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
Volunteer Value Beyond Numbers, Hours and Dollars
A great summary from Sue Carter Kahl of alternatives we can use beyond just numbers, hours, and dollars to measure the value of volunteer engagement.
Staff Training ROI 2024
How to Write Volunteer Surveys for Big Impact
Guidelines for creating your best surveys from VolunteerPro.
Staff Training surveys 2024
Creating a Diverse Volunteer Pool
This is the recording of the May 23, 2024 – Get Involved Live Zoom Conversation: Creating a Diverse Volunteer Pool. An excellent discussion for… more
Staff TrainingCapacity Building diversity, equity, inclusion 2024
Engaging Position Descriptions for Boomers and Future Generations of Volunteers
A great list of dynamic words and catchy titles to use when describing your volunteer opportunities! – created by MAVA (Minnesota Alliance for… more
Baby BoomersEngaging High Impact Volunteers job descriptions 2024
Volunteer Recognition Ideas Across Generations
Ways to think about the types of recognition you provide for different generations of volunteers.
Baby BoomersMillennialsStaff Training recognition, generations 2024
A Guide for Creating Inclusive Volunteer Position Descriptions
This is one part of the 2024 "Is Everyone Welcome? Tools to Broaden Volunteer Engagement" toolkit found here: https://www.idealist.org/en/orgs/is-… more
Staff Training inclusive, Position Descriptions, job descriptions 2024
Managing Volunteer Risks -- Where Are You Now?
In this blog, Volunteers Insurance Service Association, Inc. (VIS) suggests that to know where you need to be in managing your organization’s risk of… more
Staff Training Risk Management 2024
Engaging the Volunteer of the Future
This 1 hour webinar was presented by Jennifer Bennett, Education & Training Director for VolunteerMatch in January 2024.
In this webinar you’ll… more
Capacity BuildingStaff TrainingMillennials Millenials 2024
Working Together: Developing Neurodivergent and IDD (Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled) Inclusive Volunteer Opportunities
This webinar was recorded on June 6, 2024. Speakers: Cecily Ponce de Leon, Plano Public Library; Jungwon DeVone, Somerset County Library System; and… more
Staff Training neurodivergent, disabilities, special needs 2024
Surveys in Volunteer Engagement
On February 8, 2024, this Get Involved live Zoom discussion focused on Surveys in Volunteer Engagement. The group discussed types of surveys and… more
Staff Training surveys 2024
Books and barks: Library pet programs for everyone
This quick read points to a variety of programs libraries have started focused on "furry friends." Take a look!
Staff TrainingJob Specific Volunteer Training Pet Therapy, dog, reading 2024
Engaging People with Disabilities
Links to resources on this topic available from Volunteer Canada.
 
Capacity BuildingStaff Training disabilities, inclusive 2024
The Human Side of Recruitment
This webinar was presented by Beth Steinhorn of VQ Strategies on July 10, 2024. Recruitment is more than simply posting online ads. Ultimately,… more
Staff TrainingInterviewing Volunteers Recruitment, pitch, interview 2024
Disability Awareness and Inclusive Behaviors
This is a section of another publication that provides some great guidance. It starts on Page 9 of "Serving Patrons with Disabilities in Small and… more
Staff Training inclusive, inclusion, disabilities 2024
Tips for Selecting a Volunteer Management Database
Wendy Johnson of the Indianapolis Public Library presented this session for the Get Involved Initiative in July 2024. If it's time to investigate a… more
Staff TrainingCapacity Building volunteer management system, vms, database, Tracking, Reporting 2024
Up Your Game with Skills-Based Volunteering
A discussion of skills-based volunteering which can be provided through specialized volunteer-matching organizations.
Staff TrainingCapacity Building Skilled Volunteers 2023
Makerspace Volunteer Training Examples
Many thanks for these Makerspace Volunteer Training Examples – from San Mateo County Libraries – Check out their online training for maker volunteers… more
Job Specific Volunteer Training maker space, Niche Academy, online training 2023
When and Where to Use Volunteer Replacement Rates (Or Not) for Volunteer Value
In this 2023 blog post, Dr. Sue Carter Kahl thoughtfully discusses the pros and cons of using volunteer dollar values. The most common forms of wage… more
Staff Training ROI, Return on Investment 2023
Talking racial equity? Make sure you understand these 17 words
A shared vocabulary is the necessary first step for discussing racial equity. This glossary of terms might be helpful.
Capacity BuildingStaff Training diversity, equity, inclusion 2023
It's Spring: Let's Renew/Reinvigorate/Revamp Volunteer Engagement
This one-hour live online meeting was held on April 20, 2023 and features library volunteer engagement leaders sharing their thoughts on how to… more
Staff Training Recruitment, job descriptions, recognition 2023