About the Foundation
This Year's Funding Needs
Ways to Invest
Leave a Legacy
Endowment & Book Funds
Honor & Memorial Gifts
Volunteer
Share Your Story
Read the Newsletter
Join our E-Mail List
Watch our Video
Contact

Volunteer

The mission of the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation is to provide financial support and benefits to the Tompkins County Public Library, enhancing opportunities for the library's continued growth and service to the entire community. There are a host of ways in which people who are committed to the library can help the Foundation meet its mission.

Online Registration Privacy Policy: All information submitted is confidential and is only used to comply with your request. Please click the check box beside the volunteer opportunity or opportunities in which you are interested. ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES Submit Your Candidacy for the Board of Directors Description: To advance the mission of the Foundation, the Board of Directors as a whole is responsible for identifying goals and approving and monitoring performance of revenue generating strategies. As an individual, each board member must do something to help implement those strategies. Board members work closely with the Foundation Executive Director, the Library Director and fellow board members to generate support for the library. Qualifications: Willingness to engage in aspects of fundraising. Ability to: listen, analyze, think clearly and creatively, work well with people individually and in a group. Possess or develop certain skills such as to: cultivate supporters and solicit funds, cultivate and recruit board members and other volunteers, read and understand financial statements, learn more about the substantive program areas of the library. Prior fundraising experience and/or board service a plus, but not required. Commitment: Ongoing. Approx. 8-10 hours per month. Develop and implement public relations and marketing strategies Description: Working as a volunteer consultant, help the library craft strategies to promote services, increase awareness and build good will. Qualifications: Must have professional experience in public relations or marketing and be knowledgeable about the community. Commitment: Ongoing. Approx. 5 hours per week. Join the Donor Relations Committee Description: Help brainstorm and implement innovative ways to thank, recognize and expand relationships with Foundation donors. Qualifications: Combination of creativity and ability to follow through on ideas. Commitment: Monthly. Approx. 2-3 hours per month (1-1½ for meeting, 1-1½ for assignments). First meeting date TBD. Administrative/clerical assistance Description: Work with Foundation Director and Administrative Assistant on filing, data entry, photocopying, word processing, mailings and other related activities. Qualifications: Computer proficient-knowledgeable of MS Word and Excel, able to learn enough about Paradigm database to execute tasks. Attentive to detail. Commitment: Weekly, minimum of three hours per week. Internship - Development Assistant Description: This is an unpaid position available immediately. Can be done for college credit if desired. The Development Assistant will work with the Executive Director and other Library and Foundation staff to identify, cultivate and solicit sources of support and to market and promote the Library's programs and services. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Conduct prospect research utilizing online databases and other sources and compile research profiles and other data on individuals, foundations and corporations. Write reports, proposals, online content, press releases, marketing materials and other correspondence. Assist in the development and production of targeted mailings, and research and enter direct mail lists into database. Light administrative and other tasks as required. Qualifications: Excellent communication and writing skills. Excellent research skills, including solid knowledge of web engines. PC skills include: Word and some database knowledge. Knowledge of Excel a plus. Interest in learning about and participating in all aspects of development and nonprofit management. Commitment: 10-15 hours per week. Some work can be done off-site, at home or elsewhere. OCCASIONAL, ONE-TIME AND PROJECT-BASED OPPORTUNITIES Host an event in your home to spread the word about the library Description: Like the library tour, this event would serve as an opportunity to introduce the library to your friends and colleagues in a personal, social manner. Qualifications: Willingness to extend word-of-mouth invitations to your personal contacts on the library's behalf. Should enjoy hosting social gatherings. Commitment: One-time during September through December 2005. Approx. 8 hours to invite guests and set up and host event. Serve as "Library Journalists" The Foundation is interested in gathering patrons' stories and documenting the library experience. "Library Journalists" interview patrons then capture their stories through written articles, video, photography or a combination of these methods. Qualifications: Must be outgoing and knowledgeable about the fundamentals of journalism. Commitment: During September through December 2005. Amount of time TBD. Host a library tour for friends and colleagues Description: The Library Director and Foundation Executive Director lead one-hour tours twice a month to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the library and to spread the word in the community about the library's work. Volunteers can "host" a tour by inviting friends and colleagues then by serving as the greeter for their guests (maximum: 15) on the day of the tour. Regularly scheduled tours are held Friday mornings (either a.m. or a.m.) but we would be delighted to add another date and time if you have a large enough group to attend. Qualifications: Willingness to extend word-of-mouth invitations to your personal contacts on the library's behalf. Commitment: One-time during September 2005 through May 2006. Approx. 2-3 hours per tour. Participate in a "donor thankathon" Description: Rather than a traditional phonathon through which funds are solicited, the Foundation will occasionally implement a weeklong effort to thank and get to know individuals who have given a gift in the past 1-2 years. Qualifications: Must be passionate about the library, outgoing, like talking on the telephone and willing and able to record details of conversations. Commitment: One-time. Approx. 3 hours per thankathon (1 hour for training and 2 hours for calling). Date of next thankathon TBD. Send handwritten thank you notes Description: Volunteers are sought to write personal handwritten notes of thanks to donors. Qualifications: Must be a library user able to state honestly that he or she has benefited from the library. Legible handwriting, please! Commitment: Either ongoing (monthly) or seasonal (September 2005 through January 2006). Amount of time will vary according to the number of notes. Share your library story Description: Write a personal testimonial or letter of support for public use or agree to be quoted as to why you support the library, or agree to speak at an event. Qualifications: Creative, articulate writer able to convey the impact of the library on an individual or family. Commitment: One-time. Approx. 1-2 hours. First Name: Last Name: Phone: E-Mail: Interested? Please complete the above form or contact Suzanne Smith Jablonski.