Training Materials

Learn more about best practices in volunteer recruitment and engagement, and how to get the results you need.

NOTE: These are examples from public libraries and should be reviewed and modified to ensure fit with local policies and culture.

Title Keyword Tags Year
Volunteer Safety Training - Orange CA
Powerpoint developed by the Orange Public Library during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic to assist with training volunteers on safety procedures.
Volunteer Orientation COVID-19 2020
Talking Racial Equity? Make Sure You Understand These 17 Words
A good list of terms to be familiar with from Technical.ly
Capacity BuildingStaff Training racism, inclusive, diversity 2020
Building Better COVID-Related Volunteer Roles
VolunteerPro's approach to re-tooling our volunteer engagement during COVID-19. Includes a template for a Quick-n-Dirty Needs Assessment.
Staff TrainingCapacity Building job descriptions, COVID-19, needs assessment 2020
Fighting Racism Through Diverse and Inclusive Volunteer Engagement Programming (Part 1 of 2)
Thoughts on how to audit your own diversity, equity and inclusion strategy (DEI) in how you engage volunteers from Jerome Tennille, CVA, social good… more
Capacity BuildingStaff Training racism, diversity, Recruitment, inclusive 2020
Volunteer COVID-19 Safety Guidelines - Cedar Rapids IA
General guidelines for volunteers returning to the library during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
Capacity BuildingJob Specific Volunteer Training COVID-19 2020
Racial Equity and Inclusion Resources for Volunteer Engagement Leaders
This is a terrific list of links to articles, books, research, podcasts, movies and toolkits on this subject put together by MAVA - the Minnesota… more
Staff TrainingCapacity Building inclusive, inclusion, equity, racism 2020
Get Involved VolunteerMatch Widget Helps with Recruitment
This 3 minute video shows how the Get Involved: Powered by Your Library initiative VolunteerMatch "widget" works on your website to help recruit… more
VolunteerMatch Tools and Resources Recruitment, online recruitment, widget 2020
Volunteer Ethics & Risk Management: Should You Bring Volunteers In?
This blogpost on ethics and volunteer liability and risk management was prepared by Toby Johnson during the Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020. It serves as… more
Staff Training Risk Management, liability, Liability Waiver 2020
"Holds Hunter" Volunteer COVID-19 Procedure Changes - Cedar Rapids IA
Procedural changes developed for volunteer "Hold Hunters" by the Cedar Rapids Iowa Public Library during 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic.
Capacity BuildingJob Specific Volunteer Training COVID-19 2020
How to Recruit New Members for Your Association on Social Media
Some good guidelines for making social media work for you from Nonprofit Tech for Good.
Capacity BuildingOn-line Volunteer Recruitment social media, Recruitment, Friends, Friends of the Library 2020
Free Self-Updating Volunteer Page on Your Website with Paid VolunteerMatch Account
If you are a California Public Library and have a paid VolunteerMatch account provided by the California State Library, another one of the features… more
VolunteerMatch Tools and Resources website, Promote Your Listings 2020
Social Media & Blog Content Guidelines for Staff & Volunteers - CMBCL, OR
This document is used by Cedar Mill & Bethany Community Libraries to provide guidelines for staff and volunteers who are assisting with community… more
Engaging High Impact VolunteersJob Specific Volunteer TrainingStaff Training social media, blog 2020
Volunteer Safety Precautions in a Pandemic World - Indianapolis IN
Safety precautions for volunteers returning to the Indianapolis Public Library during 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
Job Specific Volunteer TrainingCapacity Building COVID-19 2020
What Should I Do? (COVID Exposure Flow Chart)
This great flow chart from the Gail Borden Public Library District (Elgin IL) describes steps to take if you, an employee or volunteers has been… more
Staff Training COVID-19 2020
Recruitment Success Story - Flagstaff Arizona
In this 4 minute video, Claudine from the Flagstaff library talks about her successes in finding a volunteer to serve as her assistant volunteer… more
Capacity BuildingEngaging High Impact Volunteers online booksales, Book sale 2019
Volunteer Appreciation Guide
is Volunteer Appreciation Guide is a free resource developed by Wild Apricot to offer tips and advice for volunteer programs just getting started… more
Capacity Building recognition 2019
Want to Write a Volunteer Program Annual Report? Here's How to Start
VolunteerMatch blog guest post by Elisa Kosarin. This post originally appeared on Twenty Hats.
Your volunteers tell a compelling story. It’s time to… more
Capacity Building 2019
How to Write a Strong Reference Letter for a Volunteer
A reference letter showcases a volunteer’s achievements and the skills they’ve gained through volunteering. It can help a volunteer who is looking… more
Staff Training recognition, reference letter 2019
Playing by the Rules: Creating an Effective Volunteer Handbook.
This one hour archived webinar was presented by Jennifer Bennett of VolunteerMatch in conjunction with the 4 state Get Involved: Powered by Your… more
Volunteer Handbooks policies, handbook 2019
How to Build a Successful Volunteer Program
This brief guidebook was created by the International City/County Management Association.
Capacity BuildingStaff Training toolkit 2019