Sarah volunteered with us for a few months on the Spring and Summer 2015 before moving to London to study. She helped to develop our collection of fiction for young women and to document the stories of women from Clydebank and Dumbarton. This is how she describes her involvement and the organisation…
As a volunteer at the Glasgow Women’s Library in Spring 2015, I was very enthusiastic to learn more about the ways in which the organisation involves itself with the local community. The Bridgeton space offers an open learning environment welcoming women of all ages – from all backgrounds and ethnicities – to engage in a vibrant programme of activities and learning events.
From their lending library comprised of donations from the local community [Glasgow and beyond], to their archives and museum collections, GWL makes accessible a diverse collection of historical and contemporary material relating to women’s history which ranges from fiction and poetry to rare artefacts. GWL and its team of friendly staff and volunteers are always open to discuss and share their stories, knowledge and experiences. It is GWL’s compassionate, socially engaged outreach projects and collaborations which make it a dynamic alternative to traditional libraries, and a valuable asset contributing to the empowerment of women.
I became involved with GWL’s collaborative project with SAY Women, Glasgow, a voluntary organisation offering safe, supported accommodation and related services for young women aged 16-25 years, who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse, rape or sexual assault. These women are either homeless or threatened with homelessness. Working closely with librarian Wendy Kirk, I assisted in putting together a small satellite collection of motivational and empowering reading which would be made accessible to these women in need. Through this project I was grateful to be able to share and develop my interests in contemporary poetry and short fiction in support of a significant local organisation for the well-being and safety of Glasgow women.
Alongside this, I assisted on the Women Making History in West Dunbartonshire project. Inspired by the West Dunbartonshire Women’s History Group based in the Clydebank Community Centre in 2009, this ongoing investigation from August 2014 to August 2015 set out to record the histories and lives of the women of the area during the 1950’s and 60s. Taking a multimedia approach, the project encompasses two memory boxes housing various artefacts illustrating the lived experiences of women during this particular social and political climate, with an online booklet accompaniment comprised of personal anecdotes and reminiscences. Having generated hours of interviews with a number of women, my role was to transcribe these recordings with a focus on capturing the unique and distinct dialect of West Dunbartonshire.
Guided by its feminist roots, the Glasgow’s Women Library’s mission seeks to celebrate and empower women by maintaining an openness to sexual, ethnic and cultural diversity. Whether carrying out a research project, or looking to socialise over coffee, GWL’s diverse programming caters to all appetites for learning – sensitive to individual learning styles, interests and agendas. The highly recommended volunteering programme – remaining flexible to other schedules and commitments – is an inspiring and engaging opportunity to nourish and develop individual interests in women’s studies, while exercising an active commitment to the changing needs of the local community.
