Five things I learned as a Book Delivery Volunteer with Dublin City Libraries

August 20, 2021

Five things I learned as a Book Delivery Volunteer with Dublin City Libraries

About Volunteering, News, Stories

I got to meet some wonderful people...whose positivity and outlook was inspirational.

1. Library patrons come from all socio-economic backgrounds and age groups.

As a book delivery volunteer with Dublin City Libraries, my delivery route covered the south side of Dublin City,from Sandymount Beach in the east to the M50 in the west.

One of the first things I noticed was that library patrons were spread out across the entire area. I delivered to sprawling mansions around Ballsbridge and Donnybrook, inner city flats in The Liberties and Dolphin’s Barn and council estates in Drimnagh and Ballyfermot. This highlighted to me how libraries are for everyone, regardless of their background.

While the nature of the Covid-19 delivery service meant that most of the patrons were older, there were some vulnerable younger people using the service either directly or through their parents.

2. People enjoy a wide variety of materials through the library service

While many patrons still opt for traditional books, the services of Dublin City Libraries have evolved to include a wide range of content in different media.

A quick look at each week’s delivery bags highlighted the variety of books, audio books, magazines and videos being delivered and enjoyed every week. Audio books were much more popular than I had expected. While some people using audio books were visually impaired, others just preferred listening to audio books over traditional reading. DVDs were also popular.

I was also surprised by the variety of content which people ordered. There was a good mix of fiction and non-fiction. Contemporary works were popular but there were also many more specific requests. One patron received a large bag of various Mills & Boon titles while another received just one detailed title on a particular political topic. One elderly lady told me that she only reads non-fiction while another requested a range of art history books to assist her with an online course she was taking.

3. Library patrons use the library as a social space.

In our initial training, Damien O’Shaughnessy of Dublin City Libraries and Kristin Kristjansdottir of the Dublin City Volunteer Centre highlighted that book delivery volunteers proved a valuable source of social interaction for the elderly and those cocooning, particularly those who lived alone.

All volunteers wore masks throughout and dropped materials at the door to minimise physical contact. Standing back from the door, it was possible to have a short conversation to check in with people and see how they were coping during the pandemic. Some were in a hurry, often eager to get stuck into their newly delivered materials! Others were keen to have a chat and some interaction.

I listened to stories about pets, gardening, and far-off sons in Canada. I heard about recently deceased partners, friends undergoing surgery and even practised cúpla focail Gaeilge.

I had to turn down many invites inside for a cup of tea and a chat, unfortunately. Throughout all this, many patrons expressed their sense of loss at libraries being closed and missing out on library activities and regularly asked when libraries would reopen. I heard lots of stories about great memories of past experiences and events in their local library. Some mentioned that they went to the library every day to read newspapers. It’s clear that libraries represent important social spaces and that the volunteer delivery service provided a vital link with libraries during the pandemic.

4. Library patrons are appreciative of library services but also have high expectations!

From the outset, I noticed that library patrons really appreciated the volunteer delivery service and the greater library service in general. People were always thankful and some marvelled at the voluntary spirit of the programme.

While all were vocal in their appreciation, others went a step further. I received offers of pots of homemade jam and marmalade, bunches of fresh garden flowers, boxes of biscuits and chocolates as well as on one occasion and entire cake! There were also some cards and thank you notes. Many wished to send thanks to Valentina Villi of the Dublin City Library book delivery service. The delivery service operated as a phone-in service and patrons highlighted how calls with Valentina became part of the antidote to social isolation.

While all patrons were appreciative of the service, some had no problem letting you know about the pitfalls too! On busier days if the delivery was late, patrons were matter of fact “I thought you would be here at 2.30pm!” or “I phoned looking for a particular book but you didn’t have it!” They also took issue with the quality of deliveries “You gave me six books last time but only two of them were good!” In all cases these were not presented as complaints but merely a statement of fact.

5. Volunteering is a hugely positive experience.

Many people talk about the positive impact of volunteering and how you “get more than you give”. While I have done volunteering before, this role was hugely gratifying. From a personal point of view, I got to see the vast diversity and variety of life in Dublin. I saw how people in different communities live in a way that you don’t see on the bus or the car. I also got to meet some wonderful people, particularly the elderly, whose positivity and outlook was inspirational. Their gratitude was heart-warming. I also got to contribute to society and something bigger during a pandemic when it is difficult to know how to contribute. I came to really look forward to my weekly deliveries. From a professional point of view, I got to see some of the workings of Dublin City Libraries and experience dealing with library patrons. Overall, this has been a hugely positive and fulfilling experience.

James Duggan is an English Language Teacher and a student in Library and Information Studies at DBS. He is originally from Kerry but now lives and works in Dublin. He has been a book delivery volunteer with Dublin City Libraries and the Dublin City Volunteer Centre since March 2021.