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 Prioritize When Everything Feels Important
There's never enough time to do everything you want to do. It's a universal problem. And we all accept that fact and live with its reality until the… more
Staff Training prioritize, priorities, planning 2019
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
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 BuildingOn-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 / InterviewingInterviewing VolunteersStaff 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 BuildingEngaging High Impact VolunteersStaff 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 BuildingStaff 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