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 |
|---|---|---|---|
6 HR Strategies for Nonprofits to Enhance Volunteer-Staff Collaboration
A quick read with ideas on maximizing volunteer-staff interactions. |
Staff Training, Engaging Staff and Unions | Staff Resistance, staff buy-in, volunteer staff relations | 2025 |
Volunteer Recruitment Workshop Series
This 2025 series of 5 Idealist webinars was recorded and are stored together with their slides and handouts. Topics include: Position Descriptions,… more |
On-line Volunteer Recruitment, Staff Training, Capacity Building | Recruitment, Position Descriptions, job descriptions | 2025 |
9 Proven Volunteer Retention Strategies
Strategies for improving your volunteer retention rate. |
Staff Training, Capacity Building | retention | 2025 |
8 Strategies for Creating a More Inclusive Volunteer Program
A good summary from Idealist of the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Administration (MAVA)'s research study which resulted in a set of… more |
Staff Training | Recruitment, diversity, equity, inclusion | 2025 |
Preparing for an Internship Program - Indianapolis IN
Attached are a treasure trove of documents that will help to establish and/or update your library's internship efforts. Many thanks to Wendy Johnson… more |
Capacity Building, Engaging High Impact Volunteers | intern, internship | 2025 |
Volunteer Recognition Beyond the Basics: Creative & Impactful Strategies
Webinar recording: Learning Goals: Explore budget-friendly ways to celebrate volunteers, from social media spotlights to personalized gestures… more |
Capacity Building, Staff Training | recognition | 2025 |
Train Volunteers with this Simple 4-Step Framework
This is a June 2025 episode of Tobi Johnson's podcast. She says: "Whether you’re building a new training from scratch or refreshing your… more |
Staff Training | Training, volunteer training | 2025 |
Is Everyone Welcome? Tools to Broaden Volunteer Engagement
The "Is Everyone Welcome Toolkit" aims to support leaders of volunteers to be more equitable in their practice so more people feel welcome in the… more |
Staff Training, Engaging High Impact Volunteers, Capacity Building | diversity, equity, inclusion | 2025 |
Is Everyone Welcome? Tools to Broaden Volunteer Engagement
This is the recording of the April 15, 2025 webinar: Is Everyone Welcome? Tools to Broaden Volunteer Engagement. When segments of the community do… more |
Staff Training, Capacity Building | diversity, equity, inclusion, Recruitment | 2025 |
How Can the Nonprofit Field Better Support Volunteerism?
A very brief article to challenge the way you think about volunteers, and think about ways you can be more supportive to increase effectiveness. |
Staff Training | Recruitment, supervising | 2025 |
Statement on Artificial Intelligence - Indianapolis Public Library
Statement on AI from the leadership team of the Indianapolis Public Library - February 2025. |
Staff Training | AI, Artificial Intelligence | 2025 |
From Nice to Necessary: Unleashing the Impact of Volunteering Through Transformative Investment
Points of Light believes volunteering is one of the most powerful tools we have to strengthen communities. They commissioned this report in 2025 —… more |
Staff Training, Capacity Building | funding, investment | 2025 |
The Volunteer Engagement Leader’s Playbook: Building Influence, Credibility, and Impact
Too often, volunteer involvement is treated as a program—a siloed effort managed by one department—rather than as a strategy that can transform an… more |
Staff Training, Capacity Building | 2025 | |
Toolkit for Working with Rural Volunteers
After completing a three-year research project on rural volunteerism the Rural Volunteerism Initiative created the Toolkit for Working with Rural… more |
Staff Training, Capacity Building | rural, volunteer engagement | 2025 |
Engaging the Volunteer of the Future
This 1 hour webinar was presented by Jennifer Bennett, Education & Training Director for VolunteerMatch in January 2024. In this webinar you’ll… more |
Capacity Building, Staff Training, Millennials | Millenials | 2024 |
Working Together: Developing Neurodivergent and IDD (Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled) Inclusive Volunteer Opportunities
This webinar was recorded on June 6, 2024. Speakers: Cecily Ponce de Leon, Plano Public Library; Jungwon DeVone, Somerset County Library System; and… more |
Staff Training | neurodivergent, disabilities, special needs | 2024 |
Surveys in Volunteer Engagement
On February 8, 2024, this Get Involved live Zoom discussion focused on Surveys in Volunteer Engagement. The group discussed types of surveys and… more |
Staff Training | surveys | 2024 |
Books and barks: Library pet programs for everyone
This quick read points to a variety of programs libraries have started focused on "furry friends." Take a look! |
Staff Training, Job Specific Volunteer Training | Pet Therapy, dog, reading | 2024 |
| Capacity Building, Staff Training | disabilities, inclusive | 2024 | |
The Human Side of Recruitment
This webinar was presented by Beth Steinhorn of VQ Strategies on July 10, 2024. Recruitment is more than simply posting online ads. Ultimately,… more |
Staff Training, Interviewing Volunteers | Recruitment, pitch, interview | 2024 |