One Small Voice: I learn so much as a library volunteer

by Lynn Mandaville

To bring an end to 2019, I would like to share something of my world of volunteerism, something that is positive, and I hope uplifting, to close out what has been an emotional upheaval in our political lives.  I hope to inspire others to find similar solace and satisfaction doing something for others, in addition to oneself.

My volunteer work at the Chandler Library is second in importance in my life only to my grandsons and the other obligatory hangers-on (husband, sons, daughter-in-law), who comprise the brightest stars in my universe.

At the library I have met a United Nations of immigrants who have made their homes here and established their citizenships here and found employment at the library.  They represent different religions (Muslim, Hindu, and Jain) and different countries (India, Mexico, Ecuador).  I have met transplants from all over the US (there are an awful lot of Midwesterners!).

The names on the hold slips for the books I process from the branch libraries are a virtual international phone book of names representing family heritages from Scandinavia, Asia, Mexico, South America, the Middle East, and all of Europe.  (Chandler attracts immigrants from everywhere! for the tech industry that predominates job opportunities.)

And the work itself is so rewarding, reminding me of what I loved most about library work in Wayland:  serving an educated, curious, literate population of interesting, involved people.

My actual work itself is menial.

Courier bins are delivered by other volunteers from the three branch libraries.

I empty the bins and check in the items and sort them, according to whether they are destined to be re-shelved here at the main library, or labeled and shelved in the lobby for those picking up their interlibrary loan materials.

It could be mind-numbing work, but all the materials that pass in front of me stimulate my imagination, as I wonder which families are homeschooling their children, which are film buffs, who has just seen the same story I saw on 60 Minutes and is now researching the topic.

I can tell who follows popular culture and who is pursuing loftier subjects, like philosophy (Sartre) or theology (the Bhagavad Gita), economics or freakonomics, or classical literature (Dante’s Inferno).  (All of these are actual examples.)

Often people have asked for items that grab me and cause me to place my own holds for those titles.  (One was Where The Water Goes that dealt with the Colorado River, water rights and water wars, and hydrology, all written in layman’s terms and very readable for someone new to life in the desert.  It was fascinating!)

Whole conversations erupt in the circulation room about what is covered in just one book that passes through.  We discuss religions because we don’t know much of anything about each other’s belief systems.  We discuss holiday customs because one family is interloaning  books about Diwali and Ramadan (two of the library pages celebrate those holidays).

It’s one of the most stimulating and accepting places I’ve ever been part of.

The circulation room represents my ideal of widely divergent people working toward a common goal, and having discussions that seek information rather than arguing divergent points of view.

We can ask questions of each other that, in another place, might be considered discourteous, insensitive, politically incorrect, or just plain crass.  Here I can ask why Hindu women wear read dots on their foreheads, and is the Ganges River as polluted and horrible as it looks on TV.  Others can ask me to explain Christianity to them.  Or why Americans give the impression that they think the U.S. is the center of the universe.  No one takes offense, because we know we all want to learn.

This volunteer work offers me so much more than what I offer the library.

Even on days when my chronic pain makes it hard to get out of bed, if it’s a library day I overcome the pain to be where it can be pushed to the back of my mind while I soak in the joy I get from the people and the stimulus.

The library is where I connect with everyday people who have everyday concerns, who share their joys and their sorrows, who deal in the things that life is all about.

The library is where we help each other find the information and resources each of us needs for all kinds of things in our lives.

The library is where my fellow volunteers are former radio DJs, international human relations managers, roadies for rock bands, mathematics teachers, linguists.

The library is where I get exposed to other peoples’ hobbies, like ham radio or international travel or fly fishing or thrift-store shopping for prom gowns for charity.

I have found my heaven as a library volunteer.  No administrative headaches.  No board of directors to navigate.  No difficult patrons to handle with care.

Here I can just serve.

I can offer my small talents in exchange for a treasure trove of joys.

I’ve only touched the surface of the things I do at the library that give me so much satisfaction.

If you’re interested, I can tell you about online books sales!

Now that’s a small, small world of volunteerism that reaps huge rewards.  And they’re not just monetary.

Stay tuned, because if you have an interest, I’m eager to share.

Peace and blessings for 2020!