1. Powered by Volunteers : The Downside Abbey Experience Louise Anderson, Project Librarian

2. The Collections

3. The ‘Beacon of Learning’ Project

4. Recruitment

5. Job Descriptions Processing modern accessions Preventative conservation Recording bibliographic detail Reader invigilation Re-shelving Tour guides Placement students work on separate projects https://www.flickr.com/photos/downsid eabbeyarchives/collections/7215764399 1411374/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/downsid eabbeyarchives/collections/7215764399 1411374/

6. Scheduling

7. Difficulties Endless sourcing of work, training, checking, and interruptions Unreliable workforce Maintaining job satisfaction Health and safety issues Resistance to changes in working patterns Lack of resources

8. Successes Social media content https://www.flickr.com/photos/downsideabbey archives/collections/72157642245799404/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/downsideabbey archives/collections/72157642245799404/ Book moves in time for remedial work to start Faster cataloguing Preventative conservation work which otherwise could not have happened Improved public perceptions

9. Going forward We must make their value to us clear We need to invest more and be more trusting We will discover their motives and needs Our project couldn’t succeed without them!

10. Contact information Louise Anderson, Project Librarian Downside Abbey Archives & Library Stratton on the Fosse Somerset BA3 4RH landerson@downside.co.uk www.downside.co.uk