Hot Topics Archive | Get Involved! Resource Clearinghouse

Month	Topic	Update
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: Where Do I Go From Here? Engage Volunteers in New Ways -- VolunteerMatch, February 2021 Strategies for Attracting Today’s Volunteers -- DOVIA Sacramento, February 2021 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 Agreement – Cedar 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
Hot Topic for September 2020	More on Skilled and Virtual Volunteers	“Designing Virtual Opportunities, Managing Remote Volunteers” – Recording of August 26, 2020 webinar Virtual Volunteer Orientation San Jose PL Virtual Homework Help Coach Online Training - San Jose PL Volunteer Handbook – San Jose PL Virtual Volunteering: a Guide for Nonprofits Nonprofit Skills-Based Volunteering Toolkit Skills-Based Volunteerism 201: Project Scoping and Planning - Archived webinar from ServeOhio Illinois Conference on Volunteer Administration (ICOVA) Session Recordings
Hot Topic for August 2020	More COVID -19 Ideas and Protocols	COVID-19 Story Project COVID-19 Story Project Interviewer COVID-19 Volunteer Acknowledgment Form COVID-19 Library Volunteer Agreement COVID-19 Safety Protocols Training Powerpoint Are Young People Replacing Older People as the Key Volunteering Group? Resources to Help Manage Volunteers During the Coronavirus Pandemic If Your Board Looked Like Your Community “Because You’re Worth It: Showcasing the Value of You and Your Volunteer Program”
2nd Hot Topic For July 2020	Re-Opening the Library to Volunteers During COVID-19	COVID Safety Training – Boulder CO Volunteer Safety Precautions – Indianapolis PL, IN Volunteer General Safety Guidelines – Cedar Rapids IA REALM Research Project (Reopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums) Home Delivery Volunteer Safety Requirements Sign-Off Sheet – Boulder CO Changes to “Holds Hunter” Volunteer Process during COVID-19 – Cedar Rapids IA Book Drop Helper and Sorter Volunteer Job Description – Boulder CO Book Drop Helper and Sorter Training Powerpoint – Boulder CO Book Drop Helper and Sorter Training Video #1 – Boulder CO Book Drop Helper and Sorter Training Video #2 – Boulder CO *NOTE: We have added a COVID-19 tag to the Get Involved Clearinghouse – if you just want an overview of what’s specifically here on that topic, type COVID-19 into the search box above.
Hot Topic for July 2020	Diverse and Inclusive Volunteer Engagement	Fighting Racism Through Diverse and Inclusive Volunteer Engagement Programming (Part 1 of 2) Fighting Racism Through Diverse and Inclusive Volunteer Engagement Programming (Part 2 of 2) Recognizing Racism in Volunteer Engagement Systemic Exclusion in Volunteer Engagement Engagement as a Path to Inclusion and Justice Talking racial equity? Make sure you understand these 17 words Why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Matter for Nonprofits Racial Equity and Inclusion Resources for Volunteer Engagement Leaders
Hot Topic for June 2020	Engage Virtual Volunteers While We Shelter in Place – TEEN EDITION	Austin Public Library Teen Virtual Volunteer Program When the Austin Public Library closed for the corona virus there was concern about the need to keep staff busy during telework, so Stephanie designed teen volunteer assignments to function more like a teen program that would create supervision opportunities for staff. Here are the virtual volunteer positions she created for teens: Video Content Creators - and bonus Planning Template for Teen Craft and Gaming Videos – Bibliocommons Book Reviewers Distance Puppeteers World Language Info Guide Art and Lit Mag (loosely based on this: https://www.jocolibrary.org/teens/elementia More Teen Ideas: Boulder Teen Summer Volunteer Roles During COVID-19 Woodland QuaranTEEN Book Reviews
2nd Hot Topic For May 2020	Engage Virtual Volunteers While We Shelter in Place - Part 3	Many thanks to our library friends around the country who are sharing their COVID-19 plans and materials! Sample Volunteer Re-Engagement Surveys: Assessing Volunteers’ Interest in Returning After Shelter in Place Assess HomeBound Delivery Volunteers’ Interest in Continuing after COVID19 Program Changes in Place Ideas for Summer and Re-Opening Volunteer Roles: Teen Summer Volunteer Roles During COVID-19 Book Drop Helper and Sorter Volunteer Job Description
Hot Topic for May 2020	Engage Virtual Volunteers While We Shelter in Place - Part 2	Here are some more ideas for keeping current volunteers engaged and/or expanding services: Queens Public Library Social Media Ambassadors Austin Public Library Social Media Ambassadors Queens Public Library Covid19 Oral Histories Project Virtual Volunteering Opportunities – San Jose Public Library And some current volunteer job descriptions could be amended to describe service provided on an online platform: Job Center Volunteer – Chandler Public Library AZ Job Center Coach, Sacramento Public Library Homework Coach – San Jose Public Library EBooks Coach – Huntington Beach Public Library ESL Conversation Club Facilitator – San Jose Public Library Please consider sharing your materials at the link below to be added to the Clearinghouse to keep others from having to re-invent the wheel!
Hot Topic for April 2020	Engage Virtual Volunteers While We Shelter in Place	Need to find ways to keep your current volunteers engaged? Or just need different kinds of help during this uncertain time? Consider Virtual Volunteers – they do work for you from home! Could you use a graphic designer, researcher, writer, translator, proofreader, or video editor? Those opportunities can be posted on VolunteerMatch and marked “virtual” rather than “one location.” VolunteerMatch has also added to each volunteer opportunity posting a chance for you to answer this question: “Is this opportunity helping your organization respond to the COVID-19 crisis?” When you answer yes, your posting will get visibility in additional ways. Here are some more resources to get you started: Never a Better time to Explore Virtual Volunteering than NOW How to Tap Into the Power of Virtual Volunteers VolunteerMatch Covid-19 Hub Virtual Volunteer Success Story – Brownwood Texas Spanish Language Virtual Document Translator Job Description - Salinas CA Social Media Specialist Job Description – CA State Library 4 minute interview California State Library Virtual Volunteer – Social Media Specialist