HPL “Above and Beyond” Volunteer and Patron
I have volunteered at Hubbard Public Library for more than 22 years. I am at HPL twice a week, throughout the year, transcribing documents from print media to digital format to preserve these documents. The newspapers, magazine articles and other “hard copy” documents that I transcribe may yellow, crumble, fade or otherwise deteriorate, but the digital forms will last forever! When I first started my volunteer ‘career,’ the first articles I transcribed were the Obituaries from local Hubbard newspapers, including “The Hubbard News,” among others. The Supervisor of the Library’s Adult Services Department selected the articles that I worked with. Next, I moved on to recipes and ‘Index of Recipes’ from select cookbooks. Once, I transcribed an entire book-length document, a manuscript written by a local Hubbard historian, George E. Fiedler, and entitled, “A Historical Story of East Hubbard Township and Parts of Hubbard and Pennsylvania.” In recent years, the documents I work on are quite diverse and I transcribe whatever print articles, documents or other print media that the staff in Adult Services provide to me. I love this work! Articles are interesting, have historical value, and I am always learning something new!
Before I became an HPL volunteer, I worked as an Administrative Assistant for Lakeview High School in Cortland, Ohio. I retired after working there for 18 years, and I knew I could use my skills and talents to contribute to another organization and I was eager to do so. I had moved to Hubbard, and was originally from Youngstown. I knew that YSU in Youngstown had a Career Center, and there I found a listing for a volunteer typist at Hubbard Public Library. So, I contacted the library, spoke with the Adult Services Supervisor, subsequently worked with her for a couple of days to learn about the type of work I would be doing, and then began.
And now, more than 22 years later, I love Hubbard Public Library for many reasons. First and foremost, the people who work at HPL! They are amazing people; friendly, helpful, kind and also professional and very knowledgeable. They excel at their different jobs, and care very much about making certain that patrons get whatever help they need. And the patrons, also, are friendly and kind. I feel as if I belong at HPL, and that my volunteer service and contributions are valued and appreciated.
And, from a patron’s perspective, I think HPL, and libraries in general, and essential to their communities because they are much more than places to borrow books. Books are, of course, still important, but HPL provides computers for people to use; HPL has a “Library of Things” where people can borrow things such as Solar Cookers, exercise equipment, telescopes (coming soon), and much more. There is also a “Toy Lending Library” for children! This library is a unique and essential resource to the Hubbard community and beyond.
And when I think about the fact that I have now volunteered at HPL longer than I worked at Lakeview, I feel proud and valued. Sometimes it is difficult for me to realize that I have volunteered here longer than my career at Lakeview. These years have been wonderful, fulfilling and memorable. Again, I love HPL!
Julie Filipovich September 2021