[Libs-Or] Volunteer vs. paid.

Wed Oct 23 09:22:46 PDT 2013

Very well spoken, Susan! Your article clearly described the whole "paid
librarian vs. volunteer" dilemma.
Jackie

On Tue, Oct 22, 2013 at 8:05 PM, <suzenbooks at gmail.com> wrote:

> Several years ago the Longview public library was facing budget cuts. The
> Daily News editor suggested "perhaps librarians could be replaced with
> community members happy to volunteer." It was clear he (as most community
> members) had no idea what a trained librarian actually did.
>
> This was my response.
>
>
> http://tdn.com/news/opinon/readers/establishing-the-value-of-our-librarians/article_1cc92034-5d7e-53cb-916d-41e9eea7e969.html#.Umc7aP_lttA.email
>
> Susan James
> Longview, WA
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Oct 22, 2013, at 7:01 PM, Jackie May <jackie at jcld.org> wrote:
>
> Interesting topic. I came across this somewhat recent discussion from the
> UK, where they seem to be having a terrible time keeping libraries open and
> the staff are occasionally replaced with volunteers. We love our
> volunteers, but most of them are here for one, two or three hours a week,
> if that.
> They have specific tasks that they perform (shelving, jacketing books,
> shelf reading, Friends group, etc.) and the other tasks are for paid staff.
> There is no substitute for the experience of day-to-day managing and
> performance of library functions. As much as some folks like to volunteer,
> they are not obligated to volunteer 40 hours a week and most of them would
> not dream of doing so unless they did not have "a life" outside the library
> world. I agree that using a volunteer as a "fill-in" for a paid staff
> member is not good practice, as it is setting a precedent and probably
> against the law.
>
> http://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/campaigning/volunteer-run-libraries/cons
>
> Jackie
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 8:12 PM, Emily PAPAGNI <emilyp at multco.us> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> There is an Oregon labor law that says you can't do volunteer work
>> that is similar in nature to your paid work.
>>
>> Libraries probably vary in the way that they interpret the law in
>> accordance with their HR policies.
>>
>> It's my understanding that the law is put in place to protect workers'
>> rights. Wage and hour laws state that people must be paid for work
>> that is in their regular scope of duties. So if someone performs a
>> specific kind of work as part of their regular duties then that person
>> can't also "work for free" doing the same thing. It's like working off
>> the clock.
>>
>> Here's some info from The Bureau of Labor and Industries web site:
>>
>> http://www.oregon.gov/boli/TA/pages/t_faq_tawaitim.aspx
>>
>> Emily
>>
>> Emily Papagni
>> Answerland Support Librarian
>> Multnomah County Library
>> Phone: 503.988.5433
>> emilyp at multco.us
>> http://www.answerland.org
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Oct 18, 2013 at 1:37 PM, Robin Speer <robin.d.speer at state.or.us>
>> wrote:
>> > To add to Buzzy's comments...here is what I will contribute.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Not knowing more details, if the paid employee is doing volunteer tasks
>> that
>> > are the same as her paid position, it could be problematic. My
>> > recommendation is to seek professional advice from your HR department.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Robin Speer
>> >
>> > Volunteer Program Coordinator
>> >
>> > Talking Book & Braille Services Fund Development Coordinator
>> >
>> > Oregon State Library
>> >
>> > 503-378-5014
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On
>> Behalf
>> > Of Buzzy Nielsen
>> > Sent: Friday, October 18, 2013 10:45 AM
>> > To: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
>> > Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] Volunteer vs. paid.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > We don't allow staff to do "volunteer" hours for our library district.
>> > According to our lawyer, it's too rife for abuse and potentially opens
>> you
>> > up for lawsuits. For instance, you could imagine scenarios where an
>> > unscrupulous manager "requires" volunteer hours or an unscrupulous
>> > ex-employee sues claiming that s/he was required to do volunteer hours
>> > rather than being paid.
>> >
>> > That being said, I sometimes have to remind my staff that they actually
>> do
>> > need to put all of the hours they worked on their timesheets. it's nice
>> to
>> > have dedicated folks!
>> >
>> > Cheers!
>> > Buzzy Nielsen
>> >
>> >
>> > ************************************
>> > Library Director
>> > Hood River County Library District
>> > 502 State St
>> > Hood River, OR 97031
>> > 541-387-7062
>> > http://hoodriverlibrary.org
>> >
>> > On 10/18/2013 09:58 AM, Cheryl Spangler wrote:
>> >
>> > I have a volunteer who just got put on the pay roll. I have been told
>> that
>> > she can either get paid or volunteer because of laws pertaining to that.
>> > She works 4 hours a week and fills in wherever we need her. What do you
>> do
>> > in this case?
>> >
>> > Cheryl Spangler
>> >
>> > Harrisburg Public Library
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _____________________________________________________
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>>
>
>
>
> --
> Jackie J. May
> Interlibrary Loans
> Jefferson County Library District
> 241 SE 7th Street
> Madras, OR 97741
> 541-475-3351, ext. 307
> 541-475-7434 (fax)
> ORBIS Code #81
>
> "Finally, from so little sleeping and so much reading, his brain dried up
> and he went completely out of his mind."
> -- Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra<http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4037220.Miguel_de_Cervantes_Saavedra>,
> * Don Quixote <http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/121842> *
>
> _____________________________________________________
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> Hosted by the Oregon State Library. The Library is not responsible for
> content.
> Questions related to message content should be directed to list owner(s)
> or the sender of the message, by phone or email.
> Technical questions? Call 503-378-8800.
>
>

-- 
Jackie J. May
Interlibrary Loans
Jefferson County Library District
241 SE 7th Street
Madras, OR 97741
541-475-3351, ext. 307
541-475-7434 (fax)
ORBIS Code #81

"Finally, from so little sleeping and so much reading, his brain dried up
and he went completely out of his mind."
-- Miguel de Cervantes
Saavedra<http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4037220.Miguel_de_Cervantes_Saavedra>,
* Don Quixote <http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/121842> *
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