Recruiting and Managing Volunteers in Museums: A Handbook for Volunteer Management

by Kristy Van Hoven, Loni Wellman

We are in the middle of a museum paradigm shift and a new type of museum volunteer is emerging from the community. Non-profit volunteers are looking for unique and satisfying ways to engage in their communities and museums are primed to offer just the experiences these volunteers are looking for. Here s a practical exploration of the differences between the then and now volunteers and solid advice on volunteer recruitment, communication, and retention strategies. Kristy Van Hoven and Loni Wellman will help you answer the questions: .What are new volunteers looking for? .What is their motivation? .How can you spot the hidden gems in your local community? .How can you develop a successful relationship with potential volunteers? .How do you keep the museum volunteer motivated and happy? .What can teens, adults and retiring professionals bring to your organization? .How can your museum support a robust and active volunteer program? .How do you reward volunteers and keep them for the long term? and, most importantly, .How can you meet volunteer s needs and still benefit from their work? The Guide highlights successful projects, incentives, and general museum culture which support volunteer activities and includes examples of Volunteer Job Descriptions, Calls for Volunteers, Evaluation forms, as well as volunteer project outlines. Written in a light hearted spirit, Recruiting and Managing Volunteers in Museums: A Handbook to Volunteer Management will engage and inform any professional tasked with developing and managing a volunteer program at their institution. Museums offer an amazing array of volunteer opportunities that help create a greater sense of belonging and purpose for the volunteer. With a growing number of retiring professionals and students looking for professional experiences, now is the time to embark on developing a volunteer program that will thrive in the years to come."

Genres: Museums

146 pages, Hardcover

First published January 16, 2016

Reviews

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice little overview of being a volunteer manager and having a volunteer program. It covers topics like what might motivate different groups of volunteers (college-age, retiree, etc.); different types of opportunities for volunteers; how to plan and run a volunteer program, including working with the departments at your organization, forms to create, interviewing potential volunteers, onboarding a volunteer, and managing and retaining volunteers; and a few case studies that, while being extremely specific and not really (I don't think) generic situations most people will have, include a few ideas and "ah-ha"/"hmm...." moments.

As I was reading this, I kept thinking, "Yeah, that's basic. But I want more. I wish this were more in-depth," but when I then tried to figure out what it was lacking and what I wish it had, I couldn't think of anything. So I guess this must be a really good resource! :)