Information for Volunteers
The West Virginia and Regional History Collection, on West Virginia University's downtown campus, is the premier research facility in the State for the study of topics related to West Virginia, the central Appalachian region, and the University itself. Included in the Collection are manuscript documents, books and journals, pamphlets, newspapers, photographs and prints, maps, microforms, oral histories, films, and folk music recordings. Our volunteers are an invaluable part of the staff and perform a wide variety of work that is essential to the Collection.
Benefits of volunteering at the West Virginia Collection
- A keener understanding of West Virginia history through access to reference materials, close working relationship with professional staff, and training sessions.
- Invitations to all West Virginia Collection functions including: West Virginia Day, Mountaineer Week Folk Music Concert, and various exhibitions sponsored by the Collection.
- A free subscription to the West Virginia and Regional History Collection Newsletter.
- Access to behind-the-scenes areas of the West Virginia Collection related to volunteer service.
- An opportunity to be part of a group of people who are interested in preserving West Virginia history and sharing it with the public.
Volunteer positions available
Archival Assistant Volunteers
will be assigned to help with processing and maintaining various manuscript and archival collections under the supervision of the Archivist. This will include: arranging documents, compiling inventories, preparing collections for microfilming, transcribing documents, reboxing and making minor repairs . The duties of this position may include retrieving collections, photocopying materials, and assisting patrons as needed.
Genealogy Assistant Volunteers
will help with all aspects of the West Virginia and Regional History Collection's extensive holdings of genealogical materials. The duties of this position will include helping patrons with genealogical research, doing lookups for specific requests, copying materials, preparing genealogy indexes, helping with interlibrary loan, retrieving materials, and assisting patrons when needed.
Library Assistant Volunteers
will work with the general library book and microform collections. Library Assistants will scan publications for information about upcoming books or periodicals about West Virginia, reshelve and shift the book and microfilm collections as needed, help prepare books and periodicals for binding and cataloging, help catalog our pamphlet collection, photocopy materials, assist with interlibrary loan, retrieve materials, and will assist patrons when needed. Some Library Assistants will help the Associate Curator with the W.V.U. Libraries' Rare Book Room.
Reference Desk Assistant Volunteers
will greet and register visitors to the West Virginia and Regional History Collection. They will also answer basic reference questions about our holdings, photocopy materials, retrieve collections, and help patrons as needed.
Photograph Assistant Volunteers
will help maintain the West Virginia and Regional History Collection's extensive photograph collection. Duties will include refiling photos and negatives, retrieving photo files for patrons, processing photograph collections under the direction of Collection staff, photocopying materials for patrons, retrieving collections, and assisting patrons as needed.
Sound Archives Assistant Volunteers
will work with our folk music and oral histories collections. Duties may include copying recordings, preparing indexes and catalogs, transcribing recordings, retrieving materials, photocopying, and helping patrons as needed.
Microfilm Assistant Volunteers
will be involved with various aspects of our microfilm holdings. Volunteers may assist our Microphotographer with filming newspapers, manuscripts, and publications. Other Microfilm Assistant Volunteers will work in the West Virginia Collection Microfilm Room helping patrons, reshelving film, repairing film, shifting, maintaining equipment, and preparing inventories to microfilm collections. The duties of this position may also include photocopying materials, retrieving collections, and helping patrons in the reading room. No prior knowledge of microphotography or microfilm maintenance is required.
Special Projects Assistant Volunteers
will be assigned various projects as determined by the West Virginia Collection staff. These projects may include helping with exhibits, newsletter mailings and other mass mailings, research on a particular topic assigned by Collection staff, helping with arrangements for West Virginia Day, tours of the Collection, etc.
Clerical Assistant Volunteers
will help with various clerical assignments at the Collection including typing, filing, photocopying, word processing, photocopying, sorting mail, etc.
All individuals interested in becoming a volunteer must first fill out a volunteer application noting the position for which they are best suited.
Applications are available online and may be downloaded or printed. The candidate will have an interview with a member of the West Virginia and Regional History Collection Staff. During the interview, the volunteer's interests and experience will be discussed. Interested parties also will be given a general overview of the West Virginia and Regional History Collection and a thorough explanation of each service area in the volunteer program. Training programs and time requirements will also be discussed.