From Library Volunteer to Library Advocate

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