Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery
Volunteers & Interns
As indicated elsewhere in this manual of Library guidelines, operation of a university library is especially labor intensive. Essential, core functions required to offer basic services are executed by staff and student assistants. However, the UMBC Library also actively utilizes the services of volunteers and interns in order to better fulfill the Library's mission.
While work done in and for the Library by workers receiving no monetary remuneration incurs no cash outlay on the part of the Library, such work is not "free" because all Library work must be properly organized by staff. The investment of Library staff time in supervising unpaid work must realize a clear net gain to the Library. If it does not, the arrangement by which the work is being done can be renegotiated or terminated.
A. Volunteers
Members of the community can make valuable contributions of time and talent to the Library's programs. Through appropriate means including newsletters, newspaper articles or ads, other contacts with organized groups or individuals, the Director of the Library and Library Unit Heads should solicit persons to volunteer to perform needed and appropriate work in the Library
B. Interns
A special category of unpaid volunteer is the intern who performs unpaid Library work, but is remunerated with academic credit or résumé experience. As with other volunteers, unit heads are responsible for recruiting their own interns from area library schools, history departments, etc. Care should be taken to explain that performance of volunteer work or internship in particular does not imply any promise or commitment by the University to future employment or special consideration in future Library staff recruitment.
Further Procedures
References: Library unit head meeting minutes 9/28/92
revised 3/10/04
revised and implemented 9/4/98