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Beyond this, give feedback to them as they go. This takes spending some time working with them but it really pays. If they do it right, let them know. If they do it wrong, help to get them back on track. People really want to feel useful and important or they would not be there. Assigning intelligent volunteers only tasks with no responsibility soon make them think they are undervalued. Dianne Koehler Wells Branch Community Library 989-3188 Fax 989-3533 _____ From: Jennifer Patterson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 12:12 PM To: 'Laurie Mahaffey'; 'ctls-l' Subject: RE: [ctls-l] Ideas for Training Volunteers This is a message from CTLS-L. Selecting "Reply" will send a message to the originator. Selecting "Reply to All" will send a message to the entire list. --------------------------------------------------------- Laurie's advice is right on target. I know that the hardest thing about volunteers is how much training and supervision they require to be truly useful members of the team. Jennifer _____ From: Laurie Mahaffey [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 11:52 AM To: ctls-l Subject: RE: [ctls-l] Ideas for Training Volunteers This is a message from CTLS-L. Selecting "Reply" will send a message to the originator. Selecting "Reply to All" will send a message to the entire list. --------------------------------------------------------- How do you train new staff? Training volunteers wouldn't be that much different, except that there are tasks that volunteers may not do. Some communities don't want volunteers handling money or having access to patron records for reasons of confidentiality. Separate any job you want a volunteer to do into specific parts. Make sure they are confident before you move on. If they are just not "getting it," either have them work with another trained volunteer whom you trust, or find another task for them. Sometimes the way a different person explains a job will get through better, and sometimes one's brain just isn't wired to grasp a concept. Look at the job descriptions for your library clerks and pages. Some of those tasks could be done by volunteers. If you don't have job descriptions, start by writing down what each person does in a typical day. Maybe you have a processing manual that outlines the steps your library staff perform to get a book or CD ready for the shelf. That could be a good start; it's sometimes easier to teach a visual task (covering a book or stamping the library's property stamp) than to teach a concept, such as how the Dewey system works. It might work to have the new volunteer "shadow" another trained volunteer, or watch a staff member perform a task while the library is closed (and the pressure of patrons is not happening). Dusting, watering plants, photocopying, materials processing, and shelf-reading are all tasks a volunteer could do. Volunteers are a valuable resource and we want them to feel like they are making a real contribution to our libraries. Many of our libraries could not run as well as they do without trained volunteers. Laurie _____ From: Gail Woodward [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 11:38 AM To: 'Jan Steele'; 'Angela Palmer'; [email protected] Subject: RE: [ctls-l] Ideas for Training Volunteers This is a message from CTLS-L. Selecting "Reply" will send a message to the originator. Selecting "Reply to All" will send a message to the entire list. --------------------------------------------------------- I would love this information also. Gail Woodward Marlin _____ From: Jan Steele [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6:29 PM To: 'Angela Palmer'; [email protected] Subject: RE: [ctls-l] Ideas for Training Volunteers This is a message from CTLS-L. Selecting "Reply" will send a message to the originator. Selecting "Reply to All" will send a message to the entire list. --------------------------------------------------------- We have a large number of volunteers, too. Our volunteer training leaves something to be desired. I know we can improve on our methods. I would be interested in how other libraries train volunteers, too. Jan Steele Librarian/Director Lago Vista Community Library 5803 Thunderbird, Suite 40 Lago Vista, TX 78645 (512) 267-3868 [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____ From: Angela Palmer [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 3:39 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [ctls-l] Ideas for Training Volunteers This is a message from CTLS-L. Selecting "Reply" will send a message to the originator. Selecting "Reply to All" will send a message to the entire list. --------------------------------------------------------- Hello All: We are starting to amass a greater number of volunteers and we will also be hiring new staff as we move into our new building. But we have noticed that our (very brief) training in shelving needs improvement. We were wondering if anyone has any ideas for tools, worksheets, techniques, etc. that we can use to train and teach new staff and volunteers about the Dewey Decimal System. I have found a few things online but it is very little and not what I was looking for. All help and advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance, Angela Angela K. Palmer Bee Cave Public Library 13333-A Highway 71 West Bee Cave, Texas 78738 512.767.6625 512.767.6629 (Fax) <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED] <http://www.beecavetexas.com/> www.beecavetexas.com
