Managing Library Volunteers: A Practical Toolkit (ala Editions)

Managing Library Volunteers A Practical Toolkit PRESTON DRIGGERS EILEEN DUMAS AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION Chicago and London 2002 While extensive effort has gone into ensuring the reliability of information appearing in this book, the publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, on the accuracy or reliability of the information, and does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in this publication. Composition by ALA Editions in New Baskerville and Optima using QuarkXPress 4.1 on a PC platform Printed on 50-pound white offset, a pH-neutral stock, and bound in 10-point cover stock by Data Reproductions The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992.
ISBN: 0-8389-0806-3 Copyright © 2002 by the American Library Association. All rights reserved except those which may be granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. Printed in the United States of America 06 05 04 03 02 5 4 3 2 1 CONTENTS FIGURE AND SAMPLES v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL ix INTRODUCTION: THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM CYCLE xi PART I 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 V O L U N T E E R L I B R A RY P R O G R A M The Value of Library Volunteerism Volunteer Program Mission Statement Volunteer Program Benefits and Purposes Volunteer Administration Rights and Duties of Volunteers Volunteers and Library Friends Legal and Risk Management Issues Volunteer Program Communication Volunteer Program Evaluation PART II 1 3 5 9 16 19 23 31 35 VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Volunteer Motivation Volunteer Needs Assessment Requisitioning Volunteers Selling the Volunteer Program Recruitment of Volunteers Recruitment Approaches Volunteer Application Form 17 Interviewing and Selection 42 44 47 50 52 57 61 70 iii 18 19 20 Reference Requests Volunteer Contracts and Releases Time Forms PART III 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT 124 128 131 VOLUNTEER RULES AND DISCIPLINE Library Volunteer Rules Volunteer Corrective Action De-volunteering Exit Interviews and References PART VI 35 36 AWA R D S A N D R E C O G N I T I O N Volunteer Recognition Policies Recognition Programs Awards, Gifts, and Perks PART V 31 32 33 34 90 95 97 101 105 109 112 Orientation Training Customer Confidentiality Volunteer Skill Training Safety Training Performance Evaluation Job Design Job Descriptions PART IV 28 29 30 76 78 84 134 138 141 145 VO L U N T E E R R E C O R D K E E P I N G Volunteer Personnel Files Volunteer Administration Records 152 155 BIBLIOGRAPHY 161 INDEX 165 Contents iv FIGURE AND SAMPLES FIGURE 1 Enhancing Library Services: The Volunteer Program Cycle xi SAMPLES 4-1 Job Description of Volunteer Coordinator 11 6-1 Community Volunteers—Friends Group Policy Statements (Exclusive) 20 6-2 Community Volunteers—Friends Group Policy Statements (Inclusive) 22 9-1 Volunteer Program Evaluation Checklist 38 9-2 Volunteer Program Evaluation Form 41 11-1 Needs Assessment Form 45 15-1