more information about volunteering at the library please contact:

Blair Henson, Library Director at 580-338-7330