Engaging Volunteers
Jacqulyn Owens,
Library Director
Memphis (Texas)
Public Library
Tools,
techniques and models for successful implementation of volunteer engagement
John F. Kennedy 1961
… Ask not what America will do for you, but
what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
You must have a volunteer policy! Well
written and well defined. Have job descriptions for volunteer jobs. Check
online for samples of volunteer policies.
·
Low
Impact Exercise – Led by volunteers in partnership with Texas AgriLife
·
Extension
services will provide programs
·
Draw
from the community – special skills or talents
·
Volunteer
to create a community garden and help maintain the garden
·
Volunteer
to move books
·
Volunteers
helping get books ready for a book sale
·
Four-H
youth help with summer reading program
Ideas:
·
Graphic
artist to create brochures
·
Web
content
·
Story
tellers
·
Lead
workshops in their area of interest
·
Help
with computer classes or tutorials
·
Homework
helpers
·
Trained
volunteers with literacy programs
·
Income
tax assistance
·
Genealogy
volunteers
·
Assist
with Medicare Part B
·
Friends
bookshop
·
Scan
photographs
·
Design
Facebook Page!
Different
programs, different times of day will result in a full-parking lot. We have
turned our library into a true community center
How do you find volunteers?
·
Students
need public service hours for graduation
·
Baby
boomers are reaching retirement age. They have special skills they want to
share. They want to do something and contribute something that is special – not
just shelving books.
·
Corporations
require employees to give time to a volunteer organization.
www.volunteermatch.org: Post a volunteer
job on this site. They also have a blog with great information (21 Ways
Volunteers Can Help with Your Web Site)
Post
volunteer jobs on your library’s website or on a sign at the library.
Through
engaging volunteers, you develop a strong group of library supporters, who will
advocate it, promote it in the community, and help recruit both financial and
human resources. – Carla Lehn
Why do people volunteer?
·
To
give back to community
·
To
meet people
·
Want
to keep current with skills and learn more skills
·
They
were asked.
Post
volunteer positions and short job descriptions.
Library
clean-up days: volunteer opportunities
Job Description
·
Title
·
Reason
for the job
·
Qualifications
·
Supervisor
the volunteer is responsible to
·
Responsibilities
of the job
·
Training
that will be provided
·
Benefits
of volunteering
·
Time
commitment
·
Length
of commitment
·
Contact
person about the volunteer opportunity
·
Date
Posted
Screen Volunteers
·
Interviews
·
Get
to know the volunteer
·
Get
to know the volunteers expectation of the job
·
Go
over the job description, skills needed ability to work independently or with
others, physical requirements (bending, lifting, and climbing)
·
Write
a script to keep the interview on track and to make sure you ask the questions
you want to ask.
·
Ask
questions on: background, skills, time & schedule), etc.
·
Check
with governing body policy on volunteers
·
Are
background checks required?
·
Check
references
·
All
information is confidential
·
Give
the volunteer time to process the requirements and discuss it with family
before they commit. Do not force someone into doing a job that they do not want
to do… they feel guilty because they wanted to volunteer, but do not want to take
on the job that is described to them.
·
Research
what you cannot ask in an interview in your state.
New Volunteers!
·
Introduce
Volunteers to staff members
·
Give
a tour
·
Emergency
exits
·
Staff
Room
·
Information
packet
·
Volunteer
mission statement
·
Confidentiality
·
Organizational
chart
·
Key
contacts
·
Key
telephone numbers
·
Emergency
procedures
·
Map
of the library
Procedures/Housekeeping
·
Where
to park
·
Schedules
·
Assignments
·
Time
sheets
·
Where
to store personal items
·
Use
of the library telephone or copiers for personal use
·
Any
other information needed
Training
is necessary for success!
Managing
volunteers takes discipline.
The
Federal Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 grants immunity from personal
liabilities that happen in the scope of their job.
Recognition
·
Thank
you note
·
Verbal
thank you
·
Post
pictures on websites or bulletins boards
·
Formal
ceremony
·
Certificates
·
Small
gifts
·
Stars
with volunteers names in entryway
Records
·
Develop
a folder
·
Application
·
Emergency
contacts
·
Interview
notes
·
Record
of hours volunteered
Resources
Managing
library volunteers
Preston
Driggers and Eileen dumas
Transforminglifeafter50.org/tools-ideas/volunteers
WebJunction: Webinar Innovative use of skilled volunteers
October
19 2011 1:00
Remember
three things:
1.
Volunteers
expand the reach of your library and build support within the community
3.
We
have barely scratch the surface look for
more information
Implement
a volunteer program!
What do
you do if someone wants to volunteer and you know you don’t want them?
·
Must
have a board-approved volunteer policy that states that there is not
automatically position for every volunteer
·
Libraries
do not have to accept volunteers that have to fulfill community service
requirements – talk to your county courts
Screen,
screen, screen Volunteers, especially when working with children (registered
sex offenders)