THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995              TAG: 9512080198
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER       PAGE: 17   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   50 lines

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT TO AID FICTION READERS THE LIBRARY NEEDS PEOPLE TO STAFF ITS READERS' ADVISORY DESK ON WEEKENDS FROM 2 TO 4 P.M.

``In which novel do you find the character Mina Harker?''

``I read all of Stephen King's novels. Can you direct me to another writer of similar style?''

``What was the name of the main character in James Fenimore Cooper's `Leatherstocking Tales?' ''

Do you know the answers to any of these questions? And if you don't, would you know where to find the answers?

The Chesapeake Central Library needs volunteers to help out with these types of questions and other inquiries pertaining to all types of fiction.

It needs volunteers to help staff its Readers' Advisory Desk.

``The Readers' Advisory Desk is a reference desk for fiction works,'' said Joyce Wrestler, readers advisory supervisor.

``But instead of dealing with questions about facts or figures, the people who work the desk will answer questions about fiction works, characters and other things like that.

``This job will be ideal for retired teachers, librarians or anyone who just loves books and would like to help others find answers about various fiction works.''

Wrestler said the library is looking for about 20 volunteers to work the desk on weekends from 2 until 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. If that number is achieved, volunteers need only work about one hour per month.

``But if we get some industrious volunteers who want to work more hours, we won't stand in their way,'' Wrestler said.

Before anyone works the desk, however, the volunteers will undergo two hours of training from 2 until 4 p.m. Jan. 26 at the hands of Chesapeake Central Library manager Chuck Anderson.

Anderson will show the various reference books to consult and ways to cross-reference along with other methods in finding answers to patrons' questions concerning fiction works.

Applications can be obtained at the Chesapeake Central Library, 298 Cedar Road.

For more information, contact Wrestler at 436-8848 or 547-6577.

by CNB