This brief document identifies which volunteer positions require a background check, and outlines the process for doing it.

Basic expectations handout given to volunteers at the San Bernardino County Library.

Provides a very clear 10 step process for screening volunteers.

This comprehensive manual of suggested best practices and recommended policies for California State Agencies was compiled and published by California Volunteers in collaboration with the State Agency Volunteer Coordinator Forum. While compiled for state agency use, this comprehensive volunteer program manual will provide food for thought for any public agency.

Learn about Book to Action, an innovative approach to convening a book discussion, author event and service projects that benefits the community.

Learn about Book to Action, an innovative approach to convening a book discussion, author event and service projects that benefits the community.

Job Description used by San Jose Public Library for staff responsible for volunteer engagement in a library branch or unit.

Despite many obstacles, we tend to plan volunteer recognition events in a bubble of happiness. One day a year the executive director shows up and says glowing things. Everyone applauds while volunteers are praised for logging in hours. Etc., etc. And then the event ends and things go back to normal. What happens during a recognition event is almost always in the total control of the leader of volunteer involvement. So let’s approach it strategically. Set some real goals. . .

What if the way nonprofits and companies are currently engaging volunteers is all wrong? How can we make sure we’re strategically involving the core value of volunteers to provide maximum impact? This one hour webinar describes the key principles of the Reimagining Service initiative, and provides an overview of research that shows that organizations that strategically leverage volunteers outperform peer organizations on all measures of organizational capacity, AND have greater impact.

Here's a great example of how a volunteer program has become part of the City's overall strategic plan. Library volunteer programs should get volunteer goals established in the library's strategic plan. This allows the whole organization to think about how volunteers can be an organization-wide resource that can contribute to the overall goals identified in a strategic plan.