Giving library volunteers the skills they need to effectively assist clients,
families, caregivers and visitors with helpful resources is the objective of a
series of training sessions developed by Library Services and the Centre for
Education's Division of Training & Simulation.
Advancing Teamwork for Library Accessible Services (ATLAS) employs a
variety of approaches to help volunteers rethink their services from a client's
perspective and challenge their routines and assumptions.
The Anne and Louis Pritzker Wellness Library is a free lending library
with a wide range of health information and reading materials. The
library enriches the lives of older adults through volunteer interactions,
meaningful resources, programs and the use of technology. Volunteers
are trained to provide knowledgeable service tailored to clients' needs
while creating a community hub for clients, families and members of the
community with connections beyond Baycrest.
The ATLAS program is an innovative model that could be adopted by other
organizations that value and rely on library volunteers.
(pictured above): Volunteers help library users discover reliable health
information and reading materials.
Investing in volunteer training
improves client service
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