Needs From: Ocean County Library

To provide handmade items for members of the community in life care centers, food pantries, hospitals, crisis centers and similar organizations. A Knitting Group Member usually meets once a month with other Knitting Group Members to work on handmade items in a branch.

The volunteer “adopts” a section of shelves to keep the collection in proper order.  The volunteer removes items that do not belong in the section and straightens the remaining items. The amount of time varies with the person and section of shelves adopted.

Do you love to read? Do you like to talk about what you read with others? Then volunteering as a Book Discussion leader might be for you.

The volunteer consults with staff to choose materials to read. They arrange for copies of the book for discussion. Leadership of the group may rotate among the members and total volunteer hours involve all facets of the process from arranging for the books to doing the evaluation of the session.

Volunteers deliver and pick up and return library items on behalf of library customers who are homebound due to illness or disability. Visits are arranged around the volunteer’s schedule. Customers are generally assigned to volunteers who are in a nearby community. Training is provided. A criminal background check is required. All homebound customers must provide a physician’s referral. Time requirement is about 2 to 3 hours per month.

Do you want to tell everyone about your latest read? Great! You can volunteer to write reviews of your choice with the requirement that they are available in the OCL large and/or audiobook collection. Volunteer's book reviews are compiled into reference sheets monthly for distribution to homebound customers. These customers use the reviews to choose library books.

Volunteer aids staff by collating and stapling materials, cutting out items and assisting with materials for program presentations. May also assist with data entry.

The volunteer uses a CD/DVD disk cleaning kit (provided by the Library) to lightly clean DVDs, audio book discs, and music CDs. Identifies any severely damaged disks or media cases with missing materials. This is a very important service to keep the media collection in top condition. This opportunity can be done sitting at a table.

The volunteer meets with a group of six to twelve immigrant adults to develop their English conversation skills in a relaxed social setting. The group usually meets for one and a half hours each week. 

The purpose of the Friends is to create public interest in the library by promoting knowledge of its functions, resources, services, and to foster public support for its ongoing operation and needs. The Friends design and manage fundraising activities in support of the library.