Hot Topics Archive

Month Topic Update
Hot Topic for February 2022 Skills-Based Volunteers

Assistant Volunteer Coordinator

Virtual Job Coach

Volunteer Job Coach

Tech Tutor

Tech Coach

Public Relations Strategist

Social Media Specialist

Social Media Specialist 2
 

Coordinator, Photo and Video Services

Computer Coach Program Coordinator

Volunteer Screeners

Small Library Skilled Volunteer Success Story

Creation Station Coordinator

45 Unique Useful Projects for Skilled Volunteers

Capacity Commons Guidebook on Skills-Based Volunteerism

Skills-Based Volunteerism 201: Project Scoping and Planning

Skills-Based Volunteering Toolkit

 

What's New for January 2022 Recently added

Volunteer Application – Fresno County Library

Volunteer Handbook – Fresno County Library

Civic Life Today: A Millennial Perspective – 2021 Points of Light report

Tech Tutor Volunteer Position Description

The Best Volunteer Management Software to Meet Every Need

Volunteer Job Description – Job Center Coach – Butte County CA

Teen Conduct Agreement Columbus Metropolitan Library, Ohio

Co-Creating Racial Equity in Volunteer Engagement

Hot Topic for December 2021 Virtual Volunteer Position Ideas

Virtual Job Coach

Closed Captioning Volunteer

Podcast Transcription Volunteer

Spanish Language Virtual Document Translator

Tutor an Adult Learner Virtually

Social Media Ambassador

Virtual Volunteer Ideas for Teens

Examples of Virtual Volunteering Activities

Virtual Volunteering: A Guide for Nonprofits

22 Simple Tips for Managing Virtual Volunteers 

Hot Topic for November 2021 MORE VolunteerMatch Tips and Tricks

Post Virtual Volunteer Opportunities -- NOTE: Virtual opportunities don’t show up in a local search, and in person opportunities don’t show up in a virtual search – if you’re offering an opportunity both ways (i.e., volunteers can come to the library to do it OR they can do it online) you should post it twice – once as virtual and once as local. Using the Copy feature will keep you from having to type it all twice: 

Get Involved/VolunteerMatch widget - This 3 minute video shows how our Get Involved/ VolunteerMatch widget on your library's website will help recruit more volunteers – California libraries can request the widget code from me at clehn@califa.org so your IT folks can post it. If posting the widget is not an option, you can simply post a link to libraries.volunteermatch.org

Looking for another way to make your volunteer opportunities more visible to the best potential volunteer matches for your position?  

Need to Copy an opportunity to post it on multiple branch accounts or tweak it just a bit? No need to re-type!

Did you know that you can add “shift” options to your VolunteerMatch posts?

If you only have a limited number of openings for one of your VolunteerMatch posts, you can change “Sign Up” to “Express Interest

    Hot Topic for October 2021 Tips to Improve Your VolunteerMatch Results

    Re-posting – Best and easiest thing you can do to make your volunteer listings more visible to volunteers on VolunteerMatch

    Include a photo of what it looks like to be a volunteer in the position (more effective than a logo or picture of your library)

    Need good photos of volunteers in action? https://getinvolvedclearinghouse.org/ -- Click on Photos then use Dropdown menu to select the volunteer role.  These are professionally taken, photo waivers signed and sized for VolunteerMatch!

    Promote Your Listings -- If you have a paid VolunteerMatch account (California Libraries can get one free from the California State Library – e-mail clehn@califa.org) another one of the features you get is called "Promote Your Listings." This 90 second video shows how it can add a self-updating Volunteer page to your library's website.

    VolunteerMatch/LinkedIn Reccruitment Partnership - How to get LinkedIn to offer your skilled volunteer position to qualified candidates

    VolunteerMatch “Tour” – Using VolunteerMatch to Recruit Skilled & Virtual Volunteers

     

    What's New for September 2021 Recently added

    Vulnerable Populations Policy for Volunteers - Multnomah County Library OR

    Volunteer Guidebook – Hillsboro OR

    HandsOn Network Volunteer Leader Guidebook

    Sample Volunteer Application form

    How to Write Volunteer Recruitment Messaging That Converts

    Diversity Statement – Indianapolis Public Library

    Hot Topic for August 2021 Strategic Planning

    Developing a Strategic Plan for Volunteer Engagement – Recording and materials from July 28, 2021 webinar

    SWOT Analysis for Strategic Planning

    Why Have Volunteer Department Goals Objectives and Actions?

    Truth: volunteer programs have fun with strategic plans (AND reach their goals)

    Goal Setting Worksheet

    Living into Your Strategic Plan: A Guide to Implementation that Gets Results

    Sample Organization Strategic Plan Featuring Volunteerism Goals

    Sample Volunteer Strategic Plan - Colorado Parks & Wildlife

    NOTE: More resources can be found by clicking on “Management Tools” and using the drop-down menu to select “Strategic Planning.”

    What's New for July 2021 Recently added

    Write a Captivating Volunteer Position Description that Boosts Recruitment

    Could Volunteers Replace Paid Staff?? Have No Fear!

    Create a Book Stool!

    Volunteer Exit Interview Survey

    Volunteer Risk & Screening Levels

    Creating One-Time, Short-Term Group Volunteering Activities

    Hot Topic for June 2021 Volunteer Confidentiality Agreements

    Volunteer Confidentiality Policy – Columbus Metropolitan Library OH

    Confidentiality Agreement – Huntington Beach CA

    Volunteer Confidentiality Policy – Barrie Public Library – Ontario Canada

    Confidentiality Policy – San Bernardino County CA

    Confidentiality of Customer Records Form – Ontario CA

    Volunteer Confidentiality Policy – Long Beach CA

    Confidentiality Policy - Dauphin County PA

    SEE ALSO: Many Volunteer Handbooks contain confidentiality policies. To view sample handbooks, click on “Management Tools” then select “Volunteer Handbooks” from the drop-down menu.

     

    Hot Topic for May 2021 Volunteer Handbooks

    Volunteer Handbook – City of Pacific Grove CA

    Volunteer Guidelines – Lake Travis Community Library TX

    Volunteer Handbook – San Jose Public Library CA

    Volunteer Handbook – City of Boulder CO

    Volunteer Handbook - Lewiston Library ID

    Volunteer Guidebook - Hillsboro Library OR

    Sample Volunteer Handbook – VolunteerMatch

    Playing by the Rules: Creating an Effective Volunteer Handbook (Archived Webinar)

    Note: For more sample handbooks and individual policies, including Confidentiality, COVID-19 and more, click on Management Tools, and select Volunteer Handbooks from the dropdown menu.

    And please send us your handbook to share -- see Share Your Materials below.

    Hot Topic for April 2021 More COVID & Virtual Volunteer Resources

    Volunteer COVID-19 Waiver

    Volunteer COVID-19 Protocol Training

    Volunteer Survey – Coming Back after COVID-19

    Virtual Volunteer Opportunities for Teens

    Podcast Transcription Volunteer

    Library Takeout Service Ambassador

    Closed Captioning Volunteer Job Description

    Closed Captioning Volunteer Job List

    What's New for March 2021 Recently added

    Archived Webinars:

    Documents:

    Gaining Staff Buy-In for Volunteer Engagement

    Criminal History Background Check Policy

    Adopt a Shelf Volunteer

    Adopt a Shelf Job List

    What's New for February 2021 Recently added

    Annual Volunteer Survey Example

    How to Build a Successful Volunteer Program

    Getting it Right! Nine Areas Managers of Volunteers Sometimes Get Wrong

    Volunteer Orientation Trainer job description

    NextGen Nexus: Moving Beyond Awareness

    What Do Volunteers Want?

     

    Hot Topic for January 2021 Public Relations Tools to Help Demonstrate Your Worth

    The Volunteer Newsletter Template You Need to Start Using

    “Because You’re Worth It: Showcasing the Value of You and Your Volunteer Program” –  FREE archived webinar from the Texas Volunteer Management Conference

    Volunteers in Plano Annual Report

    Annual Report to Library Leadership on Volunteer Engagement – San Jose CA

    Return on Investment Worksheet & Infographic Templates

    Volunteer Annual Report Infographic – Ann Arbor MI

    Volunteer Annual Report Infographic - Arlington TX

    Library Annual Report Includes Volunteer Highlights - Oklahoma County OK

    7 Ways to Use Infographics to Recruit Volunteers and Tell Your Nonprofit’s Story

     

    2nd Hot Topic for December 2020 Diverse and Inclusive Volunteer Engagement - Part 2

    8 Strategies for Creating a More Inclusive Volunteer Program

    Moving Forward: Taking Action on Race and Equity (a Points of Light webinar archive)

    Power, Privilege, and Volunteerism

    Addressing Issues of Equity in Volunteerism

    Note: Don't miss additional resources on this topic by clicking on "More Hot Topics" below and scrolling to July 2020

     

    What's New for December 2020 Recently added

    Beyond the Thank You Card: Meaningful Volunteer Recognition

     

    Library Youth Volunteer Parental AgreementCedar Rapids IA

     

    Youth Protection Policy – Indianapolis IN

     

    Volunteer Management Software Comparisons

     

    Paws to Read Procedures – Indianapolis IN

     

    Book Store Volunteer Job Description – Indianapolis IN

     

     

    2nd Hot Topic For November 2020 Intern Job Descriptions

    Many thanks to Linda Groscost at Orange Public Library for sharing these intern positions that could also easily be revised into volunteer job descriptions if you don't have an intern program. REMEMBER: if you share something we post to the clearinghouse, you get a free book! (Click the Share Materials Link below)

    Adult and Branch Services Intern

    Adult Literacy Intern

    Lending Services Intern

    Local History Intern

    Social Media Intern

    Technology Services Intern

     

     

    Hot Topic for November 2020 Survey Examples

    Volunteer Exit Survey

    Staff Survey re: Volunteer Needs During the Pandemic

    Survey of Branch Library Volunteer Coordinators

    Annual Volunteer Survey San Jose Public Library

    Annual Volunteer Survey Cedar Rapids Public Library

    Five Survey Templates to Measure Volunteer and Board Satisfaction

    Volunteer Satisfaction Surveys: 10 Ways to Get it Right

    The 9 most Important Survey Design Tips & Best Practices

    Questionnaire Design Tip Sheet

    2nd Hot Topic For October 2020 Volunteer Coordinator Job Descriptions

    City of Orange CA Volunteer Coordinator

    Sacramento Public Library Volunteer Coordinator

    Volunteer Engagement Specialist Job Description -- Indianapolis

    Branch Volunteer Coordinators’ Responsibilities – Indianapolis

    A Letter to Nonprofits that Want to Hire a Volunteer Manager

     

    Hot Topic for October 2020 More Pandemic Resources

    Building Better COVID-Related Volunteer Roles

    Volunteer Safety Training during COVID-19 – Orange Public Library

    New Research (during the pandemic!): Civic Engagement: What We Know, What We’re Learning, and What Comes Next

    How to Prioritize When Everything Feels Important

    Social Media & Blog Content Generation Guidelines for Staff and Volunteers – Cedar Mill & Bethany Community Libraries OR

    Capacity Commons Guidebook on Skills-Based Volunteerism