From library volunteer to library advocate : tapping into the power of community engagement

Title:

Author:

Lehn, Carla Campbell author

ISBN:

9781440856709

Publication:

Santa Barbara, California : Libraries Unlimited, an imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, [2018]

Physical Description:

xxvi, 186 pages ; 24 cm

Contents:

Why volunteers? -- Volunteerism trends changing the landscape -- Why people volunteer -- Volunteer recruitment -- Success factors for volunteer engagement -- How it all gets done -- Administrative and legal issues -- Volunteer engagement strategy summary.

Abstract:

"This guide will show you how to reinvigorate your library's volunteer program using your community as a resource."-- Provided by publisher.

Subject Term:

Volunteer workers in libraries -- United States.

Libraries and community -- United States.

Libraries -- Public relations -- United States.

Libraries and community. (OCoLC)fst00997508

Libraries -- Public relations. (OCoLC)fst00997423

Volunteer workers in libraries. (OCoLC)fst01169085

Geographic Term:

United States.

Local Subject:

LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE COLLECTION

Other Format:

Online version: Lehn, Carla Campbell, author. From library volunteer to library advocate Santa Barbara, California : Libraries Unlimited, an imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, [2018] 9781440856716 (DLC) 2018020676

Available:

Library	Call Number	Material Type	Status
Searching... State Library of Oregon	021.20973 Lehn	4-Week Loan	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

This guide will show you how to reinvigorate your library's volunteer program using your community as a resource.

Volunteers are essential to a library's well-being, but running a volunteer program is a complicated task that could often be done so as to bring more benefit to your library. This book draws on the author's decades of experience in public libraries and the nonprofit arena, and on cutting-edge professional trends in volunteer management, to show you how to tap into each of your volunteer's talents and match them to your library's needs.

Providing multiple tactics for improving your library's volunteer program, the book covers redoubling your recruitment efforts to attract more volunteers, more logically assigning roles, and growing your relationships with volunteers. In addition, it addresses common problems with volunteers and potential barriers to success and explains how to overcome them. No matter what size your library, its volunteer staff, or its budget, this practical book will help you to streamline your volunteer program and more effectively engage the community to transform your library into a flourishing community center.

Author Notes

Carla Campbell Lehn is principal of the Lehn Group, where she provides consultation and training services to not-for-profit and government clients. She is former Library Programs Consultant of California State Library.

Summary:

"This guide will show you how to reinvigorate your library's volunteer program using your community as a resource."--

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Many public libraries have been -reimagining their mission statements and physical spaces to focus on community engagement, and volunteering at libraries can be another opportunity for people to participate in the library experience. -Basing her information on her work with the California State Library's "Get Involved: Powered by Your Library" volunteerism initiative, Lehn (former library programs consultant, Calif. State Lib.) suggests that a volunteer program can be another way to engage the public. She provides insights into the best practices for recruiting volunteers and an overview for understanding generational differences in what motivates people to volunteer. The author explains methods of overcoming staff barriers and the importance of hiring a volunteer coordinator, and offers real-life examples of the benefits of a volunteer program, lists of helpful resources, and sample job descriptions. VERDICT With its focus on recruiting skilled volunteers for work beyond the typical shelving and book repair duties, this basic guidebook gives library administration and staff a fresh perspective on volunteerism. For a more detailed toolkit, consult Preston Driggers and Eileen Dumas's Managing Library Volunteers (2d ed.).-Donna Marie Smith, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.