Get Involved Blog – What's New
Click on the title below to expand the information.
This month we're focusing on the live Get Involved Regional network meetings that are being held around the state -- two in May (Roseville and Ontario) and one in June in the Bay Area.
These meetings are developed and run by regional Get Involved leaders, with some financial support from the state library to reimburse library participants' mileage. Meeting topic, registration and contact information are provided with each. Each regional team is looking for additional folks to step up to assist in organizing these. Please make your interest know to the contact person!
Northern California: Strategies for Sustainability: Building a Volunteer Program that Lasts Beyond You
Friday, May 17
10 am – 3 pm (9 am coffee and networking)
Roseville Public Library
It's FREE. Lunch is provided and mileage will be reimbursed. Get on the invitation list by sending an e-mail to ccrosthwaite@saclibrary.org
Southern California: Serving with a Purpose Conference
Wednesday, May 22
9 am – 4 pm
Ontario Convention Center (free parking)
$25 includes lunch, Keynote Speaker, Author presentation, panel discussion, breakout sessions & more –
for Friends, Trustees, Foundations, Volunteer Leaders and the staff who support them!
More information rhoklotubbe@santaclaritalibrary.com
Registration at this link: http://host7.evanced.info/califa/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=80
Bay Area: Coordinating Volunteers in Public Libraries
Tuesday, June 4
9:30 am – 2 pm
San Francisco Public Library
It's FREE. Lunch is provided and mileage will be reimbursed. Register by sending an e-mail with your name, library and position to kaiwilson@sfpl.org
P.S. If you're not a member of the "Get Involved: Powered by Your Library" listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to carla.lehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.
This month we present an assortment of terrific volunteer position descriptions. Could you use folks to provide any of these great services? Thanks so much to the libraries who have shared these!
- "Book a Genealogist" Volunteer – Sacramento
- K-12 English Language Learner Tutor – Chula Vista
- Fundraiser – Huntington Beach
- Adult Literacy GED Tutor – Sacramento
Upcoming Get Involved Regional Network Volunteer
Engagement Training Events Near You:
Northern California: Strategies for Sustainability: Building a Volunteer Program that Lasts Beyond You
Friday, May 17
10 am – 3 pm (9 am coffee and networking)
Roseville Public Library
It's FREE. Lunch is provided and mileage will be reimbursed. Get on the invitation list by sending an e-mail to ccrosthwaite@saclibrary.org
Southern California: Serving with a Purpose Conference
Wednesday, May 22
9 am – 4 pm
Ontario Convention Center (free parking)
$25 includes lunch, Keynote Speaker, Author presentation, panel discussion, breakout sessions & more –
for Friends, Trustees, Foundations, Volunteer Leaders and the staff who support them!
More information rhoklotubbe@santaclaritalibrary.com
Registration at this link: http://host7.evanced.info/califa/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=80
P.S. If you're not a member of the "Get Involved: Powered by Your Library" listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to carla.lehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.
Homebound Program ToolKit
Libraries have a long tradition of providing outreach to underserved populations and are committed to providing access to all, even people who are unable to travel to the library. This ToolKit, developed in 2011 by North Texas Library Partners (NTLP) with a grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, provides useful information for libraries wishing to develop, improve, or expand library services to homebound individuals.
The ToolKit was developed from data collected over the course of a year-long Homebound Project with three public libraries of varying sizes, and is aimed at libraries of all sizes wishing to develop or expand outreach programs to homebound individuals in rural, suburban, and urban settings.
While it looks like a staff based model, you could easily use these materials to develop a volunteer-based one. Enjoy!
Free Workshop in Newhall
One last reminder – those in Southern California should mark your calendars for a ½ day workshop presented by the Southern California (Los Angeles and Orange County) Get Involved Regional Network. Thursday, March 14 from 9 am to Noon at the Santa Clarita Public Library's Old Town Newhall Branch. The workshop will focus on "Using Highly Skilled Volunteers in Highly Important Positions."
Mileage reimbursement is available. Register by sending an e-mail to monica.miltko@surfcity-hb.org including name, library, position and phone number.
P.S. If you're not a member of the "Get Involved: Powered by Your Library" listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to carla.lehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.
We've added a new "Hot Topic" to our Get Involved website on "Skilled Volunteers". Check out brief videos and resources provided by California libraries who are having great success engaging volunteers with skills to share.
The National Association of Counties (NACo), along with its affiliate, The National Association of Volunteer Programs in Local Government (NAVPLG) promotes volunteerism in local government and assists counties in their efforts to organize and expand volunteer programs. Working in almost every area of county government operations, volunteers enable local governments to provide more services to residents. This revised edition of The Volunteer Toolbox is part of NACo's effort to provide local governments with information and resources to establish and expand volunteer programs. More than a practical guide, The Volunteer Toolbox is a recipe for creating energized and healthy communities that build on the strength of volunteer service.
P.S. If you're not a member of the "Get Involved: Powered by Your Library" listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to carla.lehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.
"Book to Action" grants available!!
They will be administered this year by the California Center for the Book. This is an innovative and inspiring program that takes the idea of a book discussion a few steps farther: you choose a book for the community to read and discuss, arrange for a speaker-the author, if possible-and partner with a public service organization for a volunteer day or other community service opportunity.
This year, the CA Center for the Book will pay up to $3,000 in program expenses for ten public libraries. These expenses can be materials, author fees and travel, service project materials and supplies, video production (if you document your program with a video) and library staff time. If your library would like to participate, please take a look at videos produced by last year's Book to Action grant recipients and the Book to Action Toolkit. It will provide ideas about possible titles and public service partners, as you will need to specify a book and a community service partner in your request.
Contact mmenzel@calbook.org for the Word document that will serve as your application. Submit to the same e-mail by February 15, 2013 deadline. Libraries will be notified of our decision by March 1. All funds must be expended by August 31, and an evaluation will be due by September 15. An audience evaluation will be provided for you to customize for your events.
This month we've added an assortment of "Library Greeter/Concierge" position descriptions in use around the state:
Library Concierge – Roseville Public Library.
Library Greeter – Monrovia Public Library.
Welcome Desk Volunteer – Tulare County Library.
AND, you can view our archived December 6 Webinar – "Making the Most of your VolunteerMatch Account" – This one hour session covered tools for creating online listings for volunteer recruitment, as well as a focus on the Premium Tools available to California Libraries as part of our partnership with VolunteerMatch.
P.S. If you're not a member of the "Get Involved: Powered by Your Library" listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to carla.lehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.
This month's focus is on some high skilled volunteer positions for library literacy programs:
Three high level volunteer positions in San Jose Public Library's Literacy Program are:
Head Computer Coach – this leadership position coordinates a cadre of volunteer computer instructors.
Literacy Outreach Team Coordinator – This leadership position coordinates outreach activities that enhance the literacy program's presence in the community.
Family Literacy Gift Giver – This position coordinates the distribution of children's books and family materials to parents, guardians and children who participate in the Family Literacy program.
And here's a Literacy Site Coordinator – position description from the San Luis Obispo program.
Also, join us for a free Webinar on December 6 – "Making the Most of your VolunteerMatch Account" Thursday, December 6, 2012, Noon to 1 pm Pacific Time.
Space is limited, so reserve your webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/755979577
The training will cover tools for creating online listings to recruit volunteers for your library. We'll also focus on the Premium Tools available to you as part of the partnership between the California State Library and VolunteerMatch.
P.S. If you're not a member of the "Get Involved: Powered by Your Library" listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to clehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.
This month's focus is on liability issues and background checks for volunteers:
Here are Huntington Beach's Guidelines for Volunteers working with Children which include a place for volunteers to sign that they understand what's appropriate, and also, their background checks procedures.
From San Jose – Volunteer Fingerprinting Procedures.
Paso Robles City Library's new Volunteer Handbook includes mission statement, objectives, expectations and policies and procedures.
A brief document identifying some things to think about when considering implementing volunteer background checks.
Q&A on Background Checks by John Patterson, Senior Program Director, Nonprofit Risk Management Center – The Nonprofit Risk Management Center receives many questions concerning the screening of staff and volunteers using criminal history record checks. Criminal history record checks are important risk management tools but must not replace other risk management strategies designed to lessen the opportunity for abuse of vulnerable service recipients.
P.S. If you're not a member of the "Get Involved: Powered by Your Library" listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to clehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.
This month we have a treasure trove of things to share from the Huntington Beach Public Library - thanks, Monica and crew! -- starting with a volunteer position description for an "EBooks Coach" who helps patrons one-on-one to use their E-Book Reader to use the library's collection.
These powerpoint slide decks were created for high skilled volunteers to deliver workshops in the library on:
"Intro to the Internet" classes in the library.
P.S. If you're not a member of the "Get Involved: Powered by Your Library" listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to clehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.
Want to take your volunteer Computer Coach program to the next level? How about recruiting a leadership volunteer to serve as "Computer Coach Program Coordinator?" Here's the Position Description being used at the Huntington Beach Library.
Are you planning to implement ESL Conversation Circles or Clubs. Two great resources from the San Jose Public Library: a Volunteer Agreement for ESL Conversation Club Coordinator, and Interview Questions for ESL Conversation Club Coordinator.
For those of you thinking of purchasing a volunteer management software package for managing volunteer information, the latest (Spring 2012) survey has just been published, and you can find it here.
Kern County Library just completed a review of the volunteer management system called "Volunteer Impact," and we've just added it here. You can find more reviews of various volunteer management systems completed by California libraries in the Get Involved Clearinghouse: from the Get Involved website, click on the "Resource and Training Center" tab, then select "Management Tools" and from the keyword dropdown menu, select "Volunteer Management Systems."
Some of you have heard of the "Book to Action" concept - designed to build awareness for local civic engagement projects and inspire volunteer participation through shared reading and discussion of books about issues/topics relevant relevant to the community. The first California library to implement this concept was the Hayward Public Library, and they've prepared this 4 minute video to give you the flavor of their "Book To Action" project.
One last reminder -- those in Southern California should mark your calendars for a ½ day workshop presented by the Southern California Get Involved Regional Network. Tuesday, August 28 from 9 am to Noon at the Ontario City Library. The workshop will focus on "Engaging Highly Skilled Volunteers: The Importance of Policies and Procedures." Mileage reimbursement is available. Register by sending an e-mail to monica.miltko@surfcity-hb.org including name, library, position and phone number.
P.S. If you're not a member of the "Get Involved: Powered by Your Library" listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to clehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.
Still finding that staff aren't on board with volunteer engagement as much as you'd like? Check out some common concerns and steps you can take here: Addressing Common Staff Concerns About Volunteers
Solano County Library's literacy program provides opportunities for experienced literacy volunteers to serve as Literacy Resource Specialists
The Yolo County Library and the Yolo County Probation Department have partnered on a project that provides literacy tutoring to youth incarcerated at the Juvenile Detention Facility. We've added the Literacy Tutor, Juvenile Detention Facility volunteer position description, and the volunteer recruitment flyer they use for the project.
Here's Solano County Library's volunteer position description for Bi-Lingual Catalog/Internet Docent.
San Francisco Public Library's Teen Computer Corps connects computer savvy teenagers with senior patrons hoping to improve their basic computer skills.
And some terrific volunteer orientation materials are provided by the Huntington Beach Public Library: one for volunteers in Circulation and one for those in the Media Center.
Also, those in Southern California should mark your calendars for a ½ day workshop presented by the Southern California Get Involved Regional Network. Tuesday, August 28 from 9 am to Noon at the Ontario City Library. The workshop will focus on "Engaging Highly Skilled Volunteers: The Importance of Policies and Procedures." Mileage reimbursement is available. Register by sending an e-mail to monica.miltko@surfcity-hb.org including name, library, position and phone number.
P.S. If you're not a member of the "Get Involved: Powered by Your Library" listserv, you can keep up to date on all things library volunteers by sending an e-mail to clehn@library.ca.gov and requesting to be added.
Thinking of engaging groups of volunteers from corporations, local businesses, service clubs or youth groups? Then this archived one hour webinar is for you: Putting Corporate Volunteers to Work
This volunteer position description from the California State Library really generated a lot of referrals on VolunteerMatch. Your library may have a need like this as well --Japanese American History Archivist – We're also looking for a volunteer position description for a person(s) to help Tech Services with translation of materials too – if you have such a description, please "Suggest a Resource" by clicking in the box to the right.
Literacy programs looking for a way to serve adult learners who are waiting to be matched with a volunteer tutor should take a look at Solano County Library's Learning Opportunity Facilitator volunteer position description.
We have asked some libraries to do "reviews" on the Volunteer Management System they are using to keep track of their volunteer information. The newest one is on the produce called Volgistics – Huntington Beach Public Library's Review. If you're looking for a system for your library, you'll find an assortment of these reviews on a variety of Volunteer Management Systems by clicking on "Management Tools," and then on "Volunteer Management Systems."
Those who are concerned about staff not buying in to increasing volunteer engagement in the library will want to watch this 6 & ½ minute narrated slide show on Management's Role in Eliminating Staff Resistance to Volunteers in the Library.
We are thrilled to announce some major upgrades to our Get Involved webpage!
(1) The new "Resource and Training Center" tab will take you right to a searchable database (we call it the "Clearinghouse") of all the great resources we currently have stored in the system:
- Management Tools, Policies, and Handbooks
- High Impact Volunteer Position Descriptions
- Training Materials, Videos, and Tutorials about best practices
- Professional Photos related to position descriptions
NOTE: You'll find hundreds of professionally taken photos – all with permission from the subjects in the photos . . . they are sized for immediate use on your VolunteerMatch postings. Remember, VolunteerMatch research shows that opportunities posted with a picture of a volunteer engaged in the job you're recruiting for gets 3 times as many "hits" as one without. You can browse all of the photos, or search for a particular one by using some general volunteer job titles in a Keyword drop down menu on the photos page.
(2) You can also do a Site Search to display all resources in the database (management tools, position descriptions, training materials, and photos) that relate to the search words you submit (such as "computer coach" or "adult literacy"). NOTE: It is important to use the quotation marks if you want to search for phrases (e.g. "computer coach", otherwise the system will perform an OR search on both words (e.g. computer OR coach).
(3) You'll see that you can "Suggest a Resource" – please do!! As you develop more volunteer engagement materials, please use that option to send us more things that we can share with everyone.
(4) Also new on the site www.library.ca.gov/lds/getinvolved.html is a "Hot Topics" tab, where we've grouped materials around these topics so far:
- Getting Staff Buy-In for Volunteer Engagement
- Union Issues
- Engaging Baby Boomers as Volunteers
Please make suggestions for new "Hot Topics" and/or for additional materials we could add to these special pages.
A veritable treasure trove of useful documents from the San Jose Public Library's award-winning Volunteer Engagement Team has been added for April!
Successful Volunteer Recruitment Strategies: Capturing the Talent of Baby Boomers and the Generations that Follow (60 minutes)
- Do you ever wonder what motivates volunteers?
- Are you wondering where to find talented volunteers?
- What projects or programs do you have that will attract them?
Baby boomers and the generations that follow are seeking new ways to use their skills and experience to make a difference in their communities. Your library is uniquely positioned to benefit from these volunteers. This webinar will provide tools, techniques, and models for volunteer engagement.
At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will:
- Understand the potential for engaging high impact, skilled volunteers to assist public libraries.
- Know how to engage this talent to extend the library's capacity in the community and to benefit from these new library advocates and supporters.
- Understand the motivations behind why people volunteer.
- Be able to create diverse and meaningful skilled volunteer positions that will attract a broad range of community volunteers, especially baby boomers.
- Plan to implement a variety of successful volunteer recruitment strategies that go far beyond the "Volunteer Here" sign on the Circulation Desk.
One of our sustainability strategies for the Get Involved: Powered by Your Library statewide volunteerism initiative is the development of "Regional Peer Networks." In addition to our statewide efforts, the goal is to facilitate the sharing of library volunteer engagement success stories, resources, ideas and materials among folks in various geographic areas. This will help to sustain current gains, share strategies, and ensure that libraries new to Get Involved are exposed and mentored to achieve their own successes.
The Bay Area Network has scheduled 3 FREE workshops – San Francisco March 2, Marina April 9 and San Jose May 4. Find workshop flyer here: Workshop Flyer with registration and contact information. Lunch and potential for regional travel reimbursement are part of the deal, so check it out! If you can't make it to one of their workshops, at least let them know if you're interested in being kept informed of Bay Area activities.
Bay Area:
Cathy Andrews – Monterey County – andrewscs@co.monterey.ca.us
Jennifer Baker – St. Helena – director@shpl.org
Kai Wilson – San Francisco – kaiwilson@sfpl.org
Joan Young – San Jose – joan.young@sjlibrary.org
The other 3 networks are gearing up too, so if you haven't made contact with them yet, here's how – and many thanks to ALL these folks who've stepped up to take the lead!
Sacramento Region:
Randi-Kay Stephens – Sacramento – rstephens@saclibrary.org
Gail McGrath – Roseville – gmcgrath@roseville.ca.us
Central Valley:
Sherry Gomez – Kern County – sherry.gomez@kerncountylibrary.org
Elizabeth Finkle – Fresno County – elizabeth.finkle@fresnolibrary.org
Southern California:
Hillary Theyer – Torrance – htheyer@torranceca.gov
Monica Miltko – Huntington Beach – Monica.Miltko@surfcity-hb.org
Thinking of using volunteers on your bookmobile? Libraries who have done it or investigated it say that the issue, of course, is insurance!
Tulare County Library provided these two job descriptions to deal with that exact issue. When their library has a seatbelt in the bookmobile for the volunteer, the volunteer may "Ride Along." But when there's no seatbelt, the volunteer meets the bookmobile at a specific location. You'll see the difference in the "Days and Hours" section of these two job descriptions. Enjoy!
- Check out Huntington Beach Public Library's volunteer opportunities brochure
- What's New for Get Involved in 2012? – In this archived webinar, you'll learn about new initiatives to support your volunteer engagement efforts, and see how the new VolunteerMatch works, including how to use some of the top free tools you get through your free upgraded California Libraries VolunteerMatch account. (November 2011, 60 min)
For those who are thinking about purchasing software or a database or an online mechanism to track your volunteer data, we have added a segment to the website called "Volunteer Management Systems."
We have asked some of your colleagues to "review" the system that they're using. You'll see some of the commercially available systems, such as Volgistics reviewed here, and finally a "Consumer's Guide" that can be helpful with comparing several products.
We have also posted examples of systems libraries have created in house using Access, Excel and FileMaker – some were created by staff, and some by a volunteer. In this case, screen shots of the system, in addition to the "review" are provided for your in-house designing pleasure.
If you are using a Volunteer Management System, and would like to provide a review for us to share with your colleagues, please contact Carla Lehn at Carla.Lehn@library.ca.gov.
F. Volunteer Management Systems Information
- Access – Downey PL Literacy
- Access – Downey PL Literacy Screenshots
- ETapestry – StanislausCounty
- ETapestry Pricing Guide
- Excel Spreadsheet – Tulare PL Literacy
- FileMaker – Hayward
- FileMaker – Hayward – Screenshots
- Volgistics – Torrance
- Volunteer Impact – Roseville PL
- Volunteer Impact – San Jose
- Volunteer Reporter – San Francisco
- A Consumer's Guide to Software for Volunteer Management
And finally, for those of you who have not been able to put the Get Involved "widget" on your library's website – which increases volunteer referrals dramatically in some cases – we've provided a couple of tools to help you understand why you want it, and if you're already convinced, help you to convince those in charge of the website that it's a good thing:
A 1 & 1/2 minute video about how the widget works and how to install it: You Tube – Get Involved Widget
And a colorful clear FAQ on "Why the widget?"
- Meet Monrovia Public Library's Volunteer Management Team – 3 high skilled volunteers who serve as a Team with the Library's part-time volunteer coordinator to help to take on specific responsibilities to help increase and sustain the expanding roles of volunteers at the library. (July 2011, 3:42 min)
- Tips from Monrovia Public Library's Volunteer Management Team (July 2011, 3:10 min) – Listen to the team describe their goals, and how they reach out to find ways to engage volunteers in meaningful ways throughout the library.
- Re-posting Tutorial – One of the most important tools you can use on VolunteerMatch to get your volunteer opportunities noticed is "Re-Posting," which keeps your opportunity closer to the top of the search results. This 2 minute tutorial will show you how to use this tool. (June 2011, 2:16 min)