Volunteering For The SRC 2014

A few hours ago, I finished my volunteer work for the Summer, handing it my library service lanyard after the afternoon's event, the small space crowded with children clutching teddies. For the past six weeks, I've been involved with the Summer Reading Challenge 2014, a project that was set up by the Reading Agency; encouraging children to read over the holidays with prizes handed out at certain stages in the challenge. Libraries organise events based on a theme, this year's being 'Mythical Maze', with the characters that feature on posters and stickers designed by Sarah McIntyre. I guess that's a little bit about the background of the Summer Reading Challenge covered!

 

I've wanted to be a volunteer for a while now; desperate to find something productive to do throughout the summer holidays, when otherwise I would be curled up in my bedroom online. I remember when I saw the advertisement for volunteers last year, but after starting to complete the form, I realised I had to be fifteen. That Summer was spent watching those older than me, in their volunteer t-shirts, help the librarians before events at my local library whilst I chose books from the teen section. One year on, and I'll admit that I was the youngest volunteer for the 2014 Challenge in my area, being one month into the required age, not knowing until I arrived at the introduction to see those much older than me walk in. I must have seemed out-of-place; struggling to continue the conversation when another volunteer asked me a question. Luckily, after that one evening, I could return to the safety of the library where I already knew the librarians.

 

There were a few similarities between volunteering and work experience(where I spent time at a Primary school), one of these being that I was covered in glitter. Constantly. Along with the glitter, there was glue and pencil sharpening's. And food during a Teddy Bear's Picnic. What I didn't do during work experience, though, was watch a Balloon Man show and love it, pretend to be a dragon or design bead-bracelets. I hadn't designed a fish out of a paper-plate and tissue paper or made a fairy wand out of card since the times I used to take part in the SRC; collecting stickers and wristbands.

Being a volunteer reminded me of what I loved doing when I was slightly younger. I spent time preparing resources, helping children make their own golden snitches or mazes, and then cleaning afterwards.

 

There were times when I wished I would have been able to scan books out or use the online database. I wanted to give out the Reading Challenge prizes to the children or return finished novels. Maybe, experiencing the day as a librarian, rather than a volunteer, at times - spending more than five hours there a week - would have been interesting? Or being at another library where I wasn't as relaxed? I would have liked to have done more. But, I can't say I haven't liked being part of SRC 2014, the most rewarding part hearing children scream with delight when they were told that they could take "more than one book" home. I listened to parents reading to their children, and to my relief, this proved that those articles about how there's no time to read anymore are not true.

Did you volunteer for the Summer Reading Challenge this year?
Have you volunteered at a library, or elsewhere, in the past?
Would you like too?

Tell me in the comments!