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Union County recognizes there are benefits to members of the community being involved in the delivery of programs and services primarily for civic, charitable and/or humanitarian reasons. Individuals have an interest in assisting public agencies by applying their knowledge, skills, and experiences to worthwhile endeavors on a volunteer basis. Also, the community and County Government receive enhanced services because of the individual’s specialized skills and commitment.
Volunteers at the Union County Library support its mission and enhance its services through community outreach. Volunteer opportunities within the library provide a chance for residents to become a part of the library and is considered an element of the library’s services.
The library has several volunteer programs for community members for community members across a variety of age groups. The library accepts applications to volunteer from teens age 14-17 and adults. Each volunteer program focuses on specific needs and interests for the community and library.
General – Shelving and Project(s)
This foundational volunteer program provides essential support for library operations through materials organization and special projects. Volunteers in this program help maintain organized collections and assist with various library initiatives that enhance patron services. This flexible program allows volunteers to contribute meaningfully to library services to the community while developing valuable organizational and customer service skills in a supportive environment.
Location(s):
- Main Library in Monroe
- Edwards Memorial Library in Marshville
- Union West Library in Indian Trail
- Southwest Library in Waxhaw
The General – Shelving and Project(s) program is open to teen and adults.
Homebound
The Homebound Services volunteer program extends the library's reach into the community by bringing library materials and services directly to patrons who are unable to visit library locations due to physical limitations, mobility challenges, or other circumstances. Our Homebound library specialist provides personalized services by selecting books, audiobooks, DVDs, and other library materials to homebound patrons on a regular schedule. This essential community outreach program ensures that all residents have equal access to library resources regardless of their physical ability to visit in person. Volunteers in this program serve as vital links by pulling and preparing library materials to support intellectual engagement for those who might otherwise be unable to access library services.
Location(s):
- Main Library in Monroe
The Homebound program is open to teen and adults.
Homework Helpers - NO CURRENT POSITIONS OPEN
The Homework Helpers program is a dedicated academic support initiative that aids elementary students in grades K-5 across core subject areas including science, English language arts, mathematics, and social studies. Volunteer helpers work one-on-one with young learners to build confidence in academic skills and foster a love of learning in a supportive library environment. This program serves as a vital community resource for families seeking additional educational support, while giving volunteers the opportunity to make a direct impact on children's academic success and educational development. Homework Helpers creates a nurturing space where students can receive personalized attention, develop study skills, and build positive relationships with caring library and teen mentors in their community.
Location(s):
- Main Library in Monroe
The Homework Helpers program is open to teens.
Teen Advisory Group -NO CURRENT POSITIONS OPEN
The Teen Advisory Group (TAG) is a student government-style program coordinated by the Teen Services Department that combines virtual and in-person responsibilities. TAG serves as a voice for teens in the community, allowing them to actively participate in shaping library services and programs that meet their needs and interests. This leadership-focused volunteer opportunity empowers teens to advocate for their peers, provide input on library initiatives, and help design programming that resonates with the teenage community. Through TAG, teen volunteers gain valuable experience in civic engagement, public speaking, and community leadership while ensuring the library remains responsive to the evolving needs of its teen patrons.
The Teen Advisory Group program is open to teens.
Volunteers are recruited for the library based on the needs of library locations and/or departments. Any community member interested in volunteering with the library must complete an online application and submit any supplemental materials at the time of applying to be considered for placement. All application responses and supplemental materials required are expected to be original content created without the assistance of AI apps or services.
Depending on the age of the applicant and which program they are applying for there are various requirements that need to be met at the time of applying.
Applications missing required information or supplemental materials will be considered incomplete, will not be reviewed, and must be resubmitted.
All Applicants
There are requirements expected of all applicants regardless of age at the time of applying:
- All applicants must have a Union County Library card in good standing.
- All applicants must submit 1 letter of recommendation. The recommender must provide you with a copy of the letter to submit with your application. (PDF, .DOC, .DOCX are the only accepted file types.)
- All applicants must submit 2 references with their application.
- All applicants interested in volunteering in any program must complete the designated knowledge check for their volunteer program of interest as outlined below:
General – Shelving and Project(s) and Homebound: Library Volunteer Knowledge Check must be completed with a minimum score of 90%. This check goes over basic alpha-numeric sorting of library materials.
Homework Helpers: K-5 Knowledge Check must be completed with a minimum score of 100%. This check goes over core content in science, English language arts, math, and social studies subjects.
Teen Advisory Group: Union County Library Awareness Knowledge Check - Teen Advisory Group (TAG) must be completed with a minimum score of 100%. This check goes over the basics of the Union County Library system and our services to teens.
Teen Applicants (ages 14-17)
All teenage applicants are required to submit the following supplemental materials at the time of applying:
- 1 Letter of Recommendation – This must be from an adult in the community that is not a parent/guardian. The recommender must provide you with a copy of the letter to submit with your application. (PDF, .DOC, .DOCX are the only accepted file types.)
Homework Helpers Program Application Requirements
Teens applicants for the Homework Helpers Program are required to submit the additional supplemental materials along with those listed above for all teenage applicants:
- Current Progress Report or Report Card – Must be dated within the last 6 months. (PDF is the only accepted file types.)
Teen Advisory Group Program Application Requirements
Teens applicants for the Teen Advisory Group are required to submit the additional supplemental materials along with those listed above for all teenage applicants:
- 1 Sample Blog Post – No more than 500 words. New applicants should refer to the library’s Bookworm Blog for ideas and to see content currently being published. (PDF, .DOC, .DOCX are the only accepted file types.)- 1 Sample Piece of Social Media Content Promoting a Library Service or Program – This should be a piece of dynamic content, not a static image. (All file types accepted.)
- 1 Sample Event Outline for Teens - Use this template to submit your outline. (PDF, .DOC, .DOCX are the only accepted file types.)
Adult Applicants (ages 18+)
Adult applicants are required to meet and submit the base requirements for all applicants at the time of applying.
Adults, ages 18+, are limited to adult areas without approved Union County Government background check.
The library offers various commitment options for community members interested in volunteering.
- Summer Only (June-August)
- School Year (September-May)
- Year-Round (January-December)
- Court-Mandated (Specific Number of Community Service Hours Needed)
- One-Time (Volunteer for One Day Only)
- One-Year Commitment: July – June (Teen Advisory Group Only)
To accommodate both library location needs and volunteer schedules, the library offers flexible schedule options to those in the General – Shelving and Project(s) programs who have volunteered for at least three months and have completed an evaluation with an outstanding rating.
Flexible time commitments are not available for the Homework Helpers or Teen Advisory Group programs.
Volunteer Schedules & Expectations
The schedule for volunteers will be made by the Branch Managers at the designated locations (Main Library in Monroe, Edwards Memorial Library in Marshville, Union West Library in Indian Trail, and Southwest Library in Waxhaw) in coordination with the Volunteer Coordinators.
General – Shelving and Project(s)
The General – Shelving and Projects program has the following guidelines for volunteering time lengths and schedules:
- Volunteers are required to sign up for a minimum of one volunteer shift each month.
- Volunteer shifts are typically 2 hours, but they may vary based on location needs.
Flex scheduling is available with the General – Shelving & Project(s) program.
Homebound
The Homebound program has the following guidelines for volunteering time lengths and schedules:
- Shifts occur the first Monday of each month from 9 – 11 a.m. at the Main Library in Monroe.
Homework Helpers
The Homework Helpers program has the following guidelines for volunteering time lengths and schedules:
- A minimum of 4 months (or 1 semester) is required of Homework Helper program applicants prior to being confirmed as a Helper.
- A volunteer shift is normally 2 hours in length once or twice a week on either Tuesday or Wednesday from 4:30 – 6 p.m. Homework Helper sessions are scheduled in 30 minutes blocks.
There is no flex scheduling available with the Homework Helpers program.
Teen Advisory Group
The Teen Advisory Group has the following guidelines for volunteering time lengths and schedules:
- A minimum of 1 year is required of Teen Advisory Group program applicants prior to being confirmed as a member.
- Attending 1 monthly meetings (which take place on the first Monday of every month from 6 -7:30 p.m. unless otherwise communicated).
- A minimum of 4-8 hours per week of virtual or in-person work related to the group and the projects it oversees.
- Daily checks on communication via email and Slack.
Attendance
The library depends on volunteers who can accommodate a consistent schedule of attendance on a regular basis. Attendance of volunteers directly affects the organization's ability to efficiently serve the public; therefore, volunteer commitments will be ended based on the following.
- Repeated tardiness or absences without notifying library staff, including leaving early without prior notice.
- Excessive tardiness, absences, or extended absences of more than two weeks.Any callouts or last-minute notification of absences for your assigned volunteer shifts.
- Texting, socializing with friends, or being inactive during assigned volunteer shifts, leading to disruptions in attendance.
Regular attendance and punctuality are requirements of all volunteers including those who opt for flex scheduling. It is the responsibility of each volunteer to work their volunteer shift as scheduled. It is expected that volunteers will communicate adjustment requests for their schedule to a Volunteer Coordinator or Volunteer Staff Supervisor with a minimum of two weeks’ notice.
Occasionally volunteers may need to miss a volunteer shift. If a volunteer needs to be absent, or cannot make a shift commitment, they must notify a Volunteer Coordinator or Volunteer Staff Supervisor. If they are not available, any library staff member can send a message.
More than two (2) absences or two (2) missed deadlines for any volunteer across all programs without notification to the library may result in a cancellation of the volunteer agreement.
The Union County Library selects volunteers for all four library locations: Main Library in Monroe, Union West Library in Indian Trail, Marshville Library, and Waxhaw Library year-round. Please keep in mind that the Main Library in Monroe will have the most vacancies for volunteers since it is the hub for the library system. Volunteer openings at our other library locations are often limited and filled quickly.
Upon submission of a completed application with all required information and supplemental materials, applications go through a lengthy process before a candidate is selected to volunteer with the library.
The Volunteer Coordinators evaluate applications and select potential volunteer candidates based on the following criteria:
- Designated knowledge check score
- Applicant availability compared to library location(s) needs
- Strength and quality of supplemental materials
Volunteer candidates aged 18+ are limited to assisting in the adult areas of the library and should not assist in the children’s or teen areas without a background check approved by the Union County Government.
Volunteer candidates will be contacted via email if they have been selected for a vacancy and will go through a preliminary orientation before being confirmed as a volunteer.
Applicants who change their availability after their application has been reviewed or after completing orientation, but before their start date, may no longer be eligible for a volunteer position.
Due to the high influx of applicants and library workloads, applications take 14-21 business days to be reviewed.
Before being confirmed as a volunteer, all volunteer candidates new to Union County Library are required to go through onboarding and training. The training process is dependent on volunteer placement. This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Upon successful completion of the training, each volunteer will be confirmed and assigned to fill open placements or assist on special projects. After being assigned placement, new volunteers will complete the Volunteer Assignment Report - Acknowledgement Form before beginning any volunteer duties.
General – Shelving and Projects
Onboarding sessions are coordinated across all 4 library locations (Edwards Memorial, Main, Southwest, Union West) for the General – Shelving and Projects program and consists of:
- Introduction to Union County Library, the collections, and service areas
- Tour of library and department/collection areas
- Introducing the volunteer to all library staff
- Shelving practice at a library location
- Use of color strips as a short-term evaluative method
- Volunteer projects overview and practice, as needed
Homebound
Onboarding sessions are held at the Main Library for the Homebound program and consists of the same content as the General – Shelving and Projects program in addition to the following:
- Basic Reader’s Advisory & OPAC Training
- Practice Shelf Service Sample
Homework Helpers
Onboarding sessions are held at the Main Library for the Homework Helpers program and consist of:
- Introduction to Homework Helpers program and expectations for Helpers
- Review appointment process and structure for homework help sessions
- Review child development and learning strategies
- Practice with subject-specific resources and materials
- Review safety procedures and other pertinent library policies
Teen Advisory Group
Onboarding sessions are coordinated at the Main Library for the Teen Advisory Group and consist of:
- Introduction and tour of Union County Library and the Teen Services department
- Review of library values and the Teen Advisory Group’s purpose
- Review of the Library and Teen Advisory Group organizational structure, projects, procedures, and guidelines
- Review and walk through communication platforms and expectations
- Introduction and assignment of teen engagement opportunities and projects
Teen Advisory Group members are also expected to do additional but separate onboarding for the Digital Content, Bookworm Blog, and Community Engagement.
Please read through the details on UCL's volunteer program and rules reviewed above before beginning your application.
Fill out the application form completely and submit. Any incomplete applications will not be considered.
If you are curious about further details about our volunteer program, you can review our UCL Volunteer Handbook.
There are currently no open positions for the Homework Helpers or Teen Advisory Group programs.
Due to the high influx of applicants and library workloads, applications take 14-21 business days to be reviewed.
Supplemental Volunteer Materials
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