Standards for Volunteers in the Cataloging and Metadata Services Department of the Houston Public Library
- Attend an orientation and sign a job description/contract with Cataloging and Metadata Services.
- Volunteers may volunteer between the hours of 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Volunteers are asked to come no earlier than 10 a.m., as this is when the parking garage is opened to the public.
- Set and maintain a work schedule, with specific start and end times for each day scheduled day of volunteer work.
- Give at least 24 hours advance notice if you will not be able to work your scheduled day, except in the case of an emergency (job interview, car accident, illness, etc.), when more immediate notice will be understood.
- Volunteers cannot be more than 30 minutes late or have unscheduled absences more than 3 times. You must call or email with a legitimate reason if you are going to be late or absent. Failure to meet this criteria is grounds for immediate dismissal.
- Perform the duties set forth in the job description. Use provided metadata guidelines or procedures.
- Document your progress every day you come in to volunteer using the Cataloging and Metadata Volunteers blog on blogger. This requires a gmail account that should be shared with the Volunteer Coordinator.
- Arrange for your parking ticket to be validated. This requires a manager’s signature and a stop in the FIDS office. FIDS office hours are 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Get your parking ticket validated as soon as you arrive.
- Clock your time in and time out through the online time sheet provided. Round to the nearest half-hour.
- Bring and wear your badge during the entire time you are volunteering, especially while you are in staff only areas.
- In the interest of maintaining a smoothly operating working environment, we ask that volunteers take no more than a 15 minute break per 4 hours of work.
- Drinks in closed containers (bottles, mugs) are allowed in the workstation. When working with archival materials, drinks are not permitted in the volunteer workstation. We ask that you eat any food in the break room and not at the workstation.
- May listen to your own music, using your own headphones and devices, as long as staff members can still get your attention when needed, and you would be able to hear any sirens or alarms that might go off.
- Volunteers must work a minimum 20 hours in the first 30-45 days of service. Failure to meet this requirement will result in immediate dismissal.
Rules unique to the Digitization Lab in the Julia Ideson Building
- No food or water is permitted in the Digitization Lab under any circumstances. We request that you eat any food or water in the break room and not at the workstation.
