American Tradition of Volunteering is Alive at the Gardiner Library
By Melissa Fairweather
From Issue 4: Fall 2009
The Federal report, Volunteering in America 2009, states that in 2008 America’s volunteers dedicated more than 8 billion hours of service, worth an estimated $162 billion, and the benefits are not just monetary. Volunteers help make a difference, learn new skills and make new friends. Another government study found a significant connection between volunteering and good health.
The Gardiner Library offers a variety of volunteer opportunities allowing you to affect the entire community, from babies to senior citizens. There are jobs that only require a one-day commitment, or ongoing jobs to be done daily, weekly, or monthly. An hour or two is all you need. The Library could not provide the level of service it does without its current wonderful volunteers. They help with more than just checking books in and out. Today’s Gardiner Library has videos, DVDs, music and audio CDs, magazines, newspapers, and computers, as well as inter-library loan service through the Ramapo Catskill Library System.
Most of the work of volunteers goes on behind the scenes in sorting donations, book repair, covering books, labeling and adding items, maintaining videos and DVDs, organizing, speaking to groups, running classes, making publicity posters, and more.
Join your fellow Americans and make a difference! Email volunteers@gardinerlibrary.org or call the library at 255-1255.