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
Checklist to Minimize the Most Common Volunteer Risks
A good basic list of issues to consider and how to approach them.
Capacity BuildingStaff Training Risk Management 2016
Closed Captioning Volunteer Job List - Cedar Rapids IA
During the global pandemic the Library shifted to sharing more programs online and wanted to ensure the programs were accessible to those who utilize… more
Job Specific Volunteer TrainingCapacity Building virtual, virtual volunteer, remote, closed captioning, COVID-19 2021
Co-Creating Racial Equity in Volunteer Engagement - MAVA
The Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement has been conducting research and education on race equity in volunteerism for 5 years. This is the… more
Staff Training diversity, equity, inclusion 2021
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
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
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
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
Consequences of Good v. Bad Volunteer Experiences
A brief article detailing a couple of ways to make your volunteers have a good experience, or to respond to situations where someone's had a bad… more
Staff Training 2022
Could Volunteers Replace Paid Staff?? Have No Fear!
An organization’s decision to bring in volunteers may spark fears that volunteers could eventually replace staff. After all, volunteers can do many… more
Staff TrainingEngaging Staff and Unions Staff Resistance, staff buy-in 2019
COVID-19 Action Levels for Volunteers - Indianapolis IN
When the Indianapolis Public Library started bringing volunteers back during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, they were prepared with this document for… more
Staff Training COVID-19 2020
COVID-19 Safety Protocols Training Powerpoint - Gail Borden PL, IL
This powerpoint was developed by the Gail Borden Public Library in Illinois to as part of its training for volunteers about safety issues and… more
Capacity Building COVID-19 2020
Creating a Community-Centered Volunteer Orientation
This video clip was prepared for the Get Involved Initiative by Breauna Dorelus of Connecting the Cause - https://www.connectingthecause.com. After… more
Staff TrainingVolunteer Orientation diversity, equity, inclusion, White Saviorism, white supremacy, orientation, Training 2022
Creating Innovative Volunteer Recognition Strategies
This webinar was presented for the Get Involved initiative by Jennifer Bennett, Director of Education and Training at VolunteerMatch on April 19,… more
Staff Training recognition 2023
Creating One-Time, Short-Term Group Volunteering Activities
Great ideas for two-hour-, half-day or one-day, one-time group volunteering activities that could be used to engage workplace volunteer groups,… more
Staff Training groups, corporate 2020
Demographic Trends Shaping America and Service
Beth Steinhorn of VQ Strategies takes 2018 Pew Research results and extrapolates them for volunteer engagement professionals by addressing the… more
Capacity BuildingMillennials 2018
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
Designing Virtual Opportunities, Managing Remote Volunteers
This is a one hour webinar presented by Jennifer Bennett, CVA, Senior Manager of Education and Training at VolunteerMatch. I was presented and… more
Engaging High Impact VolunteersCapacity BuildingStaff Training virtual volunteer 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 TrainingCapacity Building intern, internship 2020
Developing Training Programs for Volunteers
The Who, What, How and Why of designing training programs for volunteers from the Community Toolbox.
Job Specific Volunteer TrainingVolunteer Orientation Training volunteer training 2013
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