Can you tell me a bit about what you do?
Tasha: We are both front of house volunteers. We mainly greet people , answer the phone, check books in and out, put them away, and labeling new books.
Clare: A couple times I’ve set up the event room upstairs for people renting it or for GWL events… I answer queries… We’ve both helped out at events like the Outstanding Women Scotland Awards. Ten women were shortlisted and we each presented awards separately.
What do you most enjoy about GWL?
Clare: The thing I enjoy the most…? There are lots of things. I like the exposure to other interesting women. I’m from a world of mums and lawyers. I meet women from all sorts of backgrounds and lives here. I’m interested in books and feminism.
Tasha: I enjoy chatting to people, women, of all different sorts. Helping out with events and stuff like the workshops.
Clare: I think as well by giving time you are contributing to something you believe in.
Who have you meet due to the library?
Clare: You see I only volunteer on Tuesday for 4 hours with Tasha. I’m 40 while she is 25. I also work alongside Houida who is a Syrian refugee. We’ve become great friends… Otherwise I would never have met someone like her.
Tasha:I wouldn’t have met Clare otherwise. She is a lawyer and has told me interesting things about it. I’ve met a visitor starting a eco friendly bra company up. Gaby the volunteer coordinator is into cycling and eco-friendly stuff which is nice.
What have you learnt?
Clare: I have learnt how to label the books. How to run events and how to promote them. I’ve learnt more about feminism.
Tasha: I have learnt a lot about running events and being behind the scenes of them. About the many reasons why people come to the Women’s Library as well.
What is the best thing about the GWL?
Clare: The feeling of contributing to something that promotes women and feminism especially these days. Something you really believe in. Women supporting and helping each other no matter what they are doing. The coffee and biscuits!
Tasha: The space where you are working but also chatting to women about everything. General life things too… This morning Clare was talking about the menopause in relation to eco stuff. Such conversations come when interesting women are together.
What is the worst thing about the GWL?
Clare and Tasha: That there are too many books and not enough time to read them all! There are so many events we want to go to but can’t attend.
If you would like to find out more about volunteering with us please visit this page. And you can read about other volunteers and their experiences here.
