Book Buddy Program
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Fighting Isolation through the Love of<br />
Reading<br />
BOOK BUDDIES<br />
"Our books make house calls."<br />
a program of the<br />
NEVADA COUNTY<br />
COMMUNITY LIBRARY
TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />
Introduction<br />
Chapter One<br />
BRINGING THE LIBRARY TO YOU<br />
Chapter Two<br />
ELIGIBILITY<br />
Chapter Three<br />
GETTING CONNECTED<br />
Chapter Four<br />
BECOMING A BOOK BUDDY<br />
Epilogue
INTRODUCTION<br />
you’ve ever had a long recovery after a medical<br />
If<br />
you know just how boring life can become<br />
procedure,<br />
you’re not able to leave the house. After a few days,<br />
when<br />
read all the magazines, the TV shows blur together,<br />
you’ve<br />
your regular internet haunts seem stale. You long for<br />
and<br />
from the outside world.<br />
contact<br />
folks with chronic health conditions or other<br />
For<br />
that prevent them from leaving their home,<br />
circumstances<br />
boredom can quickly turn to social isolation. Many<br />
this<br />
in Nevada County, particularly seniors, go days or<br />
people<br />
without seeing another person and have few options<br />
weeks<br />
intellectual stimulation.<br />
for<br />
you or someone you know is in this situation, it might be<br />
If<br />
to get a <strong>Book</strong> <strong>Buddy</strong>.<br />
time
Bringing the Library to You<br />
CHAPTER ONE<br />
book buddy program volunteer brings me books and<br />
“The<br />
more important than my food and drink.”<br />
conversation<br />
<strong>Book</strong> <strong>Buddy</strong> program is a service of the Nevada County<br />
The<br />
Library. The program connects folks in Western<br />
Community<br />
County who are unable to get to the library with<br />
Nevada<br />
“book buddies” who bring the library to them.<br />
volunteer<br />
buddies bring not just books, but also CDs, DVDs,<br />
<strong>Book</strong><br />
and even reference materials. All items are<br />
audiobooks,<br />
out on the library patron’s card and delivered to<br />
checked<br />
home, free of charge. There are no late fees for <strong>Book</strong><br />
their<br />
<strong>Buddy</strong> patrons.<br />
buddies are matched with library patrons based on<br />
<strong>Book</strong><br />
schedules, location, and interests. Each patron is<br />
their<br />
their own personal book buddy. According to<br />
assigned<br />
coordinator Judith Bell, these are relationships<br />
program<br />
built on a love of books.<br />
<strong>Book</strong> <strong>Buddy</strong> program is a personalized service, Bell<br />
The<br />
“The patron guides it.” Patrons can request specific<br />
said.<br />
books by favorite authors, or let their book buddy<br />
titles,<br />
what to bring. Bell said she’s often surfed the<br />
choose<br />
stacks looking for the perfect book for her patron.
Eligibility<br />
CHAPTER TWO<br />
<strong>Book</strong> <strong>Buddy</strong> program is designed to serve those who<br />
The<br />
a disability, chronic illness, or injury that prevents<br />
have<br />
from getting to the library for at least six months.<br />
them<br />
is no age restriction.<br />
There<br />
service is available for folks living in their own homes<br />
The<br />
in a skilled nursing facility.<br />
or<br />
the program is individualized based on each<br />
Because<br />
preferences, the process starts with a meeting in<br />
patron’s<br />
patron’s home. <strong>Book</strong> <strong>Buddy</strong> Coordinator Judith Bell<br />
the<br />
each patron to get a sense of what they like<br />
interviews<br />
don’t like, learn about their favorite genres and<br />
and<br />
and better understand their media preferences<br />
authors,<br />
books on tape or large print materials). This helps<br />
(like<br />
match each patron with their perfect book buddy.<br />
Judith<br />
The result is often a relationship that lasts for years.
Getting Connected<br />
CHAPTER THREE<br />
the <strong>Book</strong> <strong>Buddy</strong> program sounds like a good fit for you or<br />
If<br />
you know, call Kathy Miller at 530-265-1407 to<br />
someone<br />
start the process.<br />
can be made by family members, friends, social<br />
Referrals<br />
or anyone who knows someone who can’t make it<br />
workers,<br />
to the library.
Becoming a <strong>Book</strong> <strong>Buddy</strong><br />
CHAPTER FOUR<br />
always look forward to seeing my book buddy and<br />
“I<br />
what she has to say about the books that have<br />
hearing<br />
been read.”<br />
<strong>Book</strong> <strong>Buddy</strong> program is always looking for volunteers<br />
The<br />
love books and want to connect with others in the<br />
who<br />
community.<br />
buddies provide a vital link to the outside world.<br />
<strong>Book</strong><br />
they are often the only person a patron might see,<br />
Because<br />
volunteers should be upbeat, enthusiastic, and patient.<br />
the program’s patrons, <strong>Book</strong> <strong>Buddy</strong> volunteers are<br />
Like<br />
about their interests and preferences. <strong>Book</strong><br />
interviewed<br />
are expected to give approximately four to six<br />
buddies<br />
of their time each month and must provide their own<br />
hours<br />
transportation.<br />
learn more about becoming a book buddy, contact<br />
To<br />
Miller at 530-265-1407.<br />
Kathy
EPILOGUE<br />
<strong>Book</strong> <strong>Buddy</strong> program improves the quality of life of<br />
The<br />
in our community.<br />
folks<br />
you are a patron of the program or a volunteer,<br />
Whether<br />
unique service can help you connect to a world<br />
this<br />
beyond your own—just what a library should do.
LEARN MORE<br />
<strong>Book</strong> <strong>Buddy</strong> <strong>Program</strong><br />
530-265-1407<br />
Nevada County Library<br />
MYNEVADACOUNTY.COM/LIBRARY
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