Managing Library Volunteers (2nd ed.)

Citation

Freeman, M. (2012), "Managing Library Volunteers (2nd ed.)", New Library World, Vol. 113 No. 9/10, pp. 500-500. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074801211273984

With the current anxieties and disquiet concerning the use of volunteers in libraries generally this book from ALA is both timely and helpful to any librarian faced with the many problems and ramifications of using library volunteers.

Although American in style and context, the book's authors raise many interesting and pervasive points. For instance they comment perceptively on the substantial and significant changes wrought by the internet and ICT generally upon libraries. To quote: “a direct result of this surge of technology and training is an increase in computer literacy amongst adults and in increase in technology savvy volunteers”. The authors ask how library volunteers can be used; how they can be recruited and trained and how volunteers can be supervised and motivated. The benefits of having a library volunteer programme are well explained and the authors stress the valuable range of marketable skills gained from helping to run a library. Volunteers can embed the library deeper into the local community and provide considerable community involvement and diversity.

Permanent library staff are not always enthused about working with volunteers, and the administration of volunteers can take much time and effort. And, of course, volunteers are not “free” – there is always a cost. The book covers many interesting and useful areas, such as the rights and duties of volunteers, legal issues and the management of risk, communication with and evaluation of volunteers.

In its style and presentation, this book is clearly a lucid well‐written manual and – despite the American context – will prove very useful to every librarian and manager tasked with organising and running a library volunteer force. Even such arcane topics as “Perks and Awards” are well covered. The book is well written, clear and well produced, with a good index and helpful bibliography.