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
Systemic Exclusion in Volunteer Engagement
The vast majority of managers of volunteers absolutely abhor deliberate acts of racism and want to be more inclusive. Since they don’t engage in… more
Capacity BuildingStaff Training racism, inclusive, diversity, Recruitment 2020
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 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
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
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
"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
Engaging Pro Bono & Skills-Based Volunteers Webinar
This one hour webinar was presented for a library audience by Jennifer Bennett, CVA, Senior Manager of Education and Training at VolunteerMatch on… more
Engaging High Impact Volunteers Skilled Volunteers, Pro Bono, Webinar 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
Fighting Racism Through Diverse and Inclusive Volunteer Engagement Programming (Part 2 of 2)
Part 2 of thoughts on how to audit your own diversity, equity and inclusion strategy (DEI) in how you engage volunteers from Jerome Tennille, CVA,… more
Staff TrainingCapacity Building racism, inclusive, diversity, Recruitment 2020
COVID-19 Action Levels for Volunteers - Indianapolis IN
When the Indianapolis Public Library started bringing volunteers back during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, they were prepared with this document for… more
Staff Training COVID-19 2020
Developing a Successful Intern Program
Interns can be a godsend to any nonprofit. Depending on their background, they may be as valuable as paid staff and their main goals are typically… more
Staff TrainingCapacity Building intern, internship 2020
Outdoor Programming and Outreach Best Practices - Oklahoma City OK
Developed by the Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma City during the COVID-19 pandemic as a guide for staff.
Capacity Building outdoor, outreach, programming, COVID-19 2021