Volunteer Programs
- Enlist full board and staff cooperation. In order for the program to be successful, both your board and staff must believe in its value. If they do not, volunteers will pick up on this and will not remain at the library.
- Review with board and staff all library activities to see if a volunteer work program would be of help to the library in meeting goals and objectives. Sometimes you don't really need volunteers, while at other times (like during summer reading) volunteers are necessary. If you take the time to think about what your goals are, you can utilize volunteers more effectively.
- Assess activities and specific tasks to see where volunteer assistance could most properly be utilized. Take the time to plan what areas volunteers will work in and what they can do. This will save you time and frustration.
- Appoint a volunteer coordinator. If your library is small, you may be the coordinator. It is important that someone is responsible for working with the volunteers and making sure things are running smoothly.
- Prepare job descriptions for volunteer tasks. Just like a paid employee, it is important that volunteers know what is expected of them. A job description can also help you pinpoint what you need.
- Establish who will supervise each volunteer. In a small library this is pretty easy to do. Try to choose someone who is good at working with people and is comfortable with volunteers.
- Establish evaluation measures for continual feedback on volunteer job performance. Volunteers also like to know how they're doing. This doesn't have to be a formal process, but you should have something in place. It's important for you to keep track of how well the volunteer program is working.
- Prepare policy and procedure guidelines for volunteers. A well-written policy about volunteers and their use in the library will keep you focused.
- Develop orientation and training programs. It is important for volunteers to receive some type of orientation. An orientation to the library will make them feel more comfortable. Training is necessary to make sure they perform their tasks correctly and it can also be a perk. Maybe the volunteer would like to learn more about searching the Internet and you are offering a class to your staff. By including the volunteer, you make them feel more a part of the library and reward them for their help.
- Plan formal recognition programs. Volunteers need to be recognized and appreciated. A formal program is a great way of publicly acknowledging their contributions. It's also important to recognize them informally. A simple thank you can go a long way.
- This one is optional, but can be an easy way to acknowledge the importance of your volunteers. Have your volunteers wear name tags. It adds a professional aspect to volunteering, and its helpful for customers.
ASPeN: The New Library Directory
- Home
- Introduction
- Wanted: A Library Director
- Contacts
- Montana Library Scene
- Montana Library Scene Overview
- Montana Public Libraries
- Montana State Library
- Montana Library Association
- Wired-MT and Focus
- Federations
- Continuing Education in Montana
- Certification
- Public Library Standards
- Montana Shared Catalog
- Library Director, Trustee, and Local Government
- Library Director, Trustee and Local Government Overview
- Library Laws
- New Library Staff
- Library Board Overview
- Responsibilities of the Library Board and the Director
- Tips For Working With the Library Board
- Getting Boards to Attend Meetings and Plan for the Library
- Policies vs. Procedures
- Policies vs. Procedures Overview
- Policies
- Procedures
- Public Service
- Public Service Overview
- Customer Service
- Reader’s Advisory
- Reference
- Reference Interview
- Circulation
- Interlibrary Loan
- Outreach
- Programs
- Visiting Senior Centers and/or Schools
- Services to the Homebound
- Bookmobiles
- Children Services
- Young Adult Services
- Adult Services
- Collection Development
- Collection Development Overview
- Assessing the Collection
- Collection Development Policy
- Collection Management Honor Roll
- Selecting Items for the Collection
- Acquisitions
- Weeding or Deselection
- Technical Services
- Technical Services Overview
- Organizing Your Collection
- Classification and Cataloging
- Processing and Mending
- Public Relations
- Public Relations Overview
- Library’s Image
- Publicity
- Programming
- Community Relations
- Role of Trustees
- Marketing
- Friends and Volunteers
- Friends and Volunteers Overview
- Friends of the Library
- How to Organize a Friends Group
- How to Revitalize Your Friends
- Volunteers
- Volunteer Programs
- Recruiting Volunteers
- Managing and Keeping Volunteers
- Personnel
- Personnel Overview
- Personnel Policy
- Hiring
- Interviewing
- Job Evaluations
- Discipline and Termination
- Grievance Procedures
- Important Employment Laws
- Finances
- Finances Overview
- Local Funding Sources
- State Funding Sources
- Information Access Montana Act
- Coal Severance Tax
- Federal Funding Sources
- Library Services and Technology Act
- Telecommunications Discount Program (E-Rate)
- Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
- Library Foundations
- Other Funding Sources
- Budgeting
- Budgeting Calendar
- Following the Money
- Planning for the Future
- Planning for the Future Overview
- Long Range Planning
- Preparing to Plan
- Describing Your Community
- Your Community’s Vision
- Questions That Should Be Answered
- Planning for Disaster
- Technology in the Library
- Technology in the Library Overview
- Planning and Evaluating Technology
- Automation
- Statewide Cooperative Projects
- E-Rate
- Montana State Library
- Montana State Library Overview
- Montana State Library Commission
- Montana State Librarian
- Library Development Division
- Montana Talking Book Library
- Montana Digital Library
- Publications
- Timeline of Required Paperwork
- Explanation of Paperwork Required by Montana State Library