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
Checking Criminal Histories: Considerations Before You Begin
Thinks to take into consideration as you determine your use of criminal history background checks, including relevant offenses and applicants' rights.
Staff Training background checks, criminal background check
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
Pro Bono Project Worksheet - VolunteerMatch
This worksheet was a handout provided during aone-hour webinar entitled Engaging Pro Bono & Skilled Volunteers. It was presented for a library… more
Engaging High Impact VolunteersStaff Training Skilled Volunteers, Pro Bono
Connecting with Today's Volunteers to Transform the Friends of the Library
This one hour webinar was presented in September 2019 by Carla Lehn for the Friends of Libraries section of the New York Library Association.… more
Engaging High Impact VolunteersCapacity BuildingStaff Training Friends of the Library
Teen Summer Volunteer Orientation - Riverside County CA
Sample Teen Volunteer Summer Reading Program orientation agenda
Volunteer OrientationMillennials teen volunteers, Teens
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
Volunteer Speed-Matching
A unique volunteer recruitment technique.
Capacity BuildingStaff Training Recruitment 2005
Library Tour Guide Manual - Paso Robles, CA
Guidelines and instructions for volunteers leading tours, primarily of school children, through the library.
Job Specific Volunteer Training docent, tour guide, Tour Leader 2007
Union Issues and Staff Resistance
Early in the Get Involved initiative we determined that the two biggest potential internal barriers to moving toward engagement of skilled volunteers… more
Engaging Staff and Unions Unions, Staff Resistance, staff buy-in 2008
Confidentiality and Other Objections to Volunteers
Susan Ellis writes eloquently on how to overcome staff objections to volunteer engagement.
Engaging Staff and Unions staff buy-in 2009
Volunteer Assessment and Selection- Jennifer Rackow
As part of a day-long training, Jennifer Rackow helps you assess and select the best candidates to become volunteers in your program. Search for… more
Capacity BuildingEngaging High Impact VolunteersInterviewing VolunteersStaff Training Video, volunteer selection 2009
Library Directors discuss Union Issues and Staff Buy-In
Early in the Get Involved initiative we determined that the two biggest potential internal barriers to moving toward engagement of skilled volunteers… more
Engaging Staff and Unions Unions, Staff Resistance, staff buy-in 2009
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
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
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
Reimagining Service in California- Karen Baker
Karen Brown, Secretary of Service and Volunteering in California, discusses trends in skilled volunteering at the Get Involved: Powered By Your… more
Capacity BuildingEngaging High Impact VolunteersStaff Training Video, trends 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
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