Reagan Library docents can be part of history




TEACHING—Volunteer Susan Bass gives  a  tour Wednesday at the Reagan Library. This was Bass’ first official tour as a new docent.

TEACHING—Volunteer Susan Bass gives a tour Wednesday at the Reagan Library. This was Bass’ first official tour as a new docent.


With renovation plans on the horizon that are likely to increase museum attendance, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is on the hunt for docents.

Even though the volunteer base at the library currently numbers 300, Carol Cohea, director of volunteers and visitor services, says 150 more are needed.

“I need a lot more because we’re open seven days a week and we’re only closed three days a year and we also have a lot of special events up here,” she said.

The library, which is visited by more than 300,000 people a year, is dependent on its volunteers to ensure that visitors have a memorable experience, Cohea said.

“Our docents fill a large role with the actual operation of the museum floor, where our visitors interact.”

When recruiting new volunteers, Cohea said, she’s looking for outgoing people who enjoy meeting folks from all over the world.

And since a docent’s primary job is imparting information, there’s some studying involved, so it’s good to be a history lover, too.

However, she said, docents don’t just lead tours and answer visitors’ questions. They also take part in the many special events at the library, including book signings, holiday celebrations, speeches by newsmakers and dignitaries and in recent years, presidential debates.

“Unique and unusual opportunities are always available up here,” Cohea said.

Kathi Strahl, a Simi resident and docent at the library for nearly three years, said that after she retired from her county job she wanted to do volunteer work that would be fun and utilize the skills she’d acquired in her professional life.

When she saw an ad in the paper saying the library was looking for docents, she thought it sounded like a good fit.

“I love to interact with people. I don’t mind public speaking,” Strahl said. “I’ve always liked history and like being able to learn more about President Reagan and share that information.”

One of her favorite things is giving tours of the library to children—not surprising since her original career goal was to be an elementary school teacher. Strahl received her credential but graduated at a time when there were more teachers than teaching jobs. Now as a docent, she gets to fulfill her dream of sharing knowledge and history with kids.

“It’s just been a really rewarding experience for me,” she said.

To become a volunteer, one must be at least 18 years old—16 with their parent’s consent. They must fill out an application and be interviewed, and if the application is accepted, they then enter an extensive six-week training program.

The weekly sessions introduce the new docents to each section of the library through mini tours. In addition, the docents must review a thick resource manual, read the autobiographies of the former president and first lady Nancy Reagan, observe tours led by experienced docents and be observed themselves.

Strahl said being a docent isn’t for everyone as it requires a considerable amount of memorization and presenting information to groups small and large.

“It’s not like you can just go in and say I’m going to do this for a few hours and that’s it,” she said. “It really does require a commitment on the part of the volunteer to study and memorize and be able to share President Reagan’s story.”

Still, while there is a lot of information to learn, the new volunteers don’t have to go it alone.

“We step you through it. We also assign a buddy that works with you,” said Cohea, who first began working with the library as a docent herself in 2002.

“This is a big undertaking for a lot of people . . . but it’s not as daunting as it may seem.”

Along with learning all there is to know about Reagan and his presidency, docents are asked to work a minimum of 150 hours a year. Generally, the volunteers work a set morning or afternoon shift one day a week as well as some special events.

Docents must buy their own uniforms, so a small expense is involved.

The library’s docents come from varied backgrounds. Most are retired, though some have part-time jobs. A small number of high school and college students volunteer, Cohea said.

Applications to become a docent are available at the library’s front desk or can be obtained by e-mailing reaganvisitor@nara.gov or calling Carol Cohea at (805) 577-4065.

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