National Volunteer Week 2022 – Volunteering Is Empathy In Action

April 24, 2022

It’s National Volunteer Week!

Librarianship.ca would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the achievements, dedication and hard work of the many volunteers who contribute their time and energy to make a difference in our profession.

Librarianship.ca recognizes the efforts of the volunteers who serve in many different capacities, including:

• mentors
• contributors to the professional literature
• advocates and champions for the profession
• speakers and presenters at conferences, workshops, events, and in classrooms
• conferences and events organizers, planners, and workers
• student leaders
• members of committees, working groups, task forces, juries, councils, etc.
• and all the other roles not listed.

The theme of National Volunteer Week 2022 is “Volunteering Is Empathy In Action” affirms the strong connection between volunteerism and empathy. This profoundly human connection is at the heart of healthier individuals and stronger communities. Empathy is a quality that can help people relate to others and build awareness around different experiences. It connects people in ideas and actions and helps create bonds forged in common goals and aspirations.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our personal and professional lives, we offer a special thanks to the many members of the community who have volunteered countless hours to reimagine how we can come together as a community, planning and organizing events, workshops, and conferences that bridge the distance between each of us, often having to pivot to a different delivery mechanism as conditions in parts of the country change. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of the community.

Each year, almost 24 million volunteers across Canada dedicate over 5 billion hours of their time to make a difference in our world. If your organization relies on the efforts of volunteers, take time this week to say “Thanks – you make a difference!”

Thank you to all of the dedicated volunteers in our community! You make a difference to our profession across the country and around the world!