This report provides the results of a short literature review on the use of volunteers in libraries and volunteer-run libraries.
The evidence is drawn from a variety of sources including materials and examples supplied by the Scottish Library and Information Council and a search undertaken by the IDOX information service with further follow up searches through Google. The evidence relates mainly to the UK and, in particular, to England and Wales where there has been a steady growth in volunteer-run libraries in recent years.
The types of evidence reviewed include government reports, articles from newspapers and journals, blogs and website articles, and reports from particular interest groups.
The report describes the context in which volunteers are being used in libraries: highlighting the move in both England and Scotland towards devolving more power to local communities and at the same time the tightening of resources as a result of budget cuts for local authorities.
The report provides a number of examples of innovative ways in which volunteers are being used in libraries in England, Scotland and the USA. These highlight the opportunities that can be provided for volunteers as well as the types of role they undertake to enhance library services.
The third section of the report sets out the evidence under two main headings: volunteers in libraries and volunteer-run and community managed libraries. The first of these describes some of the roles volunteers undertake in libraries – from practical tasks such as shelving books to assistance with various activities taking place in the library such as reading groups and computer support. It acknowledges that there can be challenges in using volunteers but also highlights the fact that there can be benefits for the volunteer, the library and the wider community in having volunteers undertake tasks that are additional to those of professional staff.
The second aspect looks at the pros and cons in having volunteer-run libraries. While there is recognition that having volunteer-run libraries can reduce overall costs for the local authority there are concerns about whether this will adversely affect low-income communities which may not have the same capacity to run their local library. Most of the evidence suggests that even with volunteer-run libraries there should be some input from the local authority in terms of management and staffing.
The report concludes that while there are useful roles for volunteers to play within libraries, to supplement and support services being offered, volunteer-run libraries without professional input or links to the public library service are not the preferred option. However, it recognises that in areas threatened with complete library closure this may seem like the only alternative.
