Purpose
Volunteer opportunities at the Princeton Public Library are intended to:
Supplement the efforts of paid library staff in meeting the demands for quality public service. Serve as a method for encouraging citizens to become familiar with their library and the services being offered.
The Princeton Public Library may make use of the services of interested volunteers to supplement, but not replace, regular services provided by library staff. Volunteers will not be used in place of hiring full-time or part-time staff. Volunteers may apply for paid positions under the same conditions as other outside applicants.
Definitions
Volunteer:  Any individual 16 years of age or older, who assists with work done at Princeton Public Library without remuneration. All volunteers must be formally accepted by the library prior to performance of assigned tasks. (See selection of Volunteers)
Student Intern:  Any high school or college student who performs volunteer work without remuneration as part of an authorized school program to earn academic credit. Student Interns need to follow the expectations, general provisions, and volunteer assignments listed below.
Selection of Volunteers
Volunteers are selected based on their qualifications in relation to the needs of the library at any given time and based on the individual’s ability to commit to a consistent schedule of volunteer hours.
Interested individuals must complete a Princeton Public Library volunteer application. If under the age of 18 must have a written permission from a parent or guardian to volunteer at the library. Applicants will be interviewed by the librarian approved by the PALS Board to determine suitability.

Princeton Public Library may check references and has the right to decline anyone as a volunteer without cause or statement of reason. All volunteers must be free of criminal convictions pertaining to juveniles. All personal information is considered necessary and is confidential in nature. All Volunteer applicants information will be used to conduct a criminal background check. Otherwise, personal information will not be disclosed to anyone, outside of the subpoena, court order, or other appropriate law enforcement request.
Volunteers will be given a copy of the description of volunteer tasks that applies to them specifically.
Descriptions of volunteer tasks are subject to change depending on need. Over time, as the volunteer’s interests, training, experience, performance and the library’s needs indicate, volunteers may change or add other more difficult responsibilities, thereby increasing their value to the library.

If there are no suitable volunteer opportunities, the application will be kept on file for a period of six (6) months. Applicants will be contacted if a project is identified which matches their interests or qualifications.
 
General Provisions
The Princeton Public Library does not provide any medical, health, accident, or worker’s compensation benefits for any volunteer. In the event of an accident, injury, or medical situation occurring while volunteering at the Library, a non-employee Incident Report Form would need to be filled out by the volunteer. The Library administration understands that circumstances may occur which would necessitate modifying the application of this policy, and these instances will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the Princeton Area Library Supporters Board. 
Description of Volunteer Assignments
Circulation Shelves Maintenance: to straighten materials on circulation shelves for uniformity and ease of access for library patrons. This task may include dusting the shelving and/or materials.
Programing Preparation: to assist with cutting out, counting, organizing materials needed for Children’s or Teen Programing activities.
Item Donations: to sort through donated books and DVD’s checking for damage that would prevent adding material into Library circulation.
Book Sale: to assist with book and material preparation for PALS book sale fundraiser events.
Library Decoration/Display: to help organize and set up displays for library purposes. Shelving Materials: to return recently checked in circulation materials to proper location on circulation shelves.
Shelf Reading: to look over circulation shelves, checking for out of place items to be re-shelved in proper location.
Discard Materials: to assist librarian on duty by pulling materials designated for discard from circulation shelves.
Event Assistance: to help with special events which may occur outside of library hours, or regular weekly events that take place during operating hours.
Exterior Maintenance: to help with yard maintenance by picking up trash, sweeping sidewalks, cleaning exterior windows and glass doors, etc.
General Cleaning: to help keep Library interior clean by preforming tasks such as sweeping, vacuuming, wiping surfaces, cleaning interior windows, dumping trash cans, cleaning the bathroom, etc.
General Area Maintenance: to assist with keeping the Community Cupboard, Free Little Library, Puzzle Exchange in order.
Children’s Area Maintenance: to assist with keeping the Children’s Area bins and Training Library in order. To return any children’s area items that may be misplaced by patrons to their designated space.
Patron Assistance: to assist patrons in finding library circulation materials based on their interests and needs. To assist patrons with the Library’s community services such as Community Cupboard, Puzzle Exchange, computer usage, etc.
Page 2 of                                                                    *approved by PALS board Monday April 20th, 2026