Managing Library Volunteers: A Practical Toolkit

Based on the experiences of representatives of all the major libraries of the Colorado Front Range, this manual offers advice on establishing and managing volunteer programs. The material covers the basic management issues of the program, volunteer recruitment, training and development, awards and recognition, volunteer rules and discipline, and record keeping. Annotation c. Book News, Inc.,Portland, OR

Library Journal

This book supplements the scanty and not-so-recent literature on managing volunteers in libraries, notably Bonnie McCune and Charleszine "Terry" Nelson's Recruiting and Managing Volunteers in Libraries: A How-To-Do-It Manual (Professional Media, LJ 11/1/95) and Sally Gardner Reed's Library Volunteers Worth the Effort! (Professional Media, LJ 5/15/94). Driggers and Dumas are practicing public librarians who helped organize what is now known as the Colorado Volunteer Managers Council, a group of staff who coordinate and manage volunteer programs in libraries. This volume grew out of the group's discussions and accumulated knowledge. The authors offer practical advice on the many aspects of a library volunteer program, including legal and risk management issues; recruitment, interviewing, and selection; training; recognition; program evaluation; and record keeping. Sample statements, applications, job descriptions, contracts, and other documents are especially useful for comparison or in establishing a coordinated volunteer program. This solid, comprehensive treatment on effective management of volunteers is suitable for most library collections and especially recommended for public libraries. Lyn Hopper, Chestatee Regional Lib., Dawsonville, GA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.