 Library Volunteer - Volunteers' Week Special
Our library buildings may remain closed during Volunteers' Week, but we would still like to say a big Thank You to all our wonderful Library Volunteers. We miss you very much and hope you like your special Volunteers' Week eCard with a message from Lesley Sim (Head of Libraries, Heritage and Registration.)
A copy of the eCard can also be found on the Volunteer Webpages.
Virtual Volunteer Picks
This year instead of Volunteers' Week displays in our libraries, we asked our volunteers to choose their own “Virtual Volunteer Picks”
Here is a selection of your favourite reads that you would like to recommend to others. Take a look at our Virtual Reading Group Facebook Page for some more!!
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The Forty Rules of Love by Élif Shafak.
Among other things, this book is an insight into an aspect of Islam that is a million miles away from the dominant western images and worth a read for that alone. The author skillfully weaves the story of how the Sufi mystic Rumi struggled to develop these rules through the narrative of a western woman trying to find meaning in her life by corresponding with a writer on Rumi’s journey toward the light.
Iain Ballantyne - Computer Buddy Volunteer - Chichester Library
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The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe by Milly Johnson
This is not my usual type of book but I found it short and light - just right for the current times. Milly Johnson is from my neck of the woods so that was another plus. I read it as an eBook.
Carole Matthews - Community Support Volunteer - Willowhale Library
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The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
I'm Tamara O'Brien, and I help out with Melody for the Mind at East Grinstead library.
My pick is The Mirror and The Light by Hilary Mantel - a weighty tome, but the pace and brilliance of the writing never lets up, so it's a joy to read. Here is Henry Vlll's England in all its bizarre, terrifying, ridiculous, paranoid glory, with characters manoeuvred by Mantel's great, mysterious anti-hero, my Lord Privy Seal Thomas Cromwell.
Tamara O'Brien - Melody for the Mind Volunteer - East Grinstead Library
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On Wilder Seas by debut novelist Nikki Marmery
A gripping tale of Maria, an enslaved African woman, who inadvertently joins Francis Drake’s circumnavigation voyage on the Golden Hind in 1579. This excellently researched and beautifully crafted novel tells of her interactions with members of the crew, strange happenings as the ship touches land and how she uses all her wiles to survive.
Sue Birch - Reading Group Volunteer - Bognor Regis Library.
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Memoirs of an Infantry Officer by Siegfried Sassoon
A very moving memoir describing the horrors of warfare on the Western Front during WW1. But even more moving are his reflections on nature viewed just a mile back from the Front and the inability of a humble 2nd Lieutenant who “was powerless against unhappiness so huge."
David Brown – Community Library Support Volunteer - Hassocks Library
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Selsey book explorers have stayed connected during lockdown. As well as keeping volunteers up to date with relevant information from the library and WSCC we have also held virtual book groups. As we do not have the same book to read this has taken the form of exchanging reviews of books members have read the previous month.
These have included Hilary Mantell - The mirror and the light, Joanna Cannon - The trouble with goats and sheep and Aminatta Forna - The Hired man.
Georgina Pitts - Reading Group Volunteer – Selsey Library
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Wild - A Journey from Lost to Found by Cheryl Strayed
A journey which takes the reader through total endurance alongside compassion.
Jacquie Richardson - Home Library Direct Volunteer at Storrington Library
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The Hothouse Flower by Lucinda Riley
When an old diary is found during renovation work, Julia and Kit turn to Julia’s grandmother to hear the truth about the love affair that turned Wharton Park’s fortunes sour. Full of twists and turns and the unexpected.
Frances Coulson - Community Support Volunteer and Computer Buddy Volunteer at Willowhale Library
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Virtual Volunteering
We know that unfortunately it is not possible for you to carry out your normal role as a Library Volunteer at the moment. But we are thrilled that many of you have continued to get involved and have been busy using our online services or helping to promote our online library service offer to friends, family and neighbours (remotely of course). Here is just a small selection of how some of our library volunteers have still been getting involved virtually!
Last but not least...
We would like to say a special Thank You to a small group of Digital Volunteers who have volunteered to help us trial a new Remote Digital Support service for library customers.
The small team had recently attended the 'Staying Safe Online' training and will support customers remotely to get online and access online services, helping with basic digital enquiries such as:
- Accessing the library service's online Current Offer
- Using email
- Using a digital device to connect with others
- General internet searching
- Accessing Learn My Way's free digital skills courses
- Registering online with a GP, dentist etc.
- Online access to government services
- Staying safe online
The trial will start on Tuesday 2 June and customers can contact the library service for digital support by phoning 0330 222 3455 or by email library.digital.support@westsussex.gov.uk.
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Keep in touch!
Volunteers' Week will be very different this year, but hopefully we will get to see you all in our libraries very soon.
Don’t forget to have a look at the Volunteer Webpages which we update regularly and includes links to all the past Volunteer eNewsletters.
We hope you continue to stay safe and well and keep in touch Christine.broggi@westsussex.gov.uk
Don't forget to follow us on:
Twitter: @WSCCLibraries
Facebook: WestSussexLibraries
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