Overview

This guide will show you how to reinvigorate your library's volunteer program using your community as a resource. Volunteers are essential to a library's well-being, but running a volunteer program is a complicated task that could often be done so as to bring more benefit to your library. This book draws on the author's decades of experience in public libraries and the nonprofit arena, and on cutting-edge professional trends in volunteer management, to show you how to tap into each of your volunteer's talents and match them to your library's needs. Providing multiple tactics for improving your library's volunteer program, the book covers redoubling your recruitment efforts to attract more volunteers, more logically assigning roles, and growing your relationships with volunteers. In addition, it addresses common problems with volunteers and potential barriers to success and explains how to overcome them. No matter what size your library, its volunteer staff, or its budget, this practical book will help you to streamline your volunteer program and more effectively engage the community to transform your library into a flourishing community center.

Full Product Details

Author:   Carla Campbell Lehn
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Imprint:   Libraries Unlimited Inc
Weight:   0.425kg
ISBN:  

9781440856709

ISBN 10:   1440856702
Pages:   216
Publication Date:   24 May 2018
Recommended Age:   From 7 to 17 years
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

"Preface Why This Could Work for You: California's Experience Summary Notes Appendix Get Involved: Powered by Your Library—Possible Scalable Approaches for Successful Replication by States Acknowledgments Chapter 1. Why Volunteers? Benefits of Engaging Volunteers at the Library Benefit 1: Volunteers Help to Enhance or Expand Library Services Benefit 2: Volunteers Bring Specialized Skills Benefit 3: Volunteers Share Their Connections Benefit 4: Volunteers Supplement Staff Time Benefit 5: Volunteers Bring New Energy and Ideas Benefit 6: Engaged Volunteers Naturally Transform into Strong Library Supporters Benefit 7: Volunteers Give More What Will Get in Your Way? Union Issues and Staff Resistance Developing a Volunteer Engagement Mission Statement Get a Volunteer to Do It: Myths about Volunteers Myth 1: Volunteers Can Replace Paid Staff Myth 2: Volunteers Are Free Myth 3: Volunteers Are Self-Managing Chapter Summary Notes Appendices Sample Library Volunteer Engagement Mission Statements Mission Statement Homework Assignment Chapter 2. Volunteerism Trends Changing the Landscape Consider These Trends Trend 1: Generational Differences The Silent Generation (Born 1926–1945) Baby Boomers (Born 1946–1964) Generation X (Born 1965–1980) Millennials (Born 1981–2002) A Special Word for Friends of the Library about Generational Issues Trend 2: Skilled Volunteers Real-Life Example: Skilled Volunteers Trend 3: Shift from Volunteer Management to Volunteer Engagement Trend 4: Corporate Volunteerism Trend 5: Technology Advances Online Recruitment Virtual Volunteers Real-Life Example: Virtual Volunteer Online Meeting Technologies Micro-Volunteering Real-Life Example: Micro-Volunteering Social Media and Volunteering Real-Life Example: Where the Need for Social Media Assistance, Online Recruiting, Virtual Volunteering, and Online Meeting Technology Converged Trend 6: Collaboration with Other Organizations Strategic Collaborations Local Volunteer Support Organizations Chapter Summary Notes Chapter 3. Why People Volunteer Motivation Why Written Volunteer Job Descriptions? Job Description Reason 1: Clarifies Roles Job Description Reason 2: Serves as Your Primary Recruitment and Placement Tool Job Description Reason 3: Basis for Feedback and Support Job Description Reason 4: Serves as an Agreement Job Description Reason 5: Prevents Common Problems Designing Good Volunteer Job Descriptions Title Position Overview and Impact Key Responsibilities Qualifications Training and Support Provided Time Commitment Commitment Length Benefits of Volunteering Ongoing Library Contact Location Date Revised Initial Contact Person Grounds for Termination Job Description Tips Tip 1: Don't Write Them without Input from Others Tip 2: Be Sure What You've Written Is Realistic Tip 3: Include Enough Information to Recruit the Right Person Tip 4: Think Strategically: What Do You Need? Tip 5: Consider Creating Some Program Management Positions for Volunteers Real-Life Example: Management Positions for Volunteers Tip 6: Delegate Part of the Volunteer Engagement Duties to Volunteers Real-Life Example: Assistant Volunteer Coordinator Chapter Summary Notes Appendices Volunteer Job Description: Public Speaker Volunteer Job Description: Speaker's Bureau Coordinator Volunteer Job Description: Assistant Volunteer Coordinator Chapter 4. Volunteer Recruitment A Special Word for Friends of the Library about Volunteer Recruitment Recruitment Methods Passive Recruitment Targeted Recruitment Qualifications and Benefits to the Volunteer How Could We Locate Them? Personal Connections and the Best Person to Do the Asking Real-Life Example: Personal Connections and the Best Person to Do the Asking Local Recruitment Options Online Recruitment Online Recruitment with Ineffective Recruitment Strategies What If They Say No? Chapter Summary Notes Appendix Targeted Recruitment Plan Chapter 5. Success Factors for Volunteer Engagement Success Factor 3: Careful Screening Interviewing Reference Checks Saying No to a Volunteer after the Interview Placement Considerations Real-Life Example: Social Media Specialist, No—Photographer, Yes Success Factor 4: Orientation and Training Orientation Real-Life Example: Importance of Volunteer Orientation Training In-Service Training Staff Training Success Factor 5: Staff Buy-In Success Factor 6: Feedback, Collaboration, and Support Feedback Collaborating with and Supporting Skilled Volunteers Real-Life Example: Developing an Agreement with a Skilled Volunteer Success Factor 7: Recognition/Acknowledgment Real-Life Example: ""Career Path"" as Recognition/ Acknowledgment Real-Life Example: Recognition Must Be Meaningful to the Volunteer Real-Life Example: Special Opportunities as Recognition Real-Life Example: Special Efforts to Acknowledge Volunteers Success Factor 8: Sustainability Strategies Sustainability Strategy 1: Substitute Positions Sustainability Strategy 2: Break Assignments into Smaller Pieces Sustainability Strategy 3: Job Share Sustainability Strategy 4: Team Assignments Sustainability Strategy 5: Consultant Positions Sustainability Strategy 6: Seasonal Volunteers Sustainability Strategy 7: Two-Deep Leadership The Long-Term Sustainability Strategy: Reach Out to Younger Volunteers Chapter Summary Notes Appendices Volunteer Orientation and Training Outline Volunteer Public Relations Specialist Job Description Chapter 6. How It All Gets Done Roles for the Library Director Roles for the Board Roles of the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, Director, or Manager Considerations for Volunteer Engagement Leaders Placement of Volunteer Engagement in the Library's Structure Clarify the Term ""Part-Time"" Who Is/Are Your Supervisor(s)? What Should Your Title Be? Helping Staff to Understand Your Role What Resources Are Available for Volunteer Engagement? Volunteer Engagement Services Structure Do You Have Any Responsibility for Friends or Foundation? Avoiding Burnout of the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator Have a Job Description Have a Plan Learn to Delegate Effectively Real-Life Example: Volunteer Project Leader Seek Out Professional Development Opportunities Join a Volunteer Coordinator Network or Start One Yourself A Word about Utilizing a Volunteer as Volunteer Engagement Coordinator The Roles of Staff in Volunteer Engagement Chapter Summary Notes Appendices Matrix: Roles in Volunteer Engagement Sample Job Description: Volunteer Engagement Coordinator Volunteer Job Description: Senior Book Repair Technician Volunteer Job Description: Book Repair Technician Chapter 7. Administrative and Legal Issues Liability and Risk Management What Is the Law? Best Protections Internal Policies and Procedures Additional Screening Procedures Training Procedures Insurance A Word about Background Checks When to Do a Background Check Who Will Do Your Background Checks? Treat Applicants Fairly Will Potential Volunteers Be Turned Off by All This? Who Pays for the Background Check? Data Management Measuring Success Measuring Outputs (Things You Can Count) Anecdotal Information Return on Investment Measuring Outcomes (What Difference It Made) Measuring Progress on Library Strategic Plan Goals Measuring Progress toward Volunteer Engagement Goals The Future of Volunteer Impact Measurement Chapter Summary Notes Chapter 8. Volunteer Engagement Strategy Summary Ask for Help: Seek Input Demonstrate the Possibilities Gain Support of Management Establish an Understanding of the Benefits of Volunteer Engagement throughout the Organization Designate Staff for the Volunteer Engagement Effort Establish Roles for Volunteers Plan, Plan, Plan Be Relevant to the Library's Strategic Plan Be Included in the Library's Strategic Plan Develop and Monitor an Operational Plan for Volunteer Engagement Be an Organization-Wide Service, Not a ""Volunteer Program"" Engage Skilled Volunteers Gain Staff Buy-In Lead by Example Develop Internal Relationships Utilize Multiple Recruitment Methods Measure and Share Results Don't Forget about the Library Support Groups Chapter Summary Epilogue: Let's Get Started! Call to Action Step 1: Understand Your Role Step 2: Determine Priorities to Know Where to Begin Tool 1: Organizational Readiness Assessment Tool 2: Volunteer Program Benchmark Assessment Tool 3: Library Volunteer Program Improvement Model Step 3: Let Human Nature and Your Own Humanity Be Your Guide Cheerlead Engage and Empower People Communicate Well and Often Be Supportive Summary Appendix: Troubleshooting Introduction The Big Four The Staff Are Not Supportive: How Do We Get Them to Buy In? Our Union Won't Allow Us to Use Volunteers I Don't Have Enough Time for This! Can I Fire a Volunteer? Alternatives to Firing Real-Life Example: Alternative to Firing Firing a Volunteer Real-Life Example: Firing a Volunteer Motivation-Related Issues Volunteer Absenteeism The Volunteer Doesn't Return after the First Week The Volunteer Isn't Doing the Job Right Volunteers Only Want to Do What They Want to Do When Someone Brings His or Her Own Idea Recruitment Issues How Does One Recruit Skilled Volunteers? How Does One Go about Finding Virtual Volunteers? Can I Say No to a Potential Volunteer? I'm Not Getting the Results from VolunteerMatch I Was Hoping for: What Can I Do? Library Director and Management Support Issues Our Volunteer Services Department Is an Afterthought at Our Library How Can I Get My Manager to Accept This? How Can I Make the Case That I Need More Resources? No Funds for a Full-Time Volunteer Engagement Coordinator? What about a Volunteer as Volunteer Engagement Coordinator? Other Management and Administrative Issues Keeping Track of Volunteer Data Liability Issues How Do We Know If We've Been Successful? We Have Low Attendance at Our Annual Volunteer Recognition Brunch: Why Don't Volunteers Want to Be Thanked? I Need Training in Volunteer Engagement and Don't Have the Funds Retention (Sustainability) Issues Handling the Departure of a Key Volunteer I Can No Longer Get Volunteers to Take One of Our Most Important Jobs, and It's Critical to Our Operation: What Can I Do? Special Groups of Volunteers Court-Appointed Volunteers Youth Volunteers Volunteers with Disabilities Friends of the Library Summary: Addressing Issues and Problems You May Encounter Notes Resources Local Volunteer Support Organizations National Organizations and Networks Library-Specific Volunteerism Resources Resources for Volunteers with Special Needs Annotated Bibliography of Books Summary Notes Index"

Reviews

This is a well written resources that provides an excellent guide for enhancing volunteer servies and growing a library's base of advocates and supporters. Volunteer program coodinators at any experience level and in any size library can benefit by following its recommendations for taking action. - Voice for America's Libraries A very readable book about all things volunteers and libraries... Provides advice and recommendations based on the experiences of over a hundred public libraries. This book would be a welcome addition to the professional collection of any public library. - Public Library Quarterly Although the intended audience is public librarians, personnel in other types of libraries will benefit from exploring the ideas so thoroughly and convincingly presented in this book. - ARBA With its focus on recruiting skilled volunteers for work beyond the typical shelving and book repair duties, this basic guidebook gives library administration and staff a fresh perspective on volunteerism. - Library Journal

With its focus on recruiting skilled volunteers for work beyond the typical shelving and book repair duties, this basic guidebook gives library administration and staff a fresh perspective on volunteerism. - Library Journal

Author Information

Carla Campbell Lehn is principal of the Lehn Group, where she provides consultation and training services to not-for-profit and government clients. She is former Library Programs Consultant of California State Library.

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