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
Computer Coach Training - Huntington Beach Public Library
Training provided to Huntington Beach Public Library's volunteer Computer Coach program. See also, Computer Coach volunteer position… more
Job Specific Volunteer Training computer coach, Training 2010
Storytime Training Guide - Roseville, CA
Training Guide created by Children's Library staff at Roseville Public Library to train Storytime Conductor volunteers. See also:
Getting Staff On… more
Job Specific Volunteer Training Storytime, Storyteller, Training 2009
Getting Staff on Board- Story Time Conductors
Former Roseville library director Rachel Delgadillo talks about how she worked with her Children's Librarians to overcome their resistance to… more
Capacity BuildingEngaging Staff and UnionsStaff Training Video, Staff Resistance, Storytime, children's services 2010
Successful Volunteer Recruitment Strategies for Baby Boomers & Generations that Follow
This is a one hour archived webinar presented by Carla Lehn in February, 2012. Presenter slides and handouts are available at the link below.
Do you… more
Volunteer RecruitmentBaby BoomersEngaging High Impact VolunteersOn-line Volunteer Recruitment Volunteer Recruitment, Skilled Volunteers, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millenials 2012
Demonstrating ROI in Volunteer Engagement
You know your volunteers do valuable work -- but how do you know which of their results will be most compelling to the decision makers in your… more
Publicity and PromotionCapacity BuildingStaff Training ROI, evaluation, budget justification, Webinar 2011
Dewey? Sure we Do - San Bernardino County Library
Introduction to Dewey Decimal system for volunteer training.
Job Specific Volunteer Training Dewey, Shelving, Training 2011
Dewey Decimal Quiz - San Bernardino County Library
Quiz used in training for shelving volunteers. See also, "Dewey Quiz Answers," and "Do We Dewey? Sure We Do"
Job Specific Volunteer Training Dewey, Shelving, Training 2011
Dewey Quiz Answers - San Bernardino County
Answers to quiz used in training for shelving volunteers. See also, "Dewey Decimal Quiz," and "Do We Dewey? Sure We Do"
Job Specific Volunteer Training Dewey, Shelving, Training 2011
Staff Training Syllabus - San Jose, CA
Learning objectives used to train staff at San Jose Public Library on working with high impact volunteers in four 2-hour sessions. See also, a… more
Staff Training staff training 2010
Getting Staff Buy-In for Volunteer Engagement - San Jose
Tips for successfully gaining Staff Buy-In for Volunteer Engagement developed by San Jose Public Library.
Engaging Staff and UnionsStaff Training 2010
Collaborating with Unions to Engage Volunteers - San Jose
Tips for collaborating with the union for volunteer engagement developed and used successfully by San Jose Public Library.
Engaging Staff and Unions Unions 2010
Volunteer Practices Continuum - San Jose, CA
The practices are on a continuum that begins with statements that reflect “Volunteer Management” procedures and ends with statements that reflect “… more
Capacity BuildingEngaging High Impact Volunteers 2010
Action Words for Use in Position Description Development - San Jose
A terrific list of action words to assist when preparing volunteer position descriptions.
Staff Guides for Working with VolunteersEngaging High Impact Volunteers Position Descriptions 2010
Adult Literacy Students Giving Back
In this 5- minute video, be inspired by adult literacy students in San Jose who are giving back to their community.
Engaging High Impact Volunteers adult literacy, Video 2011
Partners in Reading Leadership Team, San Jose, CA
In this 2-minute interview with Judy Klikun, you will learn about engaging volunteer leaders, building teams and developing advocates for the library.
Capacity BuildingEngaging High Impact Volunteers adult literacy, Video, leadership team, team leaders, tutor 2010
Volunteer Involvement in California Libraries: Best Practices
This is the State Library's 245 page book on Volunteer Involvement for libraries -- author Carla Lehn. Includes Chapters and sample materials… more
Volunteer RecruitmentEngaging High Impact VolunteersStaff Training Volunteer Recruitment, volunteer coordinator, staff training 1999
Bibliography on Volunteer Engagement
Bibliography and Web Resources on Volunteer Engagement developed by Carla Lehn
Capacity BuildingStaff Training bibliography, Lehn 2023
Volunteer Orientation - Circulation - Huntington Beach, CA
Orientation slides used by Huntington Beach Public Library with volunteers in Circulation.
Materials HandlingJob Specific Volunteer TrainingVolunteer Orientation book shelving, Circulation 2012
Volunteer Orientation - Media Center - Huntington Beach, CA
Powerpoint slides used in orientation of Huntington Beach Public Library's Media Center volunteers.
Materials HandlingJob Specific Volunteer TrainingVolunteer Orientation Shelving 2012
Advanced VolunteerMatch Tools
This one hour webinar is for those who have at least gotten their feet wet using their VolunteerMatch account. It will give you some next steps to… more
VolunteerMatch Tools and Resources Recruitment, online recruitment 2009