Today

1
Todays Library Volunteer A Force to Be Reckoned
With (Part 1)

• Presenter Andrew Sanderbeck
• Waynesville, NC

2
Building Relationships with Volunteers

• The first step in nurturing a good relationship
  between staff members and volunteers involves
  making sure volunteers are not merely an
  afterthought!

3
Setting the Tone for a Volunteer Program

• conducting a strategic planning process in
  which all staff members determine where the
  organization is heading and then discuss how
  volunteers can help meet goals
• dedicating a staff personideally a full-time
  director of volunteersto oversee and manage the
  program
• requiring good structure and policies that will
  guide volunteer activities
• using volunteer help themselves for example,
  the director can have a volunteer assistant or
  use volunteers on special projects she is
  coordinating?
•  

4
Setting the Tone for a Volunteer Program

• incorporating working with volunteers into
  staff job descriptions
• making sure that staff roles are clear and that
  staff needs are being met first for example,
  does every staff member have a written job
  description that accurately and are they
  recognized for a job well done?
• training staff to supervise and work with
  volunteers
• rewarding staff who work well with volunteers
  and
• incorporating volunteers into the
  organizational chart
•  

5
How to Generate Conflict Between Paid Staff and
Volunteers

• Dont involve staff in the decisions as to if and
  how to utilize volunteers within the
  library. Everybody loves a surprise.
• Dont plan in advance the job descriptions or
  support and supervision systems for the
  volunteers. These things will work themselves out
  if you just give them time. 
• Accept everyone who volunteers for a position,
  regardless of whether you think they are
  over-qualified or under-qualified. 
• Assume that anyone who volunteers can pick up
  whatever skills or knowledge they need as they go
  along. 
•  

6
Valuing Volunteers

• Methods for Reaching Out to Volunteers
•  
• One-on-One Personal Contact
• Committee Meetings
• Volunteer Newsletter
• Website Communication

7
Valuing Volunteers

• E-Mail Dos
• Use E-Mail as a follow-up
• Use E-Mail to document a conversation
• Use E-Mail as one of many ways to make an
  announcement and to give thanks
• Use E-Mail to send information
• Use E-Mail to send reminders

8
Retaining Volunteers

• Discover What Motivates Him/Her
• Provide Regular Feedback
• Offer Special Privileges and Perks
• Send Volunteers to Conferences
• Be Available
• Provide Free Food
• Have Fun!
• Thank the Family of the Volunteer

9
Valuing Volunteers

• Maintaining Contact with Volunteers
• There's no substitute for maintaining effective
  communication with your volunteers! The time you
  spend making sure that the lines of communication
  are open between your library and the individuals
  who freely share their time, you'll be on your
  way to cultivating solid relationships with
  volunteers who are likely to remain loyal to your
  organization for many years to come.

10
Where to Find New and Seasoned Volunteers

• Did you know that more than 50 of people who
  volunteer do so because they are asked to by a
  friend, co-worker or acquaintance?

11
Five Ideas for Attracting Volunteers

• Imprint your logo and volunteer message on
  colorful balloons
• Offer a No obligation trial period for new
  volunteers to give them a chance to see if they
  like the job (and you!). This can allay their
  fears and help you assess them.
• Spread the word about your organization at
  business networking events like your local
  Chamber of Commerce.
• Write a short, simple recruitment slogan that
  becomes your volunteer brand and weave it into
  every communication.
• Connect with larger local businesses to develop a
  relationship that promotes your volunteer
  opportunities to their workforce.

12
How to Reach New Volunteers

• The Best Use of Social Networking
• www.volunteermatch.org
• www.dosomething.org
• www.energizeinc.com
• http//app.beextra.org/
• www.craigslist.org

13
Im InterestedNow What?

• First Date
• Second Date
• Remember No, only means Not Now

14
Questions and Comments
15
Thanks for Attending

• See You Tomorrow for Session 2!!
• Thursday, May 5th, 230 to 345 p.m.
• Hotel Room Location Orange