5.5 minute video shares the library's volunteer driven homework help program.

Powerpoint used by Huntington Beach Public Library to train their volunteer Homework Help Tutors.

The world is full of educated, experienced, talented people who care about community. They are passionate about causes. And they are willing – even yearning – to contribute strategy, expertise and skills to your organization. They are looking for meaningful, time-specific projects. They crave opportunities to act as project managers, legal advisors, financial strategists, online marketing gurus, business coaches, HR consultants (the list is endless). Sadly, nonprofit organizations are not yet stepping up to offer the opportunities these talented people desire.

A brief article that provides principles of learning theory in usable form to the design of volunteer training.

As part of a day-long training, Jill Friedman Fixler provides guidelines and tips to effectively interview prospective volunteers. Search for additional training videos from the day on this site.

Guidelines and instructions for volunteers leading tours, primarily of school children, through the library.

This 6 & 1/2 minute narrated slide presentation addresses the steps management can take to reduce staff resistance to volunteers in the library. Many thanks to our colleague, Cathy Crosthwaite for creating and sharing it.

In this 4-minute video, meet the Volunteer Management Team at Monrovia Public Library and learn how MPL uses volunteer leaders to expand and improve their volunteer impact. See also Part 2 of the video (Tips and Strategies).

Every day my LinkedIn feed and various business magazines are filled with articles about Millennials. Generally, the writer advises the reader on how to “manage” this group in the workplace and often seems to have a “these kids nowadays” tone. Through my work at New York Cares (with staff members and volunteers), I have also been exposed firsthand to Millennial’s great passion for community service. In its report on an Associated Press-GfK poll on December 29 the New York Times gave me data to support my optimism (which is a rare but welcome occurrence).

This blog post from Catchafire.org describes the Millenial generation -- the 80 million born between 1980 and 2000 -- and their interest in participating for "social good." Great tips on how you can attract this goldmine of potential volunteers, rather than turning them off.