Training Materials | Get Involved! Resource Clearinghouse

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
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 Building, Engaging High Impact Volunteers		2010
Action Words for Use in Position Description Development - San Jose A terrific list of action words to assist when preparing volunteer position descriptions.	Staff Guides for Working with Volunteers, Engaging High Impact Volunteers	Position Descriptions	2010
Partners in Reading Leadership Team, San Jose, CA In this 2-minute interview with Judy Klikun, you will learn about engaging volunteer leaders, building teams and developing advocates for the library.	Capacity Building, Engaging High Impact Volunteers	adult literacy, Video, leadership team, team leaders, tutor	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
Getting Staff on Board- Story Time Conductors Former Roseville library director Rachel Delgadillo talks about how she worked with her Children's Librarians to overcome their resistance to… more	Capacity Building, Engaging Staff and Unions, Staff Training	Video, Staff Resistance, Storytime, children's services	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
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
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
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
Volunteer Speed-Matching A unique volunteer recruitment technique.	Capacity Building, Staff Training	Recruitment	2005
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 Recruitment, Engaging High Impact Volunteers, Staff Training	Volunteer Recruitment, volunteer coordinator, staff training	1999
Teen Summer Volunteer Orientation - Riverside County CA Sample Teen Volunteer Summer Reading Program orientation agenda	Volunteer Orientation, Millennials	teen volunteers, Teens
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