Library volunteers lauded at gathering

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Bill Freeman

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EMC News -Norwood Volunteers are the secret, and maybe not so secret, ingredient that adds so much value to the Asphodel-Norwood Public Library.

And those volunteers were in the unaccustomed limelight last week during an informal appreciation tea at the Norwood Library.

"We volunteer for the things we think are important in our community," noted Cathy Turner, a former township deputy-reeve and chair of the library board for the past six years who is retiring from that position but will remain on the board. The Reverend Gloria Master is the new chair.

Volunteers like Turner, and the staff the board has recruited, are reasons why the township has such a vibrant public library system, punching above its weight class in a world where bigness is the trend de jour.

"We have volunteers who come from just about every part of the community who want to help," librarian Kris Bulloch told the Northwest EMC. "We are so lucky."

From elementary students to seniors, volunteers are an essential to the system, Bulloch says.

One elementary school volunteer has read just about every junior book on the shelves and is quick to recommend titles to his peers, she noted.

"They help us by knowing the library so well they're able to help others who come in and don't know the library."

Bulloch has volunteers who are new residents and have used that experience to "connect" to the community.

The libraries in Norwood and Westwood are "community hubs," Bulloch stressed.

"There's definitely a feel here that you will meet people in this space you would never meet otherwise."

And it's certainly not all about books, although the shelves are filled with cover-bound treasures.

"We're branching out. We're not just books, we're not just computers," says Bulloch.

She's excited about the new "Learn To" program they're introducing which will allow residents to learn simple skills like euchre, knitting or tying fly fishing lures. Volunteers will share their skills so others can learn from them.

"Sometimes we don't say thank-you enough," Turner says of volunteers.

"The base is here," she says. "We have always been fortunate to be able to attract good staff. Because we're a small library and don't pay high wages we've had trouble retaining young people. It's natural that we encourage them to expand and grow and move on but it means that someone new must come in and that's unsettling for the board but good for the library."

"It's new, fresh and it's another outside look at how we do things. That's been a challenge for the board."

Turner has approached the library from both a councillor's point-of-view and as a board member.

"It's one aspect of the township which I think is critical to the community."

Libraries may not get as much attention as other municipal features and that's normal, she says.

"I've been in both positions, it's hard to value a library against a truck. We need both. As long as both sides understand that it works well."

"We've had great support from council," Turner added.

"Council's taken a huge role in Westwood with extensive renovations."

Those upgrades include a new roof and windows with a new furnace on the way.

"What we really want is the community to use it. We're looking for ways to encourage people in Westwood to use it."







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