Hot Topics Archive

The National Association of Counties (NACo), along with its affiliate, The National Association of Volunteer Programs in Local Government (NAVPLG) promotes volunteerism in local government and assists counties in their efforts to organize and expand volunteer programs. Working in almost every area of county government operations, volunteers enable local governments to provide more services to residents. This revised edition of The Volunteer Toolbox is part of NACo’s effort to provide local governments with information and resources to establish and expand volunteer programs.

P.S.  If you’re not a member of the “Get Involved: Powered by Your Library” listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to carla.lehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.

This month we’ve added an assortment of “Library Greeter/Concierge” volunteer position descriptions in use around the state:

Library Concierge – Roseville Public Library 

Library Greeter – Monrovia Public Library

Welcome Desk Volunteer – Tulare County Library



P.S.  If you’re not a member of the “Get Involved: Powered by Your Library” listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to carla.lehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.

This month’s focus is on some high skilled volunteer positions for library literacy programs:



Three high level volunteer positions in San Jose Public Library’s Literacy Program are:



Head Computer Coach – this leadership position coordinates a cadre of volunteer computer instructors for literacy students



Literacy Outreach Team Coordinator – This leadership position coordinates outreach activities that enhance the literacy program’s presence in the community.



Family Literacy Gift Giver – This position coordinates the distribution of children’s books and family materials to parents, guardians and children who participate in the Family Literacy program.



and here’s a Literacy Site Coordinator position description from the San Luis Obispo program.



P.S.  If you’re not a member of the “Get Involved: Powered by Your Library” listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to carla.lehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.

This month’s focus is on liability issues and background checks for volunteers:

Here are Huntington Beach’s Guidelines for Volunteers Working with Children which include a place for volunteers to sign that they understand what’s appropriate, and also, their background checks procedures.

From San Jose – Volunteer Fingerprinting Procedures.

Paso Robles City Library’s new Volunteer Handbook includes mission statement, objectives, expectations and policies and procedures. 

A brief document identifying some things to think about when considering implementing volunteer background checks. 

Q&A on Background Checks by John Patterson, Senior Program Director, Nonprofit Risk Management Center -- The Nonprofit Risk Management Center receives many questions concerning the screening of staff and volunteers using criminal history record checks. Criminal history record checks are important risk management tools but must not replace other risk management strategies designed to lessen the opportunity for abuse of vulnerable service recipients.

P.S.  If you’re not a member of the “Get Involved: Powered by Your Library” listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to clehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.

This month we have a treasure trove of things to share from the Huntington Beach Public Library – thanks, Monica and crew! --  starting with a volunteer position description for an “EBooks Coach” who helps patrons one-on-one to use their E-Book Reader to use the library’s collection.

These powerpoint slide decks were created for high skilled volunteers to deliver workshops in the library on:

    --  “Intro to the Internet”   

    --  “Applying for a Job Online” 

    --  “E-mail Basics”

P.S.  If you’re not a member of the “Get Involved: Powered by Your Library” listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to clehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.

Want to take your volunteer Computer Coach program to the next level?  How about recruiting a leadership volunteer to serve as “Computer Coach Program Coordinator?”  Here’s the Position Description being used at the Huntington Beach Library. 



Are you planning to implement ESL Conversation Circles or Clubs.  Two great resources from the San Jose Public Library: a Volunteer Agreement for ESL Conversation Club Coordinator,  and Interview Questions for ESL Conversation Club Coordinator. 



For those of you thinking of purchasing a volunteer management software package for managing volunteer information, the latest (Spring 2012) survey has just been published, and you can find it here.

Kern County Library just completed a review of the volunteer management system called “Volunteer Impact,”  and we’ve just added it here.   You can find more reviews of various volunteer management systems completed by California libraries in the Get Involved Clearinghouse: from the Get Involved website, click on the “Resource and Training Center” tab, then select “Management Tools” and from the keyword dropdown menu, select “Volunteer Management Systems.”



Some of you have heard of the “Book to Action” concept – designed to build awareness for local civic engagement projects and inspire volunteer participation through shared reading and discussion of books about issues/topics relevant relevant to the community.  The first California library to implement this concept was the Hayward Public Library, and they’ve prepared this 4 minute video to give you the flavor of their “Book To Action” project. 



One last reminder -- those in Southern California should mark your calendars for a ½ day workshop presented by the Southern California Get Involved Regional Network.  Tuesday, August 28 from 9 am to Noon at the Ontario City Library.  The workshop will focus on “Engaging Highly Skilled Volunteers: The Importance of Policies and Procedures.”  Mileage reimbursement is available.  Register by sending an e-mail to monica.miltko@surfcity-hb.org including name, library, position and phone number.



P.S.  If you’re not a member of the “Get Involved: Powered by Your Library” listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to clehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.

Still finding that staff aren’t on board with volunteer engagement as much as you’d like?  Check out some common concerns and steps you can take here:  Addressing Common Staff Concerns About Volunteers



Solano County Library’s literacy program provides opportunities for experienced literacy volunteers to serve as Literacy Resource Specialists.



The Yolo County Library and the Yolo County Probation Department have partnered on a project that provides literacy tutoring to youth incarcerated at the Juvenile Detention Facility.  We’ve added the Literacy Tutor, Juvenile Detention Facility volunteer position description, and the volunteer recruitment flyer they use for the project.



Here’s Solano County Library’s volunteer position description for Bi-Lingual Catalog/Internet Docent.

 

San Francisco Public Library’s Teen Computer Corps connects computer savvy teenagers with senior patrons hoping to improve their basic computer skills.



And some terrific volunteer orientation materials are provided by the Huntington Beach Public Library:  one for volunteers in Circulation and one for those in the Media Center.



Also, those in Southern California should mark your calendars for a free ½ day workshop presented by the Southern California Get Involved Regional Network.  Tuesday, August 28 from 9 am to Noon at the Ontario City Library.  The workshop will focus on “Engaging Highly Skilled Volunteers: The Importance of Policies and Procedures.”  Mileage reimbursement is available.  Register by sending an e-mail to monica.miltko@surfcity-hb.org including name, library, position and phone number.



P.S.  If you’re not a member of the “Get Involved: Powered by Your Library” listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to clehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.

Thinking of engaging groups of volunteers from corporations, local businesses, service clubs or youth groups?  Then this archived one hour webinar is for you:  Putting Corporate Volunteers to Work 



This volunteer position description from the California State Library really generated a lot of referrals on VolunteerMatch.  Your library may have a need like this as well -- Japanese American History Archivist -– We’re also looking for a volunteer position description for a person(s) to help Tech Services with translation of materials too – if you have such a description, please “Suggest a Resource” by clicking in the box to the right.



Literacy programs looking for a way to serve adult learners who are waiting to be matched with a volunteer tutor should take a look at Solano County Library’s Learning Opportunity Facilitator volunteer position description.



We have asked some libraries to do “reviews” on the Volunteer Management System they are using to keep track of their volunteer information.  The newest one is on the product called Volgistics – Huntington Beach Public Library’s Review.  If you’re looking for a system for your library, you’ll find an assortment of these reviews on a variety of Volunteer Management Systems by clicking on “Management Tools,” and then on “Volunteer Management Systems.”

 

We are thrilled to announce the Grand Opening of our new searchable database (we call it the “Clearinghouse”) of all the great resources we currently have stored in the system for your use! -- https://getinvolvedclearinghouse.org -- You’ll find hundreds of professionally taken photos – all with permission from the subjects in the photos -- they are sized for immediate use on your VolunteerMatch postings. Remember, VolunteerMatch research shows that opportunities posted with a picture of a volunteer engaged in the job you’re recruiting for gets 3 times as many “hits” as one without a photo. You can browse all of the photos, or search for a particular one by using some general volunteer job description titles in a Keyword drop down menu on the photos page. You’ll see that you can “Suggest a Resource” – please do!! As you develop more volunteer engagement materials, please use that option to send us more things we can share with everyone.

A veritable treasure trove of useful documents from the San Jose Public Library's award-winning Volunteer Engagement Team has been added for April!

Staff Training Syllabus

Volunteer Agreement Checklist

Coordinator of Volunteer Engagement (for a branch or unit)

Tips for Getting Staff Buy-In for Volunteer Engagement

Tips for Collaborating with Unions

Volunteer Practices Continuum

Action Words for Use in Position Description Development

Link: 

One of our sustainability strategies for the Get Involved: Powered by Your Library statewide volunteerism initiative is the development of "Regional Peer Networks." In addition to our statewide efforts, the goal is to facilitate the sharing of library volunteer engagement success stories, resources, ideas and materials among folks in various geographic areas. This will help to sustain current gains, share strategies, and ensure that libraries new to Get Involved are exposed and mentored to achieve their own successes.



The Bay Area Network has scheduled 3 FREE workshops -- San Francisco March 2, Marina April 9 and San Jose May 4. Workshop Flyer with registration and contact information. Lunch and potential for regional travel reimbursement are part of the deal, so check it out! If you can't make it to one of their workshops, at least let them know if you're interested in being kept informed of Bay Area activities.

Bay Area:

Cathy Andrews - Monterey County - andrewscs@co.monterey.ca.us

Jennifer Baker - St. Helena - director@shpl.org

Kai Wilson - San Francisco - kaiwilson@sfpl.org

Joan Young - San Jose - joan.young@sjlibrary.org

The other 3 networks are gearing up too, so if you haven't made contact with them yet, here's how -- and many thanks to ALL these folks who've stepped up to take the lead!

Sacramento Region:

Randi-Kay Stephens- Sacramento - rstephens@saclibrary.org

Gail McGrath- Roseville - gmcgrath@roseville.ca.us

Central Valley:

Sherry Gomez- Kern County - sherry.gomez@kerncountylibrary.org

Elizabeth Finkle- Fresno County - elizabeth.finkle@fresnolibrary.org

Southern California:

Hillary Theyer- Torrance - htheyer@torranceca.gov

Monica Miltko- Huntington Beach - Monica.Miltko@surfcity-hb.org