The Burlingame Library Foundation
The Burlingame Library Foundation was founded in 1995 to help provide private funding support from the community to supplement library programs. Over $200,000 was raised to furnish the main library in 1997. Another $230,000 was raised to restore the Easton Branch Library in 2004. Ongoing programs include: children's programs, summer reading clubs, author's programs, public relations materials, and library book sales.
The goals of the Foundation are to:
- Enhance the collection
- Provide community access to state of the art information technology
- Support creative programs that contribute to an enriched community life
- Preserve and maintain the historic buildings and their interiors.
How to make a Donation
Donations to the Library may be made either through the Burlingame Library Foundation or directly to the Trustees Special Fund. The Library Foundation is a 501c3 private non-profit corporation registered in the State of California (Tax ID #94-322-0365).
Donations may be made by check addressed to the Burlingame Library Foundation at 480 Primrose Road, Burlingame, CA 94010. Gifts of stock or bonds are also welcome and can be arranged through the Foundation Executive Board. For those involved in personal estate or financial planning, the Foundation offers a convenient way to make a lasting contribution to the community through planned giving. For information on such donations, contact the City Librarian or the Library Foundation directly.
Donating Books and Media
Donation Guidelines
Donations of books and media in good condition are also accepted with some specific guidelines. The Library reserves the right to refuse gifts upon which restrictions are placed. Once given, no gift material can be returned to the donor.
All items must comply with some basic criteria: no mold, no damp books, etc. Textbooks are generally not added to the collection. Professional staff review donated items for addition to the collection. Books, which are not added to the collection, are given to the Foundation for their on-going book sales.
The library does not have the expertise to appraise gifts of books for tax purposes. However, a receipt may be given to the donor stating the number of items given and she/he may assign a value to the items for tax purposes. Patrons who require a receipt may request one from the Circulation Desk or Library Administration. Gift materials will be added to the collection only when they meet the same criteria and standards as for purchased materials.
Donor Recognition
Major donors (over $1000) are honored on an original brass leaf sculpture at the main library. donors to the Easton Branch are honored on faux library book spines at the entrance to the children's area. Top of page
|
Volunteering at the Burlingame Public Library
Volunteers serve an important function at the Burlingame Public Library; their services range from tutoring patrons on the use of the Internet to providing oversight when the public terrace is open. In general volunteers provide services that are not performed by the paid staff but provide assistance to the employees or make a library visit more pleasant for patrons.
Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age and be willing to commit to at least 3 months of service. |
|
 |
If you are interested in becoming a Burlingame Public Library volunteer, follow these steps:
1. Check out Current Volunteer Opportunities
Current and on-going openings are listed below and provide the criteria needed by volunteers: skills, dates, times and training.
2. Complete a Volunteer Application
Click here to download a PDF Application
Adult Volunteer Teen Volunteer
Please fill out the application and bring it to the Library.
3. Sign-up to attend a Volunteer Orientation.
Our next orientation is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9th 7:00 – 8:00 pm.
Please email Jan Eustis Eustis@plsinfo.org or Amy Pelman Pelman@plsinfo.org to RSVP for an orientation.
Current Volunteer Openings
Display Volunteer
Position Summary: Maintaining book displays throughout the library.
Major Responsibilites: Collecting books throughout the library using prepared lists and placing them on the display shelves as directed by library staff.
Qualifications: Helpful attitude, attention to detail.
Minimum Length of Commitment: 3 months
Time Involvement: 2 hours per week
Location: Main Library 480 Primrose Road
Department: Volunteer Department
Supervisor: Volunteer Coordinators
Library Greeter
Position Summary: Assists library customers as they come in the door, and when they get ready to check out materials.
Major Responsibilities: After training, this volunteer primarily helps patrons with the self-check-out machines, the Express Holds, answering directional questions, and knowing when to refer patrons to circulation or reference staff members.
Qualifications: Excellent interpersonal communication skills, willingness to help others, open and flexible attitude, sense of humor. Must be able to stand and move about for long periods of time. While not required, knowledge of library layout, and self-check machines a plus.
Minimum Length of Commitment: 3 months
Time Involvement: 2 hours per week
Location: Main Library 480 Primrose Road
Department: Reference and Circulation
Supervisor: Varies, Reference and Circulation Staff
Cleaning Volunteer
Position Summary: Helps to maintain the cleanliness and appearance of library and library materials.
Major Responsibilities: Cleaning books, dusting, replacing and replenishing scratch paper and pencils, picking up trash, straightening materials.
Qualifications: Helpful attitude, attention to detail, must be able to stand and move about freely.
Minimum Length of Commitment: 3 months
Time Involvement: 1 - 2 hours per week
Department: Reference
Supervisor: Varies
Location: Main Library 480 Primrose Road
Children’s Room Volunteer
Position Summary: Various jobs as needed to support Children’s Room activities.
Major Responsibilities: Cleaning books, Organizing paperbacks and audio visual materials, Helping with special activities and events.
Qualifications: Age 14 or older. Excellent interpersonal communication skills, willingness to help others, open and flexible attitude, sense of humor.
Minimum Length of Commitment: 3 months
Time Involvement: 1 - 2 hours per week
Location: Main Library 480 Primrose Road
Department: Children’s
Supervisor: Children’s Staff
Summer Reading Club Support
Position Summary: Helps with preparation and execution of summer reading club.
Major Responsibilities: Preparing materials – folding and stapling, stamping books, Family Fun Night ticket-taker, fill a regular 2 hour shift to assist children with completing the Summer Reading Club, other jobs as needed.
Qualifications: Age 14 or older. Excellent interpersonal communication skills, willingness to help others, open and flexible attitude, sense of humor.
Length of Commitment: 3 months
Time Involvement: 2 hours per week
Location: Main Library 480 Primrose Road
Department: Children’s
Supervisor: Children’s Staff
Outreach Delivery of Materials for Home-Bound Patrons
Position Summary: Delivers books to home-bound patrons in Burlingame and Hillsborough
Major Responsibilities: After completing training, outreach volunteer will be assigned particular home-bound library users to whom they will deliver books and other materials selected by the outreach coordinator on a regular basis.
Qualifications: Must be at least 18 and possess a valid driver’s license. Good verbal communication and inter-personal skills. Enjoy spending time with older adults. Physically able to carry bags of books.
Minimum Length of Commitment: 3 months
Time Involvement: varies - most deliveries are once every 2 weeks.
Location: City of Burlingame
Department: Outreach
Supervisor: Outreach Coordinator
Green Thumb
Position Summary: Water and tend the both the indoor plants and the plants on the terrace at the library.
Major Responsibilities: Visit the library on a regular basis to tend to the library plants.
Qualifications: Must be at least 18. Experience with plants, or a “green thumb” a plus.
Minimum Length of commitment: 3 months
Time Involvement: 1 hour per week.
Location: Main Library 480 Primrose Road
Department: Reference
Supervisor: Varies, Reference Staff
Terrace Monitor
Position Summary: Monitors the use of the library terrace by library users.
Major Responsibilities: After completing training, volunteer will be in charge of the library terrace area for a specific period of time on a regular basis.
Qualifications: Must be at least 18. Good interpersonal skills.
Length of Commitment: 3 months
Time Involvement: 2 hours per week
Location: Main Library 480 Primrose Road
Department: Reference
Supervisor: Varies, Reference Staff
Special Events Volunteer
Position Summary: Helps with planning and implementing special events at the library.
Major Responsibilities: Various activities which may include: baking, decorating, crowd control, flower arranging, etc.
Qualifications: Must be at least 18.
Length of Commitment: varies
Time Involvement: varies
Location: Main Library 480 Primrose Rd.
Department: Varies
Supervision: Varies according to the event
Easton Branch Green Thumb
Position Summary: Water and tend indoor plants and outdoor container plants at the library entrance and in the secret garden.
Major Responsibilities: Visit the library on a regular basis to tend plants (3x per week in summer).
Qualifications: Must be at least 14. Ability to carry full water can from back to front of building. Experience with plant care a plus.
Minimum length of commitment: 3 months
Time Involvement: 1 hour per week.
Location: Easton Branch Library, 1800 Easton Drive at Cabrillo Ave.
Supervisor: Varies, Easton Branch desk staff.
Library Collection Support Assistant
Position Summary: Assists librarians with maintaining a current and useful collection.
Major Responsibilities: After training, this volunteer uses the library catalog, the internet, and other library catalogs to check library holdings.
Qualifications: Knowledge of alpha/numeric order, internet searching skills including comfort with Microsoft Word and Excel, positive attitude and flexibility. Knowledge of library catalog searching a plus.
Length of Commitment: 3 months
Time Involvement: 2 hours per week
Location: Main Library 480 Primrose Road
Department: Reference
Supervisor: Varies
Audio Visual Assistant
Position Summary: Helps the AV Librarian maintain the audiovisual collection.
Major Responsibilities: After training, using the repair machine to clean and repair scratched discs.
Qualifications: Willingness to demonstrate careful use of machinery, as well as machine maintenance and cleaning. This is a good job for a student who would like to read or do homework while repairing discs.
Location: Main Library 480 Primrose Road
Department: Reference
Supervisor: Audiovisual Librarian
Shelving Assistant
Position Summary: Helps the circulation staff shelve materials
Major Responsibilities: After training, volunteer shelves magazines, feature films, and paperback books. He or she also puts re-shelving carts in order
Qualifications: Knowledge of alpha/numeric order. Positive attitude and flexibility.
Location: Main Library 480 Primrose Road
Department: Reference
Supervisor: Audiovisual Librarian
Teen Volunteer Opportunities - click here
Top of page
Support the library through amazon.com
