Interview with Councilman Cliff Numark

Get to know your local City officials!

Torrance City Council Member Cliff Numark speaks with Rachel Bieber, Audiovisual Librarian, about his life, his career development, and his current position as Director of Donor Recruitment at the American Red Cross.

In this interview, Mr. Numark emphasizes that “Volunteers can do absolutely amazing things!” Learn more about volunteer opportunities at the Library and locally in the South Bay.

A fascinating inside look at the inner workings of a large nonprofit, and an in-depth profile of one of our newest Council persons!

Travel, Relax, Contribute, Grow

This post is the first in a series highlighting books from the library’s collections.  All of these books have a sticker noting that they are part of the LINK project – look for this logo while you are browsing the stacks!

With summer just beginning  (not quite in full swing yet with the strange weather!), many of you may be pondering your vacation plans. The Torrance Public Library has a vast collection of travel books for locales both near and distant, from all of your favorite publishers – Rick Steves’, Fodor’s, Frommer’s, DK, Rough Guides, Lonely Planet, and more!

Would you consider spending time away from home that is a bit out of the ordinary – for example, volunteering your time to have an impact, or a semi-permanent jaunt abroad? Many people, and especially Boomers, are rethinking the purpose of a vacation – rather than solely a time to relax, time away may be an opportunity to contribute your passion and skills to communities beyond your hometown.  Check out these titles hand-selected just for you!

Volunteer: A Traveller’s Guide to Making a Difference Around the World

Always user-friendly and full of information, this Lonely Planet volume gives you the 411 on how to volunteer abroad and provides tips on everything from practicalities, to the pros and cons of different types of programs, including guidance on coming home. The amazing, enviable bios of the authors and personal stories of volunteers interspersed throughout are sure to inspire.

Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others

This book is a great resource for learning more about dozens of organizations to volunteer with, both within the United States and abroad. Among the volunteer opportunities described include rehabilitating sick and injured animals in South Africa, organizing community health events with indigenous communities in the United States, and teaching English in Nepal.

The Grown-Up’s Guide to Running Away From Home

If you have ever dreamed of giving up your life here and moving far, far away, this guide walks you through everything you need to know.  The author, Rosanne Knorr, is a seasoned traveler and expatriate, and includes helpful anecdotes, budgets, checklists, and timelines to make your move abroad successful.

rs

Volunteers – Celebrating People in Action!

President Obama and Governor Schwarzenegger have proclaimed April 19-25, 2009 as “National Volunteer Week” to celebrate the contributions of those who generously give of their time and talents to improve their communities. At their meeting this evening, April 21, Mayor Frank Scotto and the Torrance City Council took the opportunity to honor the many volunteers who provide much needed assistance to the residents of Torrance.

The impact of volunteers on the City and the community cannot be overestimated – from the Torrance Amateur Radio Association (TARA) volunteers who assist Police and Fire Department personnel during times of disaster, to the many volunteers who help to make the Torrance Certified Farmer’s Market the best in the South Bay, to the Torrance Public Library Words on Wheels (WOW) volunteers who deliver books and other library materials to individuals with disabilities or illness, and others who are unable to visit our libraries. These volunteers and countless others greatly enrich the quality of life for all those who live, work, and play in the City.

For those of us who work at the Library, we would like to say a special thank you and express our deepest gratitude to all those individuals who contribute their time and efforts on the Library’s behalf. Here is a small sampling of some of the many activities and tasks that volunteers accomplish at the Library:
Friends of the Torrance Library volunteers accept donated books and other materials, sort, price, and make them available for purchase through booksales at the Library and via the Internet.
Torrance Public Library Foundation Board members raise money to fund capital projects such as building renovations, a Homework Center at Southeast Library, and Live Homework Help an on-line homework assistance program accessible from the Library’s Internet website.
South Bay Cities Genealogical Society volunteers provide free genealogy assistance for the general public twice weekly at the Katy Geissert Civic Center Library.
Local high school students act as homework helpers and assist students to complete their homework assignments during after-school hours at most Torrance Public Library branches.
South Bay Literacy Council tutors work one-one-one with adults to help them learn to read.
ASSIST techonology trainers work one-on-one with individuals with disabilities to help them learn how to use adaptive technology in the Library’s ASSIST center.

If you are a Boomer who wishes to become civically engaged, there are many more volunteer opportunities available through the Library and the City of Torrance. The LINK project will periodically be profiling some of these opportunities so check this blog often as we update our information.