In a few weeks, the Volunteer Library Brigade will be rolling out to the sidewalks, parks, and subway stations of New York City. These small teams will set up tiny mobile library carts in public spaces around the city and to do on site-volunteer library work as needed for the citizens of New York City. They will look stuff up, hand out books, run storytimes for kids, offer directions, advocate for libraries, and more. The carts (kindly donated by Demco, thanks Demco!), will stocked with reference books, maps, giveaways, WiFi, and free eBook downloads.
This is going to be a great service, great fun, and great outreach for libraries. You DO NOT have to be a librarian to sign up for the Volunteer Library Brigade. In fact we want lots (and lots) of non-librarians to try this out. If you have ever about working in a library, wondered what it would be like to lead a storytime for kids, or just enjoy helping people … even if it’s just finding the right answer to a question, then the Volunteer Library Brigade is for you.
Still, to keep things professional, each team will include at least one library professional and all volunteers will have to undergo VLB training before they are sent out with the carts. But we hope to give all VLB members the chance to read to kids, help people who are lost, and generally perform the dozens of acts of small heroism that make up a librarian’s day.
Please sign up here today!
