As part of National Volunteer Week, we are celebrating every volunteer and each contribution they make to support Kitchener Public Library. No matter the role, every moment matters. We are grateful for the support of all our volunteers – thank you!
As part of our celebrations this year, we had the honour to speak with one of our volunteers, Bahar.
Bahar first started visiting Kitchener Public Library as a graduate student. After finishing school and starting her career in tech, Bahar was looking for a place to contribute to her community. As a lifelong library lover, Bahar looked for an opportunity with Kitchener Public Library.
“The first place I thought of was Kitchener Public Library because I was hoping to spend more time at the library and provide whatever support I could,” said Bahar. “I found the Tech Tutor program and thought it would be a great match for me.”
Bahar has volunteered her time as a Tech Tutor since 2019. Tech Tutors is a drop-in program where volunteers like Bahar provide one-on-one support for a variety of tech needs. People can stop by and ask the Tech Tutors a question about anything tech related. Tech Tutors can help you learn how to use a smartphone or computer or how to use certain apps and websites.
As a Tech Tutor it is an opportunity to help people in real time. People are appreciative of the support. One customer returned again the next week to thank Bahar for her help.
“The main thing that keeps me motivated is the joy I feel when I help someone out. It is really heartwarming to see someone’s excitement about learning something new or being able to do something they didn’t think they could.”
Volunteers share their time, skills, creativity and more. Every contribution matters and Bahar’s enthusiasm for volunteering and her community is clear.
“I would say that it is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and it is definitely worth the time you put into it. Like so many other things in life, it is hard to start and easy to put it off. But once you start it is such a great feeling and absolutely worth it.”
If you are feeling inspired by Bahar’s story and want to learn more about current volunteer opportunities, visit kpl.org/volunteer.