Awesome! What a great example of “superpatron” behavior! I wonder how many libraries would actually be so open to story times that they are not controlling. There’s no reason at all why parents shouldn’t be able to organize things like this themselves when the library is unable to do so.

I wish more libraries were open to their patrons bridging the gap between what they can do and what their patrons want. My local public library has a horrendous website that looks like it was built in 1992 and never gets updated with news about events (I have to read the newspaper to learn about anything going on at the library — absurd). After giving a talk there a few weeks ago I offered them my services to redesign their website gratis. They turned me down cold and said they were happy with it. Trouble is, it’s not about THEM being happy with it and I don’t think they understand that.

Libraries should be happy to harness the talents and enthusiasm of patrons to make the library more what those patrons want it to be. Thanks for sharing your story!

Greg, that’s awesome!

I run an adult summer reading program here–you get tickets for a prize drawing by reading or listening to books. I’m thinking of adding some new ways to get tickets, and I was thinking of having one of them be “volunteer to do a story time.” Now I am definitely going to do that!

[...] Grassroots storytime (Open [...]

I heard you talking about this and it reminded me of some issues with volunteers. There is the turf issue and some libraries have policies prohibiting volunteers from performing the tasks of paid staff. I myself have been told that anyone (volunteer or paraprofessional) could do my job so I needed to take on other tasks which was fine at the time. I did get bumped up a grade and was on a management track. I didn’t have time to take offense but I haven’t forgotten it!

The time and management issues are also even more difficult with volunteers because they can feel that they are doing the library a favor by being there. It can get really difficult when a program has been successful and then a volunteer has ‘weight’ to throw around (or thinks they do). Also security issues as I haven’t worked at a library that does background checks for staff or volunteers yet. There may be reliability issues too as a person isn’t being paid so the library isn’t a priority. Sometimes things suggested by a volunteer can take up more staff time and be costly too. A major consideration is if paid staff can continue a successful program should the volunteer have to bow out and no other is available.

Now this just may be issues in a specific community. I can only think of one or two volunteers who are reliable but there are management issues in both situations with expectations from them in regard to other aspects of the library. It seems to take a careful balance in expressing appreciation for volunteers without offending. Unlike staff, there isn’t always an awareness of complications that can ensue because it is a library, a government entity, a public place, policies, etc.

None of this is insurmountable. A good training system for volunteers would handle most of it. They were very lucky to have a professional like yourself volunteer.

Heard this from the Uncontrolled Vocabulary show. We had to do this a few years ago when our youth librarian left for another job. It was sort of drop in where the parents could come in and do the storytime or whatever they wanted in the room during the same time period. Most like having storytime because it is a regular gig, a chance to socialize, and great for kids. The parents preferred the youth librarian when we hired a new one. No one has ever asked to do this since. (Usually it takes a volunteer leader to do it, so kudos to you for taking the initiative.) I am trying to set up more volunteer drop in programs. We will be working on a gaming program next year and hopefully we can establish something similar where patrons drop in and play. It isn’t a funding issue for me to have extra programs provided by volunteers.

I found this whole post very interesting. I am a relatively new children’s librarian, having taken over the position last September, but having worked in this library for the past five years.

I think that there are a lot of reasons that libraries can be resistant to volunteers running programs. When I began our storytime this fall, we only had one session per week. In the new year, we added another and they are both usually full. This is good and bad, of course, for the patrons who are using the program and those who cannot use it due to registration limits. We have to put on limits, of course, maybe for room size, maybe just to have some control depending on the age of the children. I, myself, have limits due to the craft that we do each week. I have to make sure I have enough for everyone, and have enough room for everyone to do the craft. Tons of kids can sit on a floor and listen to a story, but not everyone will fit at a table for a craft.

But our storytime stops off and on each year, also, in order for me to run other programs. The funding is just not there to hire other people to work in the children’s area, so I am required to catalogue, order books, run programs (which means preparing the crafts as well), work on the desk and I also take care of the IT portion of our library as well as run our blog. Lots of work, lots of fun, but limits to what I can do each week.

Our library in particular, is governed by a Library Board who decides just how money is spent and how things are run in general (although we have a lot of say in everything.) However, since our children’s program room is also a room that we rent out for other non-library events, they board does not encourage a volunteer session for storytime when I am not able to run one. I’m not sure of the thinking behind this, but its “something that has always been done”.

However, maybe this is a good thing in some respects as even though it might not seem as though we are providing anything more than just the room to use, it does interrupt our only closed library time when we can do our cataloguing etc. And when you have patrons in the library, whether they are just here for a program or not, they may want to take out books, or at the very least, may have inquiries. I love the idea of a parent run group, but I know I would have to provide SOME sort of services and I just do not have to hours to do so. Selfish, maybe, but I’m here to make sure the children’s library is stocked with books so that when the kids do come, they’ll have plenty to find.

Just a “few” thoughts……

Greg…. Yes, and very old fashioned, but there’s not a lot you can do sometimes, right?

Yes, we do rent out our room when the library is not open. People use it when we are actually in the library and working, but also when we are closed. There is a whole big process but the room can be rented for any time of day or evening. (We’ve never had an overnight….but who knows?)

Well, I suppose she really does have to work on other programs, if you are now running the storytime. Essentially, that’s what she’s being paid to do. However, maybe it is just our patrons at my particular library that need assistance? Not sure…

I think it’s fantastic, Greg. You’re very lucky to be able to do just that,and I know the kids will benefit from being in the library, whether it is a library program or not. They’ll remember it as a wonderful place as they grow up!