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
The Value – and Potential – of Virtual Volunteers
This April 2023 webinar led by Jennifer Bennett, Director of Education and Training for VolunteerMatch also featured staff leaders from Junior… more
Engaging High Impact VolunteersCapacity Building virtual, remote 2023
Best Practices for Recruiting and Engaging Volunteers from Zoomers to Boomers
This April 2023 webinar led by Jennifer Bennett, Director of Education and Training for VolunteerMatch also featured staff leaders from AARP and… more
Baby BoomersMillennials boomers, Millenials 2023
Activating the Power of Strategic Volunteer Engagement for a Better World
Driven by the power of volunteer energy and grounded in comprehensive research, the Initiative for Strategic Volunteer Engagement  launched to answer… more
Capacity Building Strategic, fund development 2023
Panel Discussion: Purpose-Driven Volunteer Impact Model
In the Spring of 2023, Dr. Sue Carter Kahl worked with a cohort of library staff on implementation of the Volunteer Program Improvement Model. This… more
Capacity BuildingStaff Training impact 2023
Volunteer Recognition Ideas
Sixty volunteer appreciation ideas from Keela.com
Staff Training recognition 2023
The Four Appreciation Languages -
A nice article from Karen Knight Consulting discussing the various forms of volunteer recognition.
Staff Training recognition 2023
Shelve-it!
This shelving game could be used as a portion of your training for volunteers who do shelving. -- See also:
https://getinvolvedclearinghouse.org/… more
Job Specific Volunteer Training Shelving, shelver 2023
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
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
Build Staff Buy-In for Volunteer Engagement
Often one of the biggest challenges to volunteer engagement is the resistance of paid staff. Often attitudes and fears of our co-workers prevent us… more
Staff TrainingCapacity BuildingEngaging Staff and Unions Staff Resistance, staff buy-in 2023
Internship Guidebook
This Internship Guidebook was highly recommended by the volunteer coordinator at Indianapolis Public Library.
Staff TrainingCapacity Building intern, internship 2023
How to Recruit and Retain Gen Z Volunteers
Interesting facts and trends about Gen Z presented by Gen Z members themselves.
Slides available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/… more
Capacity Building Gen Z, Recruitment 2023
Mirror, Mirror on the wall - The role of self-awareness in equity work
Take a moment to read this very brief article about how to be more self aware while doing equity work.
Staff Training diversity, equity, inclusion 2023
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
5 Myths About Volunteer Engagement
Beth Steinhorn, President of VQ Volunteer Strategies prepared a 4 - 5 minute YouTube video on each of her top 5 Volunteer Engagement Myths. They can… more
Staff Training myths 2023
When and Where to Use Volunteer Replacement Rates (Or Not) for Volunteer Value
In this 2023 blog post, Dr. Sue Carter Kahl thoughtfully discusses the pros and cons of using volunteer dollar values. The most common forms of wage… more
Staff Training ROI, Return on Investment 2023
Gamifying Volunteer Training
gDo volunteers cringe when you bring up the subject of training? The author argues that gamifying volunteer training can be an effective way to build… more
Volunteer OrientationJob Specific Volunteer TrainingStaff Training Gamifying, Gamification 2023
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
Up Your Game with Skills-Based Volunteering
A discussion of skills-based volunteering which can be provided through specialized volunteer-matching organizations.
Staff TrainingCapacity Building Skilled Volunteers 2023
Strengthening the Volunteer Staff Partnership: Understanding the Multi-Gen Mix
This one hour webinar presented by Faiza Venzant was recorded on May 26, 2022.
Four generations of volunteers and staff work side by side in our… more
Staff TrainingBaby BoomersMillennials generations, diversity 2022