Before I ever volunteered in the school library, I read a blog written by a previous library volunteer. At the time, I wasn’t 100% sure I was going to apply, not because I wasn’t interested, but because I was still settling into a new environment. I was in a new country and a new school, I was starting a challenging master’s degree, and everything felt unfamiliar, so I wanted to give myself some time to get acquainted before taking on something new.
I always loved being around books and writing, so that definitely helped.
The application process itself was a lot more straightforward than I expected. After I applied, my application was reviewed, and I was invited to an informal interview with two members of the library volunteer staff team, although I didn’t actually realise this at first because the email somehow landed in my junk folder (guys, please check your spam and junk emails!!!). When I eventually saw it, I was nervous. Even though the email said ‘informal interview’, I imagined being tested or grilled. But when I met the staff, it felt more like regular conversation than an interview. They were super friendly and welcoming, and it was really just a chance for them to get to know me, what I enjoy doing, why I wanted to volunteer, and which parts of the library tasks I’d be most interested in focusing on during my time here. After that, I received an induction session email, which I attended and got officially onboarded alongside other volunteers. We were given clear explanations of our roles and tasks, and we even received official volunteer packs with ID access cards, booklets, and library pamphlets. From start to finish, everything was explained clearly, and I never once felt thrown into the deep end.
Now that I’m actually volunteering, a typical day in the library starts like this: I walk in, sign in, talk with the staff at the welcome desk, get directed to my primary assignment post, meet the library staff who’ll assign my task(s) for the day, take in the shelves, and ease into my tasks. Whether I’m organising/shelving books, picking available holds and using the library computer system to fulfil the holds, placing them on the counter for the students to easily pick up, locating missing/misplaced books with a wand (yep, a real wand), or working on small behind-the-scenes jobs (like making valentine-day love-shaped cutouts for a book wrapping project), everything feels calm and focused. The tasks are simple and satisfying, and I can actually see the impact of what I’m doing.
One thing that surprises me is how quickly time passes. I start doing one task, then 30 minutes turns to one hour, then two hours, and suddenly I realise I’ve been there longer than I thought because I’m settled into it and I actually enjoy doing it. There’s also something nice about knowing I’m helping maintain a space that so many students use, even if they don’t realise the work happening in the background.
The library is more than just a place to borrow and read books or study. People come to the library to focus, reset, socialise, or sometimes just to visit the art gallery or enjoy a bit of quiet or the beautiful outside view from the upper floors (a quick peek of the view from the Observatory will tell why). Volunteering in the library made me appreciate it even more as a space.
It’s kind of a full circle now. Someone else’s blog helped me decide to apply, and now I’m writing about my own experience. If you’re reading this and wondering whether to volunteer, especially if you enjoy being around books or enjoy writing, I’d say go for it. You might just find yourself enjoying it more than you expected.
By: Mmesoma Juliet Ofoegbu