VOLUNTEER CONNECTIONS

Celebrating National Volunteer Week

April 12 to April 18, 2015

“Just as ripples spread out when a

single pebble is dropped into water, the

actions of individuals can have far-

reaching effects.” - Dalai Lama

With Heartfelt Thanks

This is it, my last message to Kitchener Public Library volunteers! It has been a privilege

working with you. Never have I met such a dedicated group of volunteers. I admire your

passion for library service and commitment to providing excellent service.

In my last In Touch article I wrote about my retirement and feeling a great sense of accomplishment. I have

every reason to be proud. The Library is one of the City’s most valued services. That’s thanks to the great

volunteers and staff who work at Kitchener Public Library.

Some may think that the Central Library renovation project was our greatest success of the past decade. I truly

believe it’s the work volunteers and staff do every day that is our greatest achievement. You change lives.

Thank you for giving Kitchener Public Library the precious gift of your time. Best wishes to all of you.

With heartfelt thanks,

Sonia Lewis

CEO, Kitchener Public Library

National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week will be celebrated April 12

to April 18 this year, to thank the 13.3 million

volunteers across Canada for the time and energy

they contribute to causes that benefit our

communities.

Volunteer action is like a stone thrown in a lake: its

ripple effect has a direct impact on our community.

Kitchener Public Library volunteers are part of the

ripple effect! Your actions touch many lives and

make Kitchener Public Library a vibrant place where

community connects. Thank you!

Areas of Service

Administration

special events | assistance | organize

Children’s Program Assistant

craft prep | hands on help | smiles

Information Displays

community | bulletin boards | notices

French Immersion Tutor

homework help | conversation | bilingual

Gardener

inviting atmosphere | green | garden space

Internet Orientations

one-on-one | introduction | computer concepts

Library Board

lead | plan | policy | advocate

Reading Buddies

emergent readers | fun books | read aloud

Resume Coach

consultation | employment | CV | advise

Shelf Reader

dewey | collections | alphabetical order

Tech Tutor

tech savvy youth | digital media | demo

Toy Library

clean | sort | games | play

Visiting Library

select books | share joy of reading

Youth Advisory Council

engagement | teen programs | award-winning

By the numbers...

Total # of volunteer hours in 2014 = 8,278

Economic value of volunteers = $206,950.00*

Total # of volunteers (year-round) = 256

Summer Teen volunteers = 90

Special Event volunteers = 90

Soldier Card volunteers = 80

Total # of volunteers in 2014 = 516

*Estimated economic value of volunteers in Canada = $25.00/hour

Carlos Benevides

When he’s not behind the microphone at 91.5 The Beat, Carlos Benevides

can often be found at Kitchener Public Library.

The charismatic, energetic radio host has been a Reading Buddy volunteer

for about two years. Reading Buddies work one-on-one with children who

can read, but need a little more practise.

Carlos found his way to our doors through a zany radio experiment a few

years ago: 30 Deeds in 30 Days. He volunteered at a different local organi-

zation every day for 30 days in a row, sharing his experiences with radio

listeners and writing about it too.

His goal was to highlight how easy it is to make a difference, once you’ve

found the right volunteer position among the many opportunities available.

It was fellow radio colleague and library board member Mike Farwell who

suggested he give Reading Buddies a try.

“I love kids and reading is very important to me, so it’s the perfect fit,”

Carlos says. “It’s one day a week for one hour. That’s all you need to make

an impact.”

His last Reading Buddy was seven years old, and English was not his first

language. He struggled at first, but by the end of the eight-week session, he

became more confident and comfortable with reading.

“I was really impressed and inspired by the little guy,” Carlos says. “I think I

get more out of it than the people I’m helping. I love spending time with

people. I’m getting a more rewarding experience than anyone else.”

Maca Suazo

Maca Suazo has a long and deep connection to libraries and literature. In her

native country of Chile, patrons were not allowed to browse, but had to

request books that were kept in locked glass cases. Her mother travelled by

train to access books to read aloud to Maca.

When she came to Canada in 1998, she was amazed first by library at York

University, where her husband was a student, and then by the Toronto Pub-

lic Library, with its thousands of picture books and books in Spanish for her

daughters.

She moved to Kitchener seven years ago and now volunteers as a shelf read-

er at Central Library. Shelf readers make sure our collection is tidy and that

every item is filed in its proper place, so customers can always find what

they’re looking for. It’s a fulfilling and flexible volunteer role for Maca. She

lives within walking distance and generally comes in for about an hour a

week, at any time that works for her. She takes care of a specific section of

the fiction collection, and with her friend Fiorella Benini, also makes sure the

Spanish collection is in top shape.

“The Spanish section is great because it includes both the fiction and non-

fiction, but I can finish it in one day,” Maca says.

Maca recommends author Isabelle Allende for anyone interested in Chilean

writing. Chilean writers have a strong tradition of including elements of

magical realism in their works. “We believe that magic is possible,” Maca

says.

Maca is also an artist whose exhibit, Library Love, was the first show to be

mounted in the Art Gallery at Central Library after our reopening last year.

The exhibit was made up of 30 large, vibrant pieces, all with a library or

literature theme.

Shelley Zettler & Anthony Cashin

Sonia Lewis & Kirk Hawthorne

Sherry Erb

Veronica Naas

Liz Reuss

Judy Ward

Jack Pym

Gabrielle Last

Madison Erb

Left: Sonia Lewis; Mary Blott,

Kerri Begley, Trinity Fraser-Sintic

Kitchener Youth Award Winner

Maddie Fielding is one amazing teen. She’s been volunteering with us here

at the library for more than three years, and cheerfully tackles any task we

give her.

If you’ve been to any of our major public events, you’ve probably seen her

smiling face: she’s helped out at Kidspark, Family Literacy Day, and the

Word on the Street Festival, and our community Kids Club.

She also comes to Central Library every week, where she offers administra-

tive support, helping out our volunteer services department and supporting

children’s programs.

Maddie is also a dedicated volunteer and community member in many other

areas: she’s a member of the YMCA Leadership Core, a volunteer with a

breakfast program at a local school, an athlete and an excellent student at

Bluevale Collegiate Institute. Last summer, she helped to build a school in

Kenya with Free the Children, and she is currently working toward earning a

Duke of Edinburgh Award, and won a Kitchener Youth Action Council award

in 2014.

Thanks for all your hard work, Maddie!

And the award goes to…

The Ontario Volunteer Service Awards recognize individual volunteers for continuous years of dedicated

service to an organization. Congratulations to the following library volunteers who were this year’s award

recipients:

Lorena Diaconescu (youth; 2+ years) Marg Reid (5 years)

Madison Erb (youth; 2+ years) Elaine Smith (5 years)

Sierra Erb (youth; 2+ years) Kathy Telfer (5 years)

Madelaine Fielding (youth; 2+ years) Karen Buhr (10 years)

Mallory Haggith (youth; 2+ years) Kirk Hawthorne (10 years)

Maegan Lockhart (youth; 2+ years) Darla Budan (15 years)

Susan Campbell (5 years) Marg Lewis (15 years)

Kim Cluthe (5 years) Marg van Lingen (15 years)

Sabina Franzen (5 years) Marg McGee (20 years)

Eleanore Moore (5 years) Beverly Houston (30 years)

Pam Moore (30 years)

Together, these individuals volunteered a total of 182 years to Kitchener Public Library. WOW!

YOU’RE INVITED TO AN OPEN HOUSE!

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

4 - 7 PM | Sweet treats and beverages served | Library tours available

Volunteer Services Office | Lower Level

7 - 8 PM | Enjoy music the Progressive Jazz Repertoire with Dave Wiffen Quintet

Auditorium | Lower Level

Central Library | 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener ON

519.743.0271 ext. 222

Volunteer Faves: Books We Love!

I Am Part Of The Ripple Effect VOLUNTEERS | Bassem Abdelfattah | Hina Afzaal | Mehdi Al-Aoussi; Saif Al-Din | Patrick Allen | Carolyn

Anderson | Katherine Andrews | Teresa Arruda | Daniel Ayala | Lesa Balch | Lindsay Barbosa | Susan Barclay

| Victoria Barron | Pauline Bauman | Jill Bechard | Heather Bechtloff | Kerri Begley | Carlos Benevides |

Fiorella Benini | Mary Blott | Scott Blundon | Tim Blundon | Daniella Boronka | Mackenzie Botelho | Hayley

Brennan | Jenny Brooks | Karolina Brozy | Wayne Buchholtz | Vinnie Buchanan | Darla Budan | Karen Buhr |

Alison Bullock | Kelly Burwash | Jaime Cadman | Charlotte Cahill | Susan Campbell | Sydney Canning | Mae

Carroll | Anthony Cashin | Raina Marie Chamberlain | Kiara Chamberlaine | Kim Cluthe | Jessica Coulis |

Sylvia Crichton | Faye Culligan | Melinda Culp | Theron D'amico | Lorena Diaconescu | Emma Dmitruk-Gole |

Katherine Doerner | Shirley Doherty | Michelle Dow | Sylvie Drader | Beverly Drobot | Madison Erb | Sierra Erb

| Cory Ernst | Sara Faulhafer | Madelaine Fielding | Carol Filipowitsch | Natalie Fisk | Robert Fleming | Patricia

Foden | Tyra Forde | Sabina Franzen | Trinity Fraser-Sintic | Kathryn Frederick | Brooklyn Galer | Kelly Gallo-

way-Sealock | Mira Gerges | Alexandra Gerth | Mary Gingrich | Ann Goodhew | Sharon Gorni | Cathy Gregory |

Elizabeth Groen | Pam Gruetzmacher | Mallory Haggith | Sally Hahn | Christine Halbert | Jessica Halma |

Jason Han | Juliane Hartwig-Fisher | Kirk Hawthorne | Rahim Hegazy | John Heo | Alva Holland | Brenda

Holvey | Beverly Houston | Phany Im | Maureen Jackson | Emma Jewett | Cathy Johnson | Norma Johnston |

Cheryl Kaar | Bethany Karn | Andrij Karpets | Rashmeet Kaur | Noah Kavelman | Kali Kay | Meghan Kean |

Rebecca Kean | Riva Khadan | Helena Kleinsasser | Mike Langevin | Tracy Lapointe | Gabriele Last | Deanne

Leifso | Murielle Lemieux | Margaret Lewis | Maegan Lockhart | Cyndi Long | Brittany Loree Stroeder | Jodie

Mace | Wendy Macintosh | Rachael MacIntosh Douglas | Bruce MacVicar | Penny MacVicar | Trevor Mains |

Chantelle Mann | Sarah Marsh | Carrie Martens | Linda Martin | Sarah Mather | Gail McCormack | Janice

McDonald | Kendra McDonald | Caitlin McDonough | Marg McGee | Sherry McGlynn | Jacqueline McLaren |

Kelly McManus | Huguette Meinzinger | Filipe Mendes | Louise Merlihan | Allison Metcalfe | Phillip Miller |

Carrie-Lynn Millest | Don Milton | Eleanore Moore | Pam Moore | Lynne Moore-Fraser | Leslie Morgenson |

Cole Morrison | Sue Moses | Jenny Moulton | Amanda Mustard | Alexandra Mutlak | Veronica Naas | Amogh

Nayak | Nathan Nederpelt | Sharon Neville | Brian Otto | Stephanie Oue | Bob Pagan | Cheryl Parker | Bronwyn

Parkhill | Karen Parsons | Raluca Pasca | Oliver Pavia | Carolyn Pegg | Judy Penteker | Kali Persyn | Claire

Petro | Jane Pfeffer | Justin Pintar | Gail Prince | Maryanne Putros | Jack Pym | Marg Reid | Todd Rellinger | Liz

Reuss | Veronica Riauka | Kyle Richardson | Ruth Rosner | Olive Roth | Erin Rudland | Gord Salm | Sandra

Salter | Jennifer Sanders | Bettie Schuurman | Rai Scodras | Mary Jane Seabrook | Alois Seschel | Sylvia

Seschel | Janice Shantz | Nikhil Sharma | Nitin Sharma | Sue Siefried | Sasha Simine | Amardeep Singh |

Bhupinder Singh | Ivona Sipicki | Elaine Smith | Pat Smith | Eleanor Snyder | Maria Sokolova | Jennifer Sparks |

Rebecca Stevens-Green | Judy Strongman | Maca Suazo | Stephanie Tanner | Kathy Telfer | Paulette Thomp-

son | Christine Treichel | Anthony Trinh | Shelley Tsarfati | Kimberley Van Delst | Marg van Lingen | Asia van

Vliet | Tyko van Vliet | Olivia Vardy | Marc Verhoeve | Manuela Villegas | Annie Wang | Yin Wang | Judy Ward |

Mikaela Ward | Nancy Watt | Stayce Webber | Barbara Weber | Chris Williams | Edma Williams | Peter Wong |

Natasha Yates | Janet Young | Alexander Zafiris | Jansen Zhou | Katie Zhou | Dante Zikic | Sonya Zikic | Lynne

Zink | Thank you for your service!

Special thanks to the staff liaisons who work with directly with our

volunteers! Karen Ball-Pyatt | Karen Buhr | Janice Cotter | Bev Drobot | Gloria

Grigas | Kelly Irwin | Cheryl Jankowski | Sherri Jantzi | Gabriele Last | Emily

McLaughlin | Kevin Page | Dani Paschert-Ward | Julie Piatek | Leslie Rogers |

Janice Sachs | Robyn Vander Zee | Jennifer Webb | Karen Wylie |