Dec. 31, 2023 – Patron Services Specialist Maria Jose Eyzaguirre never dreamed she wanted a career as a librarian – until she started serving at the library.
She was working at TransAmerica in customer care when she saw an AmeriCorps VISTA position on Indeed.
“The description focused on promoting literacy to the community,” she said. “Books have always been a very positive refuge, a source of education, a source of creativity. I have a huge passion for books and literacy and reading.”
Her VISTA role started in 2018 just as the library’s Summer Dare reading program was kicking off.
“I got to see up-close the impact the library can have,” she said. “I just kind of fell in love with the whole thing.”
She ended up staying for two years as a VISTA. The end of that period was during the COVID-19 pandemic shift to virtual services. When her VISTA service ended, she got a job at the library, first as a shelver before moving into Public Service. Now she is a Patron Services Specialist.
“I fell in love with the library world so completely, I knew this is what I wanted to do,” she said.
This fall, she started an online Master of Library and Information Sciences program through the University of Iowa and is on her way to becoming a librarian.
“I went from being someone with a cursory interest to someone who really, truly believes in the value of public libraries,” she said.
Volunteer Coordinator Jessica Link said many organizations have partnered with the library on placing volunteers, including Goodwill, PrairieWood Transition Center, Foundation 2, The Arc, AmeriCorps, Kirkwood Community College, Coe College, and Mount Mercy University. Individuals also volunteer. Some are looking for a way to give back or engage with the community. And some, like Maria Jose, use the position as a stepping-stone into a library career.
“We’ve been fortunate to work with a variety of individuals over the years who come to us in a variety of ways – high school, just as volunteers, VISTAs, adults who are considering changing their careers,” she said. “They love the environment and the mission and the impact it makes in our community and just want to see if it’s a good fit for them.”
Others, like Max Stancel, explore library work as volunteers through work study programs. Max was a senior in high school, dual enrolled at Kirkwood Community College, where he completed an internship at the library last spring through Workplace Learning Connection. Workplace Learning Connections provides career exploration opportunities for teens. For Max, interning at the library was the perfect fit, since he is interested in studying library science.
“I like it because I get to be around books. I’m a very avid reader,” he said. “I believe in the power of a library. You can learn a lot by just coming here and reading. I’ve always gravitated toward libraries. So this is pretty fun for me.”
He spent afternoons twice a week shelving books, cleaning shelves, pulling damaged books, and working in the sorter room.
“It’s really fun working here. It’s very fulfilling. If you like anything to do with a library, I think you would enjoy working here,” he said.
Not only do volunteers help enrich the library with their service, our volunteer program is an entry to exploring the world of library science – another way we are able to reduce barriers and commit to access and inclusion.
