VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is indebted to a group of highly competent and dedicated volunteers. The volunteers are the program's unsung heroes, performing a myriad of jobs and assignments. They are a diverse but also amazingly talented group of people. Without them, the program would flounder. Because of their efforts, we've achieved remarkable growth and success in our first two years. Listed below are the four main tasks our volunteers perform. If you're interested in giving back to the community and meeting new friends, all while performing interesting and challenging work, please Contact us.
Interviewers: After completing an Interviewer Workshop, prospective interviewers are assigned to one of the program's interview projects, and matched with a prospective interview subject. Volunteers use ALPL digital equipment and must adhere to the standards as explained in the workshop.
Transcribers: Many of the program's interviews are professionally transcribed, primarily with grant monies provided by generous institutions. However, funding inevitably falls short of our needs. Prospective transcribers are asked to attend our Transcribing and Editing workshop, where they will learn not only the techniques of transcribing, but will also be introduced to the computer software and hardware used by the program. We prefer that all transcribing be done at the Library, at one of several transcribing stations.
Auditors: Auditors compare the draft transcript with the actual audio file to insure that the transcriber accurately transcribed the interview. Even the best transcriber can benefit from this crucial step.
Editors: Once transcribed and audited, each interview is edited with the aim of improving readability while still preserving the substantive accuracy of the interview as well as the narrator's distinctive personality. Therefore, attendance at a Transcribing and Editing workshop is required. As with transcribing, we ask that our editors use one of the Library's editing stations.
