California State LibraryEncourages Volunteers at Public Libraries
californialibraries.volunteeermatch.org site will help baby boomers and other skilled volunteers sign up
Michael Rogers -- Library Journal, 05/11/2009
- Seeking top personnel for libraries and other nonprofits
- californialibraries.volunteeermatch.org site launched
- Libraries to get training for creating important volunteer posts
The California State Library (CSL) and VolunteerMatch, an online volunteer network, have aligned in an effort “to strengthen civic engagement at public libraries” by launching a joint online resource, californialibraries.volunteeermatch.org, to help citizens volunteer at local libraries and 65,000 other organizations including many community nonprofits. The site is part of CSL’s new “Get Involved: Powered by Your Library” initiative to help secure skilled volunteers.
Libraries throughout California will be able to post volunteer opportunities in the VolunteerMatch network and send interested patrons to the site to sign up. The partnership also includes training to instruct libraries on how to create important volunteer positions attractive to top personnel such as retiring baby boomers.
At a two-day training seminar launching the site and program, VolunteerMatch president Greg Baldwin said that ,with boomers retiring and many high-end personnel unemployed, “Americans of all ages are more interested than ever in giving back, so the challenge is for institutions to create engaging and interesting ways to get involved.”
