tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233390182090813624.post1968846144264511686..comments2023-12-22T23:37:25.400-05:00Comments on Only connect: Volunteers: Hearts full of grace @ OPLAlexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13267343586937882369noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233390182090813624.post-7421872925412440172011-05-15T14:25:46.332-04:002011-05-15T14:25:46.332-04:00I think you raise some excellent points about the ...I think you raise some excellent points about the blurring of the distinctions between employees and volunteers, which is a really loaded question for unions, for one, and anyone remotely concerned about the de-professionalisation of our fields. Volunteers have to be used appropriately.Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13267343586937882369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233390182090813624.post-46056261365331098592011-05-14T21:12:39.483-04:002011-05-14T21:12:39.483-04:00Volunteering is such a complicated thing -- the mu...Volunteering is such a complicated thing -- the museum I work at wouldn't exist without its stunning volunteers, but...... I deeply resent that volunteers are required to keep libraries, archives, museums and other cultural institutions alive, when there are so many trained, capable professionals out there that could be getting paid to do so many things that volunteers very generously do for free.<br /><br />Or, when I explain why we have such restricted research hours in our library, someone inevitably will suggest that we keep the library open for extended hours with the help of volunteers, which is such a lovely idea, but getting people to do things for free is not always such a great solution. The position of librarian where I work used to be a full-time job, then it was cut to part-time (4 days), and will be cut to 3 days in September. <br /><br />Plus the time and money required to recruit, train and supervise volunteers can be prohibitive, not to mention insurance issues: 2 of my volunteers are highly knowledgeable gentlemen in their early 80s - our insurance won't allow them to volunteer past age 85, which is a mixed blessing for both the people involved, and the institution itself. <br /><br />Of course, this is also the opinion of a trained professional with paid work experience who is being told to volunteer in her field in order to make more contacts, get more experience and hopefully land a permanent position somewhere. I would much rather work for money in my field, and volunteer elsewhere. <br /><br />Doing the same things for free that I have been paid to do in the past, well, it leaves an extremely unpleasant taste in my mouth. I want to volunteer because I want to volunteer, not because it MIGHT lead to a paid, permanent position.Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07690864162844927797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233390182090813624.post-65637474538542987882011-05-14T16:47:18.615-04:002011-05-14T16:47:18.615-04:00In case anyone is interested, or wants to invite m...In case anyone is interested, or wants to invite me over, I have not yet been to: Blackburn Hamlet, Centennial, Constance Bay, Fitzroy Harbour, Greely, Maotick, Metcalfe, Osgoode, and Vernon.Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13267343586937882369noreply@blogger.com