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
Getting Staff Buy-In for Volunteer Engagement
Video clip on this topic from a Get Involved Volunteer Engagement Institute in Oakland California in May 2015. (26.5 minutes)
Engaging Staff and Unions 2018
Getting Management Buy In for Volunteers
Volunteerism consultant Susan Ellis gives tips for staff on steps to take to get management on board with and supportive of the volunteer program.
Engaging Staff and Unions 2011
Getting it Right! Nine Areas Managers of Volunteers Sometimes Get Wrong
A terrific brief article by Martin Cowling to help us find our way.
Capacity Building 2021
Get Z and Millennials: How They Use Public Libraries and Identify Through Media Use
This 2023 report is organized into five parts:

1. Gen Z library use and non-use.
2. How Gen Z and millennials use media and discover books.
3. Gen Z… more
Capacity Building Gen Z, Millennials 2023
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
GenerationOn Projects, Ideas and Resources
Looking for possible library volunteer projects for kids, teens and/or families? Check out GenerationOn's projects and resources to get some… more
Millennials Teens, family volunteering 2018
Gamifying Volunteer Training
gDo volunteers cringe when you bring up the subject of training? The author argues that gamifying volunteer training can be an effective way to build… more
Volunteer OrientationJob Specific Volunteer TrainingStaff Training Gamifying, Gamification 2023
Gaining Staff Buy-In for Volunteer Engagement
This chart created by Carla Lehn identifies the common reasons that staff are resistant to the idea of engaging volunteers in their work, and… more
Capacity BuildingStaff Training staff buy-in 2018
Fun Volunteer Teambuilding Activities That Will Keep Your Remote Team Engaged
This article from Tobi Johnson about Volunteer Team Building activities includes instructions for both in-person and virtual activities.
Capacity BuildingEngaging High Impact Volunteers team building 2022
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
First Day Volunteer Orientation Checklist - Kitchener Public Library
This checklist is used by the Kitchener Public Library for a volunteer's first day of orientation/training.
Volunteer Orientation checklist, orientation, Training 2022
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
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
ESL Conversation Circles - Training Overview
This Prezi slide presentation was developed to help train volunteer ESL Conversation group facilitators. (I found it easier to view on FIrefox than… more
Job Specific Volunteer Training ESL conversation circle, ESL 2013
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Resources - California State Library
This website of applicable materials was developed and is maintained by the California State Library.
Staff Training diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging 2022
Equity Diversity Inclusion & Antiracism Toolkit - Oregon Library Association
Toolkit developed by the Oregon Library Association in 2020.
Staff Training equity, diversity, inclusion 2020
Engaging Volunteers: A Comprehensive Literature Review
Literature Review completed for AmeriCorps by ICF International in 2021.
Capacity BuildingStaff Training literature 2021
Engaging Volunteers in Leadership Positions- St. Helena Public Library- TLA50 Video
St. Helena Public Library presentation on using boomer and older adult volunteers in leadership roles to expand adult programming and build library… more
Baby BoomersCapacity BuildingStaff Training Video, adult volunteers, adult programming 2010
Engaging the Volunteer of the Future
This 1 hour webinar was presented by Jennifer Bennett, Education & Training Director for VolunteerMatch.
In this webinar you’ll learn to: ~… more
Capacity BuildingStaff TrainingMillennials Millenials 2024
Engaging Pro Bono & Skills-Based Volunteers Webinar Slides
These slides are from the one-hour webinar presented for a library audience by Jennifer Bennett, CVA, Senior Manager of Education and Training at… more
Engaging High Impact VolunteersStaff Training Skilled Volunteers, Pro Bono, Webinar