Date/Time
11/13/2025
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Eastern
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Eastern
Event Registration
Competency
Community Engagement
Event Description
Join us for a practical and engaging webinar designed for library staff and administrators seeking to enhance their recruitment, retention, and management of volunteers. This session offers a dual perspective: Debbie will discuss best practices and lessons learned from managing a successful in-library volunteer program, while Gloria will share insights on engaging volunteers through a Friends of the Library group.
Together, we’ll explore how strong volunteer engagement can enhance library services, support special events, and deepen community connections. Whether you're just starting a volunteer program or seeking to revitalize an existing one, this session will provide strategies, tools, and inspiration to build a program that works.
Learning Objectives:
Gloria Brach, Foundation Member and Friends Committee Co-Chair, Geauga County Public Library
Gloria worked in public education for 40+ years as a Teacher, Guidance Counselor, Administrator, Curriculum Director and Special Education Coordinator. All of these positions afforded her the opportunity to work closely with teachers, parents and students. Reading for her profession and pleasure has always been very important to Gloria. Upon retirement, she became involved as a volunteer for the Geauga County Library. Now she gets to work with amazing volunteers who share a passion for books and literacy! Helping patrons choose a new author or explore an unknown area to read about at a book sale excites her! Gloria enjoys welcoming new volunteers to the organization and getting them involved.
Debbie Schrock is the Development Coordinator for the Geauga County Public Library and has been involved in libraries since she was 16. She began volunteering at the Burton Log Cabin at age 12, sparking a lifelong passion for service. Debbie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Technical and Applied Studies with a concentration in Business Management from Kent State University. She is deeply committed to volunteerism and believes in the power of community engagement to strengthen and support library services.
Together, we’ll explore how strong volunteer engagement can enhance library services, support special events, and deepen community connections. Whether you're just starting a volunteer program or seeking to revitalize an existing one, this session will provide strategies, tools, and inspiration to build a program that works.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize key components of a successful library volunteer program, from onboarding to recognition.
- Compare volunteer engagement through the library system and Friends group to determine the best fit for their organization’s needs.
- Apply recruitment and retention strategies tailored to diverse volunteer motivations and schedules.
- Implement practical approaches to volunteer management, including communication, training, and task design.
- Leverage community partnerships and internal support to grow and sustain volunteer initiatives.
Gloria Brach, Foundation Member and Friends Committee Co-Chair, Geauga County Public LibraryGloria worked in public education for 40+ years as a Teacher, Guidance Counselor, Administrator, Curriculum Director and Special Education Coordinator. All of these positions afforded her the opportunity to work closely with teachers, parents and students. Reading for her profession and pleasure has always been very important to Gloria. Upon retirement, she became involved as a volunteer for the Geauga County Library. Now she gets to work with amazing volunteers who share a passion for books and literacy! Helping patrons choose a new author or explore an unknown area to read about at a book sale excites her! Gloria enjoys welcoming new volunteers to the organization and getting them involved.
Debbie Schrock is the Development Coordinator for the Geauga County Public Library and has been involved in libraries since she was 16. She began volunteering at the Burton Log Cabin at age 12, sparking a lifelong passion for service. Debbie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Technical and Applied Studies with a concentration in Business Management from Kent State University. She is deeply committed to volunteerism and believes in the power of community engagement to strengthen and support library services.Location
Setting: Live Virtual
Online via Zoom
UNITED STATES
Online via Zoom
UNITED STATES
Contact Person
Details
Who Should Attend: Anyone interested in learning more about volunteers and managing them
Competency: Community Engagement
Non-Member Cost: $40
NEO-RLS Bronze Member Cost: $24
NEO-RLS Silver Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Gold Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Individual Member Cost: $20
Competency: Community Engagement
Non-Member Cost: $40
NEO-RLS Bronze Member Cost: $24
NEO-RLS Silver Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Gold Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Individual Member Cost: $20
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