Volunteers are vital members of the community both inside and out of Wood Library – we thank you for your interest in joining us!
Wood Library is unable to accept new volunteers at this time.
If you have any questions, ideas, or concerns about this, please contact
Stephanie Toomey at stoomey@owwl.org or 595-394-1381 x308.
Individuals who volunteer are much more than a resource for a library. They are a community resource by way of their diversity in skill, energy, talent, and ideas!
We believe that providing space for each person’s unique life experiences can only make our organization richer for all, and so Wood Library welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds and skill levels.
CONTACT:
Stephanie Toomey
Volunteer Coordinator, Outreach Services
stoomey@owwl.org
(585) 394-1381 x 308
• For group volunteer opportunities, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator directly.
• Deadlines for students requiring volunteer hours:
-February 15 for spring semester
-October 15 for fall semester
• Read our Volunteer Policy here.
Learn about our volunteer opportunities using the tabs below:
“Shelving” is replacing returned items where they properly belong within the various collections of Wood Library.
Wood Library circulates hundreds of thousands of items each year – that’s a few hundred per day! As a result, to volunteer as a “Shelver” is to help the library function on a fundamental, day-to-day level.
Shelving materials is a great way to meet and interact with library staff as well as the occasional patron! It’s also an excellent way to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the library layout.
Skill requirements:
• ‘Shelvers’ must be able to comfortably bend, stand, and reach.
• Volunteers must be comfortable pushing (potentially) heavy book carts
• Some materials have very finely printed spines so eyesight may be a factor
• Exceptional attention to detail is critical
Time commitment:
• A minimum commitment of three months is expected
• 1-2 designated days each week, which will be discussed in the preliminary interview
Completing the pull list is the task of retrieving requested items from various collections throughout our building.
While Wood Library’s immediate service population is 25,000+ people, we also loan materials to patrons throughout the OWWL network (serving 300,000+ patrons in Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston counties).
Volunteers that pull books to fulfill hold requests are essential in helping Wood Library participate as a member library in our system.
Skill requirements:
• Standing and walking throughout library
• Reaching/bending to pull materials from the shelves
• Pushing a small book cart
• Patience and attention to detail
Time commitment:
• A minimum commitment of three months’ is expected
• 1-2 designated days each week, generally for a period of 30-45 minutes
To “adopt a shelf” is to “read” the library shelves.
Volunteers that choose to adopt a shelf help to maintain the accessibility, usability, and appearance of Wood Library. No one likes to discover that a book is missing is from its rightful place! This activity ensures that all library materials are in the proper order by removing any items that have been incorrectly filed.
Shelf Adopters will also straighten shelves and check that no materials are “hiding” behind or wedged between other items. Adopters may also address the issue of an overcrowded shelf by shifting materials.
Skill requirements:
• Standing, bending, and/or sitting to “read” the shelves
• Some reaching to remove misplaced materials and/or shift overcrowded items
• Exceptional attention to detail is critical!
Time commitment:
• A minimum commitment of three months’ is expected
• This need may be fulfilled at the volunteer’s leisure, ideally on a weekly basis
This volunteer opportunity is not available due to the current state of COVID-19 and its variants as of 5/10/22.
When patrons request items from other libraries, they may choose to be notified via email, text message, or phone call.
Volunteer Callers for the library are provided with a script and instructions on using our phone system to contact patrons about their available requested materials.
Skill requirements:
• Volunteers are seated for the duration of this task
• A clear and friendly voice for speaking on the phone and leaving messages
• Tidy, legible handwriting
Time commitment:
• Wood Library expects volunteers to commit to a minimum of three months’ service.
• Callers generally visit the library on one or two designated days each week, ranging anywhere from 10-45 minutes.
Wood Library presents two major fundraising events each year.
Spring: Wood Library Mini Golf
• Stay tuned for opportunities to be involved with 2023’s event!
Fall: Pursapalooza – Returns November 19, 2022!
• If you’d like to get involved with this year’s event, please contact:
Maria Bucci, Director of Development
mbucci@pls-net.org or 394-1381 x328
or
Wood Library participates in a variety of community events throughout the year through the City of Canandaigua, Town of Canandaigua, Ontario County Chamber of Commerce, Canandaigua City School District, Canandaigua Businesses Improvement District, and others.
Please stay tuned for scheduled offsite event dates!
We have a number of gardens on our property and it takes care and attention to keep them free of weeds and debris!
Skill requirements:
• This opportunity is outdoors!
• A working knowledge of our plantings and recognizing weeds
Time commitment:
• A minimum commitment of three months’ is expected
• 1-2 designated days each week, for a period of 30-60 minutes
Please contact the Friends of Wood Library to get involved with our semi-annual book sale!
The next book sale will be Saturday, June 4, 2022 – Sunday, June 12, 2022.
Friend’s Early Access will be the morning of Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
The book sale will be open to the public during normal library hours of operation, beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 4.
We are not accepting donations at this time.
Please contact Alexis Lawrence to get involved as a Tech Tutor!
“Shelving” is replacing returned items where they properly belong in our collection.
Wood Library circulates hundreds of thousands of items each year – that’s a few hundred per day! As a result, to volunteer as a Shelver is to help us function on a fundamental, day-to-day level.
Shelving materials is a great way to meet and interact with library staff as well as the occasional patron! It’s also the best way to get to know the library.
Skill requirements:
• ‘Shelvers’ must be able to bend, stand, and reach.
• Volunteers must be comfortable pushing (potentially) heavy book carts
• Exceptional attention to detail is critical
Time commitment:
• A minimum commitment of three months’ is expected
• 1-2 designated days each week, for a period of 1-2 hours
Adopting a shelf is “reading” our shelves to ensure all materials are in the proper order and removing items that have been mis-shelved.
Volunteers that choose to “adopt a shelf” help maintain the accessibility, usability, and appearance of Wood Library. No one likes to find a book missing from where it’s supposed to be!
Shelf Adopters straighten shelves, check that no materials are “hiding” behind or wedged between other items. Adopters also address overcrowded shelves by shifting materials.
Skill requirements:
• Standing, bending, and/or sitting to “read” the shelves
• Bending and reaching to remove mis-shelved books; shift overcrowded items
• Exceptional attention to detail is critical!
Time commitment:
• A minimum commitment of three months’ is expected
• 1-2 designated days each week, for a period of 1-2 hours
This volunteer opportunity is not yet available due to the current state of COVID-19 and its variants.
When patrons request items from other libraries, they may choose to be notified via email, text message, or phone call.
Volunteer Callers for the library are provided with a script and instructions on using our phone system to contact patrons about their available materials.
Skill requirements:
- Volunteers are seated for the duration of this task
- A clear and friendly voice for speaking on the phone and leaving messages.
- Legible handwriting is preferred.
Time commitment:
- Wood Library expects volunteers to commit to a minimum of three months’ service.
- Callers generally visit the library on one or two designated days each week, ranging anywhere from 10-45 minutes.
Completing the pull list is the task of retrieving requested items from collections anywhere in our building.
While our own service population is 25,000+ people, Wood Library also loans materials to patrons throughout the OWWL network (serving 300,000+ patrons in Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston counties).
Volunteers that pull books to fulfill hold requests are essential in helping Wood Library participate as a true team member in our library system.
Skill requirements:
• Standing and walking throughout library
• Reaching/bending to pull materials from the shelves
• Pushing a small book cart
• Attention to detail
Time commitment:
• A minimum commitment of three months’ is expected
• 1-2 designated days each week, for a period of 30-60 minutes
We have a number of gardens on our property and it takes care and attention to keep them free of weeds and debris!
Skill requirements:
• This opportunity is outdoors!
• A working knowledge of our plantings and recognizing weeds
Time commitment:
• A minimum commitment of three months’ is expected
• 1-2 designated days each week, for a period of 30-60 minutes
Pursapalooza
November 13-20 2021!
We are currently accepting volunteers for our annual Pursapalooza event!
Click here to view dates and times and sign up as a volunteer!
(Having trouble with the link above? Copy/paste this address: www.woodlib.org/PursapaloozaVolunteers into your browser!)
Book Sale
October 9 – 16, 2021
Our popular semi-annual book sale is an event sponsored by Friends of Wood Library.
Check back here for updates on crossover volunteer opportunities!
Community Events
Out and about with Wood!
Next event: Fall Into Canandaigua!
Saturday, October 30 from 11-3:00
We are looking forward to being out and about in our community after the long pandemic hiatus!
Career fairs to arts shows; seasonal festivals to volunteer expos, we love updating community members on our programs and services.
(Volunteers joining us at community events would be accompanied by a staff person for the duration of the event!)
5K and Fun Run
TBA in 2022!
Check back soon for more information!
Wood Library is not accepting book donations as of 5/9/21.
Wood Library’s semi-annual book sales are beloved events in our community! We traditionally host one in the spring and one in the fall and they are wildly popular!
Our book sales depend on donated materials from patrons and community members (see donation guidelines here) but… what do we do with them next?
Volunteer Book Sorters are the unseen heroes of Wood Library! Books are sorted by genre and then carefully packed into boxes. Packing boxes is rather an art form, as they need to be stabilized in such away that they will not tip or crumple when other boxes of books are stacked on top of them.
Skill requirements:
• Comfortable working alone
• Ability to determine genres of books and movies as accurately as possible
• Problem solving! (Packing boxes is similar to real-life Tetris.)
Time commitment:
• A minimum commitment of three months’ is expected
• 1-2 designated days each week, for a period of 1-3 hours