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 |
---|---|---|---|
How to Recruit New Members for Your Association on Social Media
Some good guidelines for making social media work for you from Nonprofit Tech for Good. |
Capacity Building, On-line Volunteer Recruitment | social media, Recruitment, Friends, Friends of the Library | 2020 |
How to Turn Away Volunteers and Still Have an OK Day
In this August, 2017 article, Elisa Kosarin shares her basics for making this difficult experience manageable. |
Volunteer Screening / Interviewing, Interviewing Volunteers, Staff Training | 2017 | |
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 |
How to Write Volunteer Recruitment Messaging that Converts
Strategies to enhance your volunteer recruitment. |
Capacity Building | Recruitment, Volunteer Recruitment | 2021 |
If Your Board Looked Like Your Community
While written by an Arts organization, the 4 “Hurdles” described, along with strategies to consider and actions to take are relevant to all… more |
Staff Training | diversity, inclusion, inclusive | 2016 |
Importance of Meaningful Written Volunteer Job Descriptions
Video clip on this topic from a Get Involved Volunteer Engagement Institute in Oakland California in May 2015. (14 minutes) |
Capacity Building, Engaging High Impact Volunteers, Staff Training | 2015 | |
In Lieu of Money, Toyota Donates Efficiency to New York Charity
This New York Times article provides an excellent example of a company providing their skilled volunteers to address the needs of a volunteer… more |
Engaging High Impact Volunteers | skilled, Skilled Volunteers | 2013 |
Inclusive Volunteering: Recommendations for Volunteer Coordinators on how to Develop a More Inclusive Volunteer Programme
This booklet consists of two parts. Part I covers general aspects of inclusive volunteering and Part II includes recommendations for volunteer… more |
Capacity Building, Staff Training | disabilities | 2015 |
Insights & Impact 2020: Measuring the Social Impact of Volunteerism
This report describes new ways to calculate the value of volunteer time. These approaches rely on data from Independent Sector and from the U.S.… more |
Capacity Building | ROI, Reporting, annual report | 2021 |
Intellectual Freedom Training for Volunteers - Multnomah County OR
Slide deck used by the Multnomah County Library to train volunteers about Intellectual Freedom. |
Capacity Building | intellectual freedom, volunteer training | 2020 |
Introduction to LGBTQ+ Inclusion
This 90-minute webinar presented by All Children - All Families covers foundational information related to serving LGBTQ+ youth and families. Topics… more |
Staff Training | LGBTQ+, equity, diversity, inclusion | 2024 |
Introduction to the Purpose-Driven Vounteer Impact Model
Volunteers contribute to a library’s mission, labor, donations, awareness, and reputation. Yet, reports about volunteers often omit these… more |
Staff Training | impact, outcome measurement, Data Management | 2023 |
Introduction to Virtual Volunteering
This 35 minute recording is a presentation made by Jayne Cravens of Coyote Communications for the 2020 Points of Light Conference. |
Staff Training | virtual, remote | 2020 |
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 |
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 |
Library Express - Frequently Asked Questions - Indianapolis IN
Prepared by the Indianapolis Public Library for their home delivery program, Library Express. |
Job Specific Volunteer Training | Homebound, Home delivery, delivery | 2022 |
Library Shelving Quiz
This quiz could be used as part of your training for volunteers who do shelving. See also: https://getinvolvedclearinghouse.org/training-materials/… more |
Job Specific Volunteer Training | Shelving, shelver | 2023 |
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 |
Library Volunteer Program Improvement Model
VolunteerMatch worked with the California State Library to develop this self-assessment tool for library volunteer engagement programs. Once you… more |
Capacity Building, VolunteerMatch Tools and Resources | Assess, evaluation, program evaluation, planning | 2015 |
Live Online Discussion of Diversity Equity & Inclusion
California Library Volunteer Leaders: Live Open Online Discussion on Diversity Equity & Inclusion in Volunteer Engagement – This recorded… more |
Capacity Building, Staff Training | diversity, equity, inclusion, White Saviorism | 2022 |