Judi’s Volunteering Story
Home library service volunteers work with the local libraries to choose, deliver, and collect books, audio books and DVDs to people who are housebound or those that cannot access the library due to impaired mobility, long term illness, disability, transport difficulties or caring commitments. They also help to combat loneliness and signpost to extra help if required.
Jenny Oliver of the Central Volunteer Team spoke to Judi to speak about her experience of being a Home Library Service Volunteer.
What does your volunteering role involve Judi?
I take library books to people who can’t get to the library by themselves, they may have for example difficulty walking or be older. I ask them what type of authors they like, or genre, and I select them books that I hope they will enjoy, they are always so grateful and appreciative.
How long have you been volunteering for?
I have been volunteering for around 18 months now.
Why did you start volunteering?
I use Taunton library all the time, I love books and would be lost without them. I heard about the home service role and thought that’s something that I can do and applied for it.
What keeps you volunteering?
How grateful my clients are, they never complain.
What is your favourite thing about volunteering?
The pleasure it brings them!
What difference has volunteering made to you? For example, making new friends or enhancing your skills.
It reinforces just how much I love reading. If I was in the same situation as them, I would want books too, I just love reading and constantly want new books.
What would you say to someone who has never volunteered?
Give it a try, if you want satisfaction just try it!
Can you think of a good strapline to describe your volunteering?
Continue to bring the joy of reading to older people.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
The library runs very smoothly. I love going there, it’s full of noise and children and is not a quiet place anymore where you can’t even sneeze like how I remember them in the past. They are lively happy places, and what I do is bring that to the people at home who can no longer get in, long may it remain!
Has reading this got your attention? You can find this role and others here. What are you waiting for!