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
Skills Based Volunteerism 201: Project Scoping and Planning
This 1 hour archived webinar on preparing for skills-based volunteerism was presented by Serve Ohio in January 2020.
Engaging High Impact Volunteers, Capacity Building, Staff Training Skilled Volunteers, Skills Based Volunteers, high-impact volunteers 2020
Homebound Delivery Volunteer Safety Requirements Sign-Off Sheet - Boulder CO
This list of safety requirements was created for Boulder Colorado Homebound Delivery volunteers returning to service during COVID-19. The volunteer… more
Job Specific Volunteer Training, Capacity Building Homebound, COVID-19 2020
Virtual Volunteer Orientation - San Jose CA
This online training was developed to introduce new volunteers to the San José Public Library and provide a basic overview of the volunteer policies… more
Engaging High Impact Volunteers, Capacity Building virtual volunteer, virtual, orientation, Volunteer Orientation 2020
Equity Diversity Inclusion & Antiracism Toolkit - Oregon Library Association
Toolkit developed by the Oregon Library Association in 2020.
Staff Training equity, diversity, inclusion 2020
Tech Made Easy - Instructional Guides (Includes Zoom)
These new Tech Guides are now available for public use. They contain step-by-step instructions on how to teach seniors, who are often late-tech… more
Capacity Building, Job Specific Volunteer Training tech coach, tech tutor 2020
Virtual Homework Help Coach Online Training - San Jose CA
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, San Jose Public Library moved it's homework help program online. This is the online training they use to train the… more
Job Specific Volunteer Training Homework Help, COVID-19 2020
Developing a Successful Intern Program
Interns can be a godsend to any nonprofit. Depending on their background, they may be as valuable as paid staff and their main goals are typically… more
Staff Training, Capacity Building intern, internship 2020
The Ellis Archive - The Susan J. Ellis Foundation
The archive primarily consists of digitized documents from Susan J. Ellis' personal resource library. Focused on Susan’s passion -- the… more
Staff Training 2020
Volunteer Safety Training - Orange CA
Powerpoint developed by the Orange Public Library during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic to assist with training volunteers on safety procedures.
Volunteer Orientation COVID-19 2020
Recognizing Racism in Volunteer Engagement - MAVA
Important food for thought from the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration
Staff Training, Capacity Building inclusive, racism, Recruitment, diversity 2020
Building Better COVID-Related Volunteer Roles
VolunteerPro's approach to re-tooling our volunteer engagement during COVID-19. Includes a template for a Quick-n-Dirty Needs Assessment.
Staff Training, Capacity Building job descriptions, COVID-19, needs assessment 2020
Systemic Exclusion in Volunteer Engagement
The vast majority of managers of volunteers absolutely abhor deliberate acts of racism and want to be more inclusive. Since they don’t engage in… more
Capacity Building, Staff Training racism, inclusive, diversity, Recruitment 2020
Playing by the Rules: Creating an Effective Volunteer Handbook.
This one hour archived webinar was presented by Jennifer Bennett of VolunteerMatch in conjunction with the 4 state Get Involved: Powered by Your… more
Volunteer Handbooks policies, handbook 2019
Planning for Including People with Intellectual Disabilities in Volunteer Programs
A tip sheet created by The Arc to help you to include people with intellectual disabilities in your volunteer program.
Staff Training disabilities, diversity, equity, inclusion 2019
Do's and Don'ts of Supervising Library Volunteers
This July 2019 article from Public Libraries Online provides an excellent overview of working with volunteers in large and small libraries.
Capacity Building, Staff Training supervision 2019
NextGen Nexus: A Peek Inside the Millennial Mind
What if you could have a young person authentically share their viewpoint about your social issue and cause? What would they say, and how can you… more
Millennials 2019
Beware of These 6 Trends Lurking in Your Volunteer Program
This brief article from November 2019 delineates troubling trends about volunteer engagement programs gleaned from the most recent Volunteer… more
Capacity Building 2019
How to Build a Successful Volunteer Program
This brief guidebook was created by the International City/County Management Association.
Capacity Building, Staff Training toolkit 2019
Arizona's Buckeye Library Shares it's Experience with Get Involved
In this 6 minute video, Krista Cornish, Buckeye Library's (AZ) Volunteer Engagement Coordinator shares her library's experience and best… more
Capacity Building, Engaging Staff and Unions 2019
How to Write a Strong Reference Letter for a Volunteer
A reference letter showcases a volunteer’s achievements and the skills they’ve gained through volunteering. It can help a volunteer who is looking… more
Staff Training recognition, reference letter 2019