This month, we are celebrating library volunteers. We have a variety of volunteer opportunities available at locations across the county. Adults can join the Friends of the Orange County Library System, a non-profit, independent volunteer and advocacy organization that helps us improve the quality and scope of our services. Adult volunteers help in a variety of ways, including giving building tours and helping in the bookstore at Orlando Public Library, sharing information about library programs at community events and prepping crafts and shelving books at branches. To learn more about volunteering opportunities at OCLS, visit friends.ocls.org/volunteer.
To highlight the impact volunteering has on both our volunteers and OCLS, we asked long-time Eatonville Branch volunteer Ricardo Burney a few questions about his experience as a former employee and current volunteer.
Tell us a little bit about your history with Orange County Library System
I spent nearly five years at the Eatonville Branch as a Branch Circulation Clerk. Somewhere along the way, I unofficially gave myself the title of “Creative Director,” and thankfully everyone seemed to embrace it.
I loved creating displays, building community partnerships, bringing local artists into the library, and finding creative ways to connect people to our programs and services. During my time there, I helped coordinate a community health fair, contributed to the artistic vision during the library’s refresh, and worked to create experiences that celebrated culture, history, and community.
The Eatonville Branch gave me the opportunity to use my creativity while serving a community rich in history and tradition.
What made you want to volunteer after you stopped working for OCLS?
Eatonville Branch never stopped feeling like home.
One of the greatest gifts I received was learning what leadership truly looks like. Sara Brown’s passion and vision for OCLS is contagious. She has a remarkable ability to recognize her team’s strengths and create opportunities for them to grow and shine while at the same time, staying committed to OCLS’s mission. Watching her lead inspired me both personally and professionally.
What also stood out was how approachable leadership was throughout OCLS. No matter the title, people took the time to connect. That culture of support and collaboration left a lasting impression on me.
Volunteering allows me to continue giving back to a place that invested so much in me.
What does your typical day as a volunteer look like?
Honestly, whatever needs to be done.
Some days I’m helping set up programs, greeting guests, moving tables, or assisting staff. Other days I’m helping clean up and strike an event.
A recent example was volunteering during the 34th Annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam. Because of my schedule, I couldn’t attend the entire event, but I came in later to help break it down. Even then, it was inspiring to see the energy it created and the community it brought together.
For me, volunteering is simply about showing up and helping however I can.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time with the library?
Asking me to pick one favorite memory is a little unfair. I collected quite a few over five years.
Some of my favorite moments involved serving as an unofficial ambassador for Eatonville. I loved giving tours to visitors who wanted to learn about the nation’s oldest incorporated African American municipality. Whether it was local residents, visitors from out of town, or community leaders like Representative Maxwell Frost and Representative Anna V. Eskamani, I enjoyed sharing Eatonville’s story and the library’s many resources.
I often introduced visitors to the self guided walking tour and the Orlando Memory database so they could continue exploring the town’s rich history. I also loved bringing local artists into the library and helping create opportunities for them to share their work with the community.
Helping coordinate the health fair, contributing to the library’s refresh, and watching partnerships grow are memories I’ll always treasure.
And I’d be lying if I didn’t mention becoming the face of OCLS’s 2022 Summer at Your Library campaign. Seeing my face on billboards, promotional materials, and even the side of a Lynx bus was pretty surreal. It’s not every day you accidentally become public transportation artwork.
What is something you wish everyone knew about the library?
I wish more people knew that libraries are about so much more than books.
Libraries help people find jobs, discover talents, learn new skills, connect with history, and build community. At Eatonville, I saw firsthand how the library became a place where artists found audiences, neighbors built relationships, and visitors discovered stories they never knew existed.
The library is one of the community’s greatest resources.
What would you tell someone who’s interested in volunteering?
Do it.
Volunteering opens doors to new experiences, new friendships, and a deeper connection to your community. Whether you’re helping with a major event or simply stacking chairs at the end of the day, you’re contributing to something meaningful.
Some of my most rewarding experiences started with a simple question: “How can I help?”
Closing Thoughts
When I think about my time at the Eatonville Branch, I think about community, culture, history, and growth.
I learned about Eatonville’s incredible legacy, but I also learned a lot about myself. I learned how creativity brings people together and how leadership can inspire people to become their best selves.
Being part of Eatonville’s story as an employee, volunteer, unofficial Creative Director, tour guide, community partner, and occasional bus advertisement has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my life.
