Perceived benefits : views of volunteers in a joint health service/consumer hospital library, a genealogy library and a refugee and migrant centre, with a particular focus on non-English speaking background (NESB) volunteers

Abstract

Volunteers help others but they also benefit. Almost half the volunteers at one small special library are from a non-English speaking background (NESB). How were they recruited, and were their perceived benefits, motivations and challenges different from other volunteers at the library, or at another two sites in Christchurch, New Zealand? The research highlights a success (as recommended by a NZ Federation of Ethnic Councils report) as a way of increasing the low levels of ethnic formal volunteering. All current or past volunteers who served six months or more at the Allan Bean Centre Library (ABCL) were interviewed, face-to-face: seven NESB and six other volunteers; also a non-random sample of'fven voluntary genealogy assistants from the Family History Centre (FHC) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and five volunteer conversational assistants from PEETO English Language College. Most ABCL NESB volunteers were seeking better employment. Volunteering helped them gain jobs, including two who found employment in libraries. Only two other volunteers were seeking employment, and were specifically motivated by library work experience. None of the PEETO and FHC volunteering was work related. All volunteers, including lapsed volunteers, viewed volunteering positively and would recommend it to friends. Relationships with other volunteers, staff and repeat customers were valued, also feeling useful to others, and continuing to learn. This research may assist small libraries and information centres to help recruit and utilise ethnic and other volunteers effectively. It may also help other ethnic migrants move into paid work through volunteering.